Planning for your retirement

Everyone needs to plan for their retirement. People are living longer and healthier lives, so it’s even more important to think about how and when to save for retirement and how long to continue working.

Pensions can be confusing and many people don’t know where to begin, especially when there are so many other things to spend your money on. But the truth is that a pension is one of the most effective ways to save money, because you can get tax relief on the money you save in a pension scheme. So, if you do a bit of planning, you can really help yourself get ready for retirement. Making changes now can make a difference to your life in the future. The earlier you start, the better, but don’t assume you’ve left it too late to make decisions about your pension arrangements.



Taking your benefits at retirement

At your selected pension date, you’ll have a number of options to choose from. You don't have to make these decisions until you’re approaching retirement, when you may want to discuss your options with your financial adviser.

You will have a number of different choices depending on your health, the size of pension pot you have built up, the type of pension you have and how old you are. You don’t have to buy your retirement income (typically an annuity) from your pension provider. Researching the market to find what is called an ‘open market annuity’ could boost your retirement income significantly.


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