Gone are the days of working for the same employer all your life and retiring aged 60 or 65 on a company pension. Many people today have had several employers with different types of pension scheme and may also have an additional private pension of their own.
It is never too soon to think about retirement planning and it really is an area where expert advice is invaluable.
We see retirement planning as having two parts: the first is to think about the sort of retirement you want and the level of income you would need to achieve it; the second is ensuring that there is adequate pension provision to provide that income. Of course, this has to be balanced against any pension provision you already have and how much more you can afford to invest for your retirement.
Our sophisticated projection tools mean that we can look forward to your retirement date under a number of different scenarios and balance your aspirations for the future with the size of your pension pot now and in the future. Doing this enables us to agree a plan for any continued investment, when you want to retire and the level of income you can expect to retire on.
Life happens
As you move through life, things happen. Your ideas for your retirement may change, your employment or family circumstances may change. This is why we continually review your pension arrangements and make adjustments where necessary. We will provide you with a report on the performance of your pension investments and regular face-to-face review meetings to ensure that everything is on track, and change things if not.
Beyond Retirement
Retirement planning doesn’t stop the day you give up work. Once you retire it is our job to make sure that your money lasts as long as it needs to. Under Pension Freedom you have lots of choices about taking a lump sum or regular income and we will guide you through these, explaining the implications of your choices and working out the optimal program for you to receive your pension income. Throughout your retirement we will continue to review money you have invested in your pension to ensure it delivers the best performance.
A pension is a long-term investment not normally accessible until 55 (57 from April 2028). The fund value may fluctuate and can go down, which would have an impact on the level of pension benefits available. Your pension income could also be affected the interest rates at the time you take your benefits. The tax implications of pension withdrawals will be based on your individual circumstances, tax legislation and regulation which are subject to change in the future. Workplace Pensions are regulated by The Pensions Regulator.
