Retirement options

Greater responsibility on individuals to plan for financial security in old age

Deciding what to do with your pension pot is one of the most important decisions you will ever make for your future. The ‘pension freedom’ changes of April 2015 represented a complete shake-up of the UK’s pensions system, giving people much more control over their pension savings than before. Continue reading “Retirement options”

Millennials get real with the numbers

Making sacrifices for home ownership over retirement

Millennials are chasing the home ownership dream at the potential cost of a lower income in retirement, new research[1] shows. Over a third (35%) of millennials say they prioritise saving for a deposit on a home instead of their retirement. Nearly a fifth (19%) say buying a house is the main reason they don’t save more into their pension, while 10% say student debt stops them saving into a pension. One in 11 (9%) admits that frequently changing jobs affects their ability to make regular pension contributions. Continue reading “Millennials get real with the numbers”

Retirement income

Plan to enjoy the kind of lifestyle you want in later life

‘Will I be able to afford the retirement lifestyle I want?’ is a question that many people ask but struggle to figure out. There are many ways to assess your likely income in retirement and work out how much you need to put away now to enjoy the kind of lifestyle you want in later life. This is why more and more people, where appropriate, are turning to private pensions as a tax-effective way to build or enhance their retirement income. Continue reading “Retirement income”

To downsize, or not to downsize?

Planning your next move for a comfortable retirement

It can be a daunting prospect to think about selling the family home, but it is a decision that many decide is the right choice for them once the children have long moved out and the upkeep seems too onerous. However, people don’t often consider the impact this could have on their retirement, according to new research[1]. Continue reading “To downsize, or not to downsize?”

Double whammy

New social phenomenon – the ‘sandwich generation’

In recent years, a growing realisation has formed that we’re in the middle of a new social phenomenon – the ‘sandwich generation’. The term ‘sandwich generation’ is often used to refer to those who care for both sick, disabled or older relatives and dependent children. Continue reading “Double whammy”