one thing you left out though, is what he contributes into his pension also grows... PS dosent just simply sit back and collect a pension, alot gets paid into out of pocket to... $20 in PS and $20 in private is still the exact same, if the person in private sector invested the same amount of money into a good rrsp plan, their pension would be just as good if not better... in my previous job i contributed less money into a rrsp, then what i pay into my pension now, and i still wouldve came out ahead working 35 years there vs. 35 years here... but being a finacial person you shouldve already knew that ;)