If you’re planning to retire in Canada, relying solely on government benefits won’t provide the lifestyle most retirees want. While the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) is an important foundation, it was never designed to cover all your expenses. That’s where dividend income can play a powerful supporting role.
As of recently, the maximum CPP benefit at age 65 was about $1,433 per month. However, the average retiree received only $848.37. With housing, food, utilities, and healthcare costs steadily rising, that gap can feel uncomfortably wide. Generating an additional $1,000 per month in dividend income — or $12,000 annually — can meaningfully improve your financial flexibility in retirement.
The good news? With the right strategy and time on your side, that goal is very achievable.
Why dividend income matters in retirement
Dividend income is especially attractive for Canadian retirees because it can provide a predictable cash flow without selling investments. Unlike withdrawing from savings, dividends allow your portfolio to continue working for you while delivering regular income.
In taxable accounts, eligible Canadian dividends also benefit from the dividend tax credit, making them more tax-efficient than interest income. Combined with CPP and Old Age Security (OAS), dividends can help smooth out your cash flow and reduce the stress of market volatility during retirement.
The key question is, How do you build that $1,000-per-month dividend stream?
The ETF approach: Simplicity and instant diversification
For retirees who value simplicity and broad diversification, dividend-focused exchange-traded funds (ETFs) can be an excellent starting point. Instead of selecting individual stocks, you gain exposure to dozens of established dividend payers in a single investment.
One popular option is Vanguard FTSE Canadian High Dividend Yield Index ETF (TSX: VDY). With nearly $5.3 billion in assets, it holds a diversified mix of Canada’s largest banks, insurance companies, and energy producers. The ETF pays monthly distributions and recently yielded about 3.36%.
At a recent price of approximately $61.52 per unit, generating $12,000 in annual income would require an investment of roughly $357,000. That’s a significant amount, but in return, you receive diversification, professional index construction, and minimal maintenance.
It’s important to remember, however, that ETFs are not immune to market swings. Like the broader Canadian market, VDY has risen sharply over the past year — gains that won’t necessarily repeat annually. Income-focused investors should still be prepared for volatility.
The stock-picking route: Higher yield, more involvement
For investors willing to take a more hands-on approach, carefully selected individual stocks can produce higher income with less capital. One good example is Canadian Natural Resources (TSX:CNQ).
CNQ is a large, well-established oil and gas producer with a dividend-growth streak spanning more than two decades. Its dividend-growth rates across one-, five-, 10-, and even 20-year periods all exceed 15%, reflecting strong cash generation and disciplined capital allocation.
After a recent dip, the stock trades around $45.44, offering a yield near 5.2%. At that level, generating $12,000 annually would require an investment of about $232,000. Notably, CNQ pays dividends quarterly rather than monthly.
While it requires more work to build your own dividend stock portfolio to target a higher yield, doing so can significantly lower the capital required to generate the same income as an ETF, as this article illustrates. With this approach, you can target Dividend Aristocrats and even make a reasonable projection of your dividend growth.
Investor takeaway
No matter which approach you choose, the most important factor is planning ahead. Investing well ahead of retirement — especially during market pullbacks — allows risks to play out and locks in higher starting yields. Over time, dividend income can become a reliable supplement to CPP, helping you enjoy retirement on your own terms.
