Pension Planning

Why do I need a pension? How much am I going to need for retirement? What type of pension should I have?

At Retirement

It can be difficult to understand your options at retirement. In this section, we have explained some common retirement options in plain simple language. This information is intended only as guidance. For advice on your specific circumstances, please get in touch.

Why Do I Need a Pension?

When you retire, your basic needs—such as food, housing, and daily living—don’t go away. But retirement isn’t just about survival; it’s about maintaining the lifestyle you’ve worked hard to build. Unless you're expecting a significant inheritance or unexpected windfall, you’ll need to create a reliable income stream to support you for the rest of your life.

A well-structured pension plan, reviewed regularly, is one of the most effective ways to help secure your financial future and maintain independence throughout retirement.

The key is to take action as early as possible. The earlier you start, the more time your pension has to grow. And if you’ve already started saving, now is a great time to review your current arrangements and ensure they’re aligned with your goals.


How Much Will I Need in Retirement?

That depends on you—your lifestyle, your plans, and your personal goals.

Ask yourself:

  • What kind of lifestyle do I want in retirement?

  • What will my daily and monthly living costs be?

  • Will I want to travel, take up new hobbies, or support family?

  • What expenses will reduce or disappear (e.g. mortgage repayments, children’s expenses)?

Once you have a rough figure in mind, it’s wise to add a buffer for the unexpected emergencies, or inflation. And don’t forget: pensions are taxable, so you’ll need to factor in Income Tax when estimating your required income.


I Already Have a Pension—So I’m Fine, Right?

Not necessarily.

Having a pension is a great start, but it’s just as important to review your plan regularly to make sure it’s still on track. Life changes, and so do your goals and circumstances. It’s crucial to understand whether your current plan will provide the retirement income you’re expecting.

If you’re part of a workplace pension scheme, request a benefits statement from your employer or the pension provider. If you're unsure, we can help assess your current provisions and offer recommendations to help you stay on course.

For personal pensions, factors like contribution levels, investment performance, and charges all affect the final outcome. As your pension pot grows, every percentage point of return becomes more significant—potentially worth thousands of pounds. That’s why regular advice and active management are so important.

We’re here to help you review your plan, assess its performance, and adjust your strategy as needed.


What Type of Pension Should I Have?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. The best pension plan for you will depend on:

  • Whether you’re employed, self-employed, or a company director

  • The pension schemes available through your employer (if any)

  • Your financial goals, time until retirement, and risk tolerance

We can help you understand your options and choose the right pension type for your circumstances.

How Personal Pensions work

How Personal Pensions work

The fundamental idea of a personal pension plan is simple. You put money into a savings fund and it hopefully grows in value. At retirement, you have several options which are usually designed to replace some (or all) of your employment income.

The Value of Retirement Planning

The Value of Retirement Planning

We all know it’s important to plan for retirement, but many of us are still not planning well enough. Despite all the media headlines and Government initiatives, many of us still have a ‘tomorrow will do’ attitude. This is worrying for one simple reason – we are going to live longer than most of us think. This article explains further.

What is a Personal Pension?

What is a Personal Pension?

Personal pensions may be suitable if you are self-employed, if you are not working but can afford to put aside money for retirement, or even in addition to a company pension.

Your Retirement Options and Pensions Freedom

Your Retirement Options and Pensions Freedom

On 6 April 2015 new pension rules came into force, giving you much greater flexibility over how you use your money purchase pension savings and the options you have in retirement.

Pensions & Divorce

Pensions & Divorce

With pensions being most people’s second-largest asset, they can become a major consideration in any divorce settlement.

Income Drawdown

Income Drawdown

Annuities are historically the most popular option in retirement, with a great many looking for the security that they provide. However, it's unlikely that they will continue to account for as high a proportion of retirement income products as they have in the past. This document will explain further.

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Get In Touch Today

If you have any questions, please get send us an inquiry and we will be happy to help. The first meeting is on us, no pressure, just a conversation about your future!