Retirement planning
The decisions you make leading up to your retirement are some of the most important you’re ever likely to make – and there’s a lot to consider. A good retirement plan is about balancing and controlling your finances and investments while minimising tax. So whether your children have moved out and you’re ready to downsize, you’re thinking about taking that world cruise, or simply considering your future security, a good financial adviser can help you set your retirement planning with maximum benefit.
Pension freedom
Pensions have gone through a radical change since 6th April 2015, when many of the previous caps and restrictions were lifted. You now have more choice over how you spend your pension pot when you retire. It’s generally good news, but you still have to be sure you make the right choices so you don’t lose money unnecessarily in tax or compromise your retirement plans. Getting independent financial advice has never been more important. It’s strongly advised you talk to an adviser to discuss your options.
How we can help you
It’s great to have more freedom over your pension pot. But you have some big decisions to make that will affect your standard of living for the rest of your life. If you are nearing retirement, you are likely to have built up pension funds from employer schemes or private pension plans. But your pension funds don’t automatically provide an income in retirement - there are some important steps you’ll need to take to get you the highest income available. That’s why, with our trusted partner Wren Sterling, we offer an unbiased retirement planning advice service in all our branches. Their experts can help explain the pension changes in more detail and give you completely independent advice on how to make them work in your favour. They can also shed light on other changes that came into effect in April 2015 that you may be able to benefit from.
Expert advice from a qualified adviser
Whilst there’s plenty of guidance available, for a decision as complex and important as your pension, it is well worth talking to a financial adviser. For a no-obligation appointment, phone or pop into your local branch for a chat.
More about Wren Sterling financial advisers
We think Wren Sterling is the perfect choice to provide our customers with expert financial advice. They’re friendly, forward thinking and will listen to and understand your individual situation before offering advice. As Independent Financial Advisers, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Wren Sterling is able to select the best products to suit your needs from the entire marketplace.
Jargon Buster
An annuity is an insurance product that allows you to swap your pension savings for a guaranteed regular income that will last for the rest of your life. How much you get is determined by the rate the annuity provider offers you.
This is a pension plan where either you, or your employer (or maybe both), contribute. With a defined contribution pension you build up a pot of money that you use to provide an income in retirement. The income you might get depends on factors including the amount you pay in, the fund’s investment performance and the choices you make at retirement.
Income drawdown is a way of using your pension pot to provide you with a regular retirement income by making regular withdrawals from a fund that is specifically designed and managed for this purpose. How long the fund will last will depend on the number of withdrawals and the fund performance, so it isn’t guaranteed for life.
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