Forge Your Own Pension: The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Saving for Retirement

There’s a truth that most entrepreneurs eventually bump into like a brick wall there’s no pension waiting for us at the end of the road. No automatic company match, no defined benefit plan quietly compounding behind the scenes. For entrepreneurs, the “pension” is the business itself… and if we’re not careful, that’s a dangerously single-asset retirement plan.

Building your own financial freedom and otherwise means taking charge of your future while living fully today. It’s the art of balance. The same philosophy that fuels the Finding Your Wealth movement: wealth isn’t just about money. It’s about freedom at every stage of life.

The Myth of “Later”

When you’re growing a business, it’s easy to fall into the “later” trap.

“I’ll start saving once revenue is consistent.”

“I’ll focus on retirement after I scale.”

“I’ll invest when I sell.”

But here’s the problem later never feels like the right time either. There’s always another opportunity, another risk, another fire to put out. The truth is, the longer you delay building your personal freedom plan, the harder it becomes to catch up without compromising the lifestyle you’ve worked so hard for.

Entrepreneurs are wired to reinvest. We see every dollar as a seed that could grow into ten more. But what if your future self is one of your most important ventures? What if your “retirement plan” wasn’t a boring necessity, but another entrepreneurial project one designed to give you optionality for the rest of your life?  

That’s what it means to forge your own pension.

Step 1: Redefine “Retirement”

In Finding Your Wealth, we talk about the Five Freedoms of Wealth time, health, social connection, knowledge, and financial freedom. Retirement shouldn’t be an “end state” where you finally get to live. It should be a phase where you have more control over how you live.

For entrepreneurs, that might mean:

• Spending six months mentoring young founders.
• Scaling down to advisory roles.
• Traveling with your family while your investments generate income.

Freedom is the goal not idleness.

Think of it this way: your wealth should buy you time and choice, not just toys. When you plan for financial independence early, you can live for today and ensure your tomorrow stays on your terms.

Step 2: Pay Yourself Like You Mean It

Entrepreneurs often treat personal pay as optional something to be done “once the business is stable.” But if you never systematize how you extract wealth from your company, your business will own you instead of the other way around.

Forge your own pension by building these habits:

Pay yourself first. Even if it’s a small, automated transfer to a personal investment account every month.

Set up a corporate investment structure. In Canada, holding companies can shelter retained earnings and invest them tax efficiently.

Use dividends strategically. Balance between salary and dividends to minimize tax while still building RRSP and CPP room.

Build liquid wealth outside the business. Your company’s success shouldn’t dictate your personal security. Diversification isn’t disloyal it’s survival.

Remember, your business is an engine for wealth creation, but your personal investments are the reservoir that keeps freedom flowing long after you stop driving that engine.

Step 3: Design for Experience, Not Just Accumulation

You can’t predict the future, but you can design for possibility.

Too many people grind for decades, imagining they’ll start living once they “make it.” But what if “making it” was less about arriving and more about aligning?

This is where living for today and planning for tomorrow merge beautifully. Maybe it’s taking a month each year to live somewhere new. Maybe it’s investing in your health so you can enjoy those future adventures. Maybe it’s setting up passive income streams that fund experiences travel, family time, creative projects without touching your core capital.

Freedom isn’t about waiting for someday. It’s about creating a life where you can say yes more often to the people, places, and pursuits that matter most

Step 4: The Exit Isn’t the Endgame

Many entrepreneurs see selling their business as their golden ticket. But that’s a high risk bet. Market cycles, timing, and buyer appetite can all turn that dream into a detour.

Instead, think like an investor:

Build value you can extract before the sale. This could mean dividends, management fees, or a personal real estate strategy that runs parallel to the business.

Create systems that make the business less dependent on you. The more transferable it is, the more valuable it becomes and the more freedom you gain now.

Run personal “what if” scenarios. What if you sold tomorrow? What if you didn’t? What if you wanted to step away for a year? Freedom comes from preparation, not luck.

Step 5: Finding Your Wealth Means Never Choosing Between Now and Later

Here’s the truth I’ve learned through every conversation, podcast, and story that’s shaped Finding Your Wealth: the people who feel richest aren’t the ones who waited until the end to enjoy life. They’re the ones who designed freedom into every stage of it. Building your own pension isn’t about locking away your joy until you’re 65. It’s about ensuring that no matter your age, you have the power to live on your own terms today, tomorrow, and decades from now.

So yes, reinvest in your business. Take risks. Live boldly. But also pay yourself, invest early, and create systems that make freedom inevitable. Because the ultimate entrepreneurial success isn’t building a company that runs without you. It’s building a life that runs with purpose, possibility, and peace of mind.

Ready to Forge Your Own Pension?

Your business is your legacy, but your financial freedom deserves its own plan. At Endeavour Wealth Management, we specialize in helping entrepreneurs like you create a strategy that goes beyond just growing a business. We’ll help you:

• Extract value from your company tax efficiently
• Build personal wealth outside of your business
• Create a retirement plan that supports your freedom today and tomorrow

Whether you're scaling, exiting, or just getting started, we’re here to build a plan that works for your life.

Book your complimentary Discovery Meeting today, and let’s design a future that gives you freedom not just funds.

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^{Grant White is a Portfolio Manager /Investment Advisor at Endeavour Wealth Management with iA Private Wealth Inc., an award winning office as recognized by the Carson Group. Together with his partners, he provides comprehensive wealth management planning for business owners, professionals and individual families. This information has been prepared by Grant White, who is a Portfolio Manager for iA Private Wealth Inc. and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of iA Private Wealth. The information contained in this newsletter comes from sources we believe reliable, but we cannot guarantee its accuracy or reliability. The opinions expressed are based on an analysis and interpretation dating from the date of publication and are subject to change without notice. Furthermore, they do not constitute an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any of the securities mentioned. The information contained here in may not apply to all types of investors. The Portfolio Manager can open accounts only in the provinces in which they are registered. iA Private Wealth Inc. is a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund and the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization. iA Private Wealth is a trademark and a business name under which iA Private Wealth Inc. operates}

^{*Insurance products and services are offered through Endeavour Wealth Management Inc, an independent and separate company from iA Private Wealth Inc. Only products and services offered through iA Private Wealth Inc. are covered by the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.}

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