Monthly Archives: October 2022

WHAT TO CONSIDER IF YOU HAVE MULTIPLE PENSION POTS

The employment landscape has evolved significantly over the last few decades and changing jobs multiple times before retirement is now very much the norm. But did you know, there is an estimated £9.7 billion of unclaimed UK defined contribution pension funds?

Over time, it is easy to lose touch with pension savings providers as we change jobs, move home and the companies we have worked for change ownership or close down.

All these events over time may make it very difficult to find your valuable pension savings. So that means potentially ending up with a number of different pension pots. If you’re one of the millions of people with multiple pensions, it may be appropriate to consider consolidating your defined contribution pension pots and bring them together.

NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PENSIONS

Even if you have not had many jobs, you could still have a number of different pensions to keep track of. If appropriate, pension consolidation can simplify your finances and make it easier to keep track of your retirement savings.

Having said this, not all pension types can or should be transferred. It’s important to obtain professional advice so you know and can compare the features and benefits of the plan(s) you are thinking of transferring.

WHAT IS PENSION CONSOLIDATION?

Pension consolidation is the process of combining multiple pension pots into one single pot. This can be done with a pension transfer or by opening a new pension and transferring your other pensions into it. You may want to do this to make it easier to keep track of your retirement savings, or to try and get a better rate of return on your investment.

But there are a few things to consider before consolidating your pensions, such as any exit fees that may be charged, and whether or not you will lose any valuable benefits such as guaranteed annuity rates.

CONSOLIDATING YOUR PENSIONS

REASONS WHY YOU MIGHT WANT TO CONSOLIDATE YOUR PENSIONS
Simplify your finances: If you have multiple pension pots, it may be difficult to keep track of them all. Consolidating your pensions into one pot could make it easier to manage your retirement savings.

Save on fees: If you have multiple pensions with different providers, you may be paying multiple annual fees. Consolidating your pensions may help you save money on fees.

Get better investment options: Some pension providers offer a limited number of investment options. By consolidating your pensions it could give you access to a wider range of investments.

REASONS WHY YOU MAY NOT WANT TO CONSOLIDATE YOUR PENSIONS
Loss of valuable benefits: One key disadvantage is that you may lose out on valuable benefits that are specific to certain pension schemes. For example, some schemes may offer better death benefits than others, so consolidating your pensions into one pot could mean giving up this valuable protection.
Paying higher fees: Another potential downside is that some schemes may have higher charges than you are actually currently paying, which means you would end up paying higher fees. This is something that needs to be carefully considered before making any decisions.

More difficult to access: It’s important to remember that once you consolidate your pensions, it may be more difficult to access them early if you need the money for an emergency. This is something that should be taken into account when making any decisions about pension consolidation.

LOCATE YOUR PENSION FUNDS

If you think you might have lost a pension pot from a previous job, you can use the government’s Pension Tracing Service at www. gov.uk/find-pension-contact-details.This enables people to locate money previously saved for retirement, that is unclaimed. So, it is worth checking if you could have pension funds that have not been claimed.

Finally, one thing you also need to bear in mind is that pension savings are big targets for fraudsters. If someone contacts you unexpectedly offering to help you transfer your pot, it’s likely to be a scam. If you’re concerned, contact the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to check they’re legitimate.

NEED PROFESSIONAL ADVICE TO HELP MAKE YOUR DECISION?
You only have one retirement so you don’t want to make a costly mistake with your pensions that you could one day regret. Before you look to bring your pensions together, it’s essential to obtain professional advice. For more information about how we can assist you through this complex process, please contact us to discuss your situation.

A PENSION IS A LONG-TERM INVESTMENT NOT NORMALLY ACCESSIBLE UNTIL AGE 55 (57 FROM APRIL 2028 UNLESS PLAN HAS A PROTECTED PENSION AGE).

THE VALUE OF YOUR INVESTMENTS (AND ANY INCOME FROM THEM) CAN GO DOWN AS WELL AS UP WHICH WOULD HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE LEVEL OF PENSION BENEFITS AVAILABLE.

YOUR PENSION INCOME COULD ALSO BE AFFECTED BY THE INTEREST RATES AT THE TIME YOU TAKE YOUR BENEFITS.

ONE IN SIX OVER-55s HAVE NO PENSION SAVINGS YET

Despite the fact that the government has been trying to encourage people to save for their retirement through initiatives such as auto-enrolment, there are still too many Britons who have no pension savings at all. Research reveals that a fifth (20%) of people still have no pension savings at all, and people nearing retirement aren’t doing much better.

Even prior to the cost-of-living crisis there have been a number of reasons why this might be the case. For some people, they simply may not be aware of the need to save for retirement. Others may not have enough spare income to put into a pension pot after covering their essential living costs.

MORE COMFORTABLE

However, the most common reason is people believe they will have plenty of time to start saving later on in life. But this is not the case. Even if you are in your 20s or 30s, it is never too early to start saving for retirement. The sooner you start, the more time your money will have to grow.

Findings also highlight the fact that one in six people (16%) who are within sight of their retirement still have no private pension savings, and consequently are missing out on the opportunity to make their life after work more comfortable.

ALARMING NUMBER

At least 17% of people in the UK aged 55 and over admit to having no pension savings (other than the State Pension), which is only slightly better than the average for Britons as a whole – 21% of whom say they have no private pensions.

What this research shows is that an alarming number of people are effectively ‘sleepwalking’ towards their retirement without adequate preparations. But, there are signs that as people grow older, they are becoming aware that a lack of pension savings is a problem – though perhaps not quickly enough.

PENSION DEFICIT

The issue is most visible among adults aged under 35. Nearly a quarter (24%) of this group claim to have no pension savings at all, despite being a generation to benefit from auto- enrolment into workplace pensions. After 35 this drops to one in five, and then to one in six for the over-55s. Clearly, people do start to save more as retirement draws nearer, even if they have missed out on the opportunity to save over many years.

Lack of pension savings is a particular issue for those not in full-time employment. Encouragingly, just 8% of respondents who worked full time said they had nothing in their pension. But among part-time workers this figure was one in four (24%), indicating that part-timers face a potential pension deficit when they retire.

WORRYING STATISTIC

The people worst affected tend to be those not currently working at all – whether because they are unemployed or because they are full-time parents. Nearly 60% of this group said they had no pension savings. Where this is because of full-time parenthood, the parent in question may be relying solely on their partner’s pension in later life. This is a risky strategy, both because that pension may not be enough for both of them, and because of the risk of relationship break-up.

Another worrying statistic highlights that one in five people simply don’t know how much they have in their pension savings. Curiously, this uncertainty grows rather than shrinks as people get older: while 14% of under-35s are unsure, this rises to 22% between the ages of 35 and 54, and then to 24% among the over-55s.

SUBSTANTIAL INCOME

It may be the case that many of those who think they have no pension savings are wrong, and that they do have pension pots from previous jobs (or even their current job) that they don’t know about. The first step for anyone who thinks they are pension-less is to contact the government’s Pension Tracing Service and search through their previous employers to see if they were ever a scheme member.

However, some people will reach the age of 55 (the earliest age that someone can access pension pots) and find that they genuinely have no pension savings. But this isn’t a reason to give up and assume it’s too late. Although a person close to retirement has a lower chance of saving enough to provide a substantial income, pensions can help your money to go a lot further.

READY TO DESIGN YOUR RETIREMENT?

There are a number of ways you can save for retirement, such as through a workplace pension or a personal pension. So if you haven’t started, now is the time to do so. It may seem like a long way off, but the sooner you start saving, the better prepared you will be for your future. If you would like to discuss your situation or concerns you may have about a pension shortfall, please contact us.

A PENSION IS A LONG-TERM INVESTMENT NOT NORMALLY ACCESSIBLE UNTIL AGE 55 (57 FROM APRIL 2028 UNLESS PLAN HAS A PROTECTED PENSION AGE).

THE VALUE OF YOUR INVESTMENTS (AND ANY INCOME FROM THEM) CAN GO DOWN AS WELL AS UP WHICH WOULD HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE LEVEL OF PENSION BENEFITS AVAILABLE.

YOUR PENSION INCOME COULD ALSO BE AFFECTED BY THE INTEREST RATES AT THE TIME YOU TAKE YOUR BENEFITS.

DECIDING WHETHER TO WITHDRAW CASH FROM YOUR PENSION POT

Choosing what to do with your pension is a big decision. If you’ve been saving into a defined contribution pension (sometimes called ‘money purchase’) during your working life, from age 55 (age 57 in 2028) you need to decide what to do with the money you’ve saved towards your pension when you eventually decide to retire.

However, making the wrong decision could cost you heavily in the form of an unwanted tax bill, eventually running out of money in retirement and even a tax credits and benefits overpayment.

So before you do anything, there are things you should consider. Note: this article doesn’t cover pension schemes where the pension you’ll be getting is worked out as a proportion of your pay.

HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU NEED TO RETIRE?
Before you take any cash out of your pension, you need to calculate how much money you actually need. Do you need a lump sum of cash all at once? If so, what are the tax implications? Or would you be better off with a regular income stream?

Remember that retirement could be 30 to 40 years, or more. As well as what you’ll need to cover everyday living expenses, do you have any specific plans for your retirement, such as regular holidays or enjoying a hobby? Or are you thinking of any big one-off purchases or expenditure, like a new car or home improvements? Once you know how much money you need, you can start to look at your options.

WHAT ARE THE TAX IMPLICATIONS?

Taking cash out of your pension can have tax implications if you withdraw more than your tax-free element (typically 25% of your pension). You can leave the rest invested until you decide to make more withdrawals or set up a regular income.

However, you need to make sure you understand those implications before you make any decisions. Otherwise, you could end up with a significant tax bill that you weren’t expecting.

WHAT ARE THE FEES?

When you retire and start taking money out of your pension, you may be charged fees by your pension provider. Some pension providers will charge a fee for each withdrawal you make, while others may charge a flat rate or percentage of your pension pot.

There may also be other charges, such as an administration fee. Taking money out of your pension will also reduce the amount of income you have in retirement, so it’s important to think carefully before you decide to take any money out of your pension pot.

HOW LONG WILL THE MONEY LAST?

Consider how long you’ll need the money to last. If you take a lump sum of cash, it’s likely that it won’t last as long as if you take an income. This is something to keep in mind when you’re making your decision.

WHAT IF YOU NEED MORE MONEY LATER?

If you take cash out of your pension now, it may not be there if you need it later on in life. This is something to consider if you think you may need more money down the line. Even if you’ve seen the value of your pensions fall that doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll have to delay your retirement altogether.

Could you take less from your pension savings until their value recovers, and use other savings instead to bridge the gap? And could you put off any big purchases you’d planned?

WHAT ARE THE RISKS?

Taking cash out of your pension comes with risks. There’s the risk that you could outlive your money, or that the value of your pension could go down. You need to make sure that you understand all of these risks before you make a decision.

OPTIONS FOR USING YOUR DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PENSION IN RETIREMENT

• Keep your pension savings where they are – and take them later.
• Use your pension pot to buy a guaranteed income for life or for a fixed term – also known as a ‘lifetime’ or ‘fixed term annuity’. The income is taxable, but you can choose to take up to 25% (sometimes more with certain plans) of your pot as a one-off tax-free lump sum at the start.
• Use your pension pot to provide a flexible retirement income – also known as ‘pension drawdown’. You can take the amount you’re allowed to take as a tax-free lump sum (normally up to 25% of the pot), then use the rest to provide a regular taxable income.
• Take a number of lump sums – usually the first 25% of each lump sum withdrawal from your pot will be tax-free. The rest will be taxed as income
• Take your pension pot in one go – usually the first 25% will be tax-free and the rest is taxable.
• Mix your options – choose any combination of the above, using different parts of your pot or separate pots.

UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS

This is a very complicated topic and choosing what to do with your pension is one of the most important decisions you’ll ever make and will impact on your future standard of living in retirement.

Worryingly, over a third (35%) of pension holders do not know about the different options available to them for when the time comes to retire, according to research

THINKING ABOUT ACCESSING YOUR PENSION POT?
These are just a few things to consider before taking cash from your pension pot.
As you approach retirement, it’s essential to understand what your options are and obtain professional advice, otherwise you could end up making a decision that you regret later on. For more information or to review your options, please contact us.

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A PENSION IS A LONG-TERM INVESTMENT NOT NORMALLY ACCESSIBLE UNTIL AGE 55 (57 FROM APRIL 2028 UNLESS PLAN HAS A PROTECTED PENSION AGE).

THE VALUE OF YOUR INVESTMENTS (AND ANY INCOME FROM THEM) CAN GO DOWN AS WELL AS UP WHICH WOULD HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE LEVEL OF PENSION BENEFITS AVAILABLE.

YOUR PENSION INCOME COULD ALSO BE AFFECTED BY THE INTEREST RATES AT THE TIME YOU TAKE YOUR BENEFITS.

TAX TREATMENT VARIES ACCORDING TO INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

COST-OF-LIVING CRISIS DELAYS HOMEOWNERSHIP, HAVING CHILDREN AND RETIREMENT

Rising living costs have been so significant in recent months that most UK households will have noticed a squeeze on their monthly budgets. Not only does this have a direct impact on people’s lifestyles, even though they are making every effort to cut back, but it has a knock-on effect on their lifelong goals such as owning a home or retiring comfortably.

Millions of people across the UK fear that the long-term impact of today’s rising living costs could see their life goals delayed or even missed altogether, according to new research. Almost two-thirds (64%),
the equivalent of 33 million people across the country, are concerned about the future due to the current state of their finances.

TACKLING RISING EXPENSES

Households are tackling rising expenses by turning off the heating (48%), reducing their grocery spend (37%) and even driving their vehicles less (24%). However, over half of UK adults (56%) feel they have already done everything they can to save money, while savings have also taken a hit. Nearly a third (30%) no longer have a ‘savings buffer’ to cover unexpected costs.

More than nine million potential homeowners – 48% of all people planning to purchase a home – now estimate they will need to delay this goal, with almost a fifth (18%) of this group expecting it will need to be delayed by five years or more.

WEDDING DREAMS DELAYED

An additional 12% of prospective homeowners now don’t ever think they will own a home due to greater financial pressures. Dreams of getting married (7.2 million potential brides and grooms – 47%) and even parenthood (50% of those who plan to have a/another child – 6.8 million people) have also been delayed as a result.

FUTURE FINANCIAL SUPPORT

Parents who hoped to provide future financial support for their children are cutting back or scrapping their plans. Almost two in five (39%) people who planned to set a lump sum aside for their children now think they will have to delay this.

Almost a fifth (16%) do not see themselves ever being able to help out their children as a result, while 39% of people who had planned to give their children a deposit on their home now say they will delay this. Almost one in four of these parents (23%) say they will never be able to fund their children’s deposit.

LONG-TERM GOALS

Longer term, 45% of people who had dreams for retirement anticipate that they will have to put them on hold. This is the equivalent of over 11 million people across the UK and includes 38% of people in the crucial decade before retirement who expect to delay retirement by at least a year, if not more. More than one in ten (12%) of people think they are never likely to retire.

Despite current challenges having such a fundamental impact on people’s long-term goals, half of UK adults (52%) haven’t sought guidance or support to better understand how to tackle their money woes. Those that have looked for help most commonly turn to price comparison websites (19%), their family (15%) or the news (12%). Only 7% (3.9 million people) have sought out professional financial advice.

PRESSURE ON FINANCES

One way to help ease the pressure on household budgets is to make sure that people are getting all the benefits and tax credits they are entitled to. There are a number of government schemes available which can help with things like childcare costs, housing costs and council tax. Make sure you are claiming everything you are entitled to by checking the government’s website.

Another way to ease the pressure on your finances is to make sure you are getting the best deal on your essential bills. This includes things like your energy bills, your water bill and your broadband package. There are a number of comparison websites which can help you to find the best deals. It is also worth speaking to your current providers to see if they can offer you a better deal.

HEADING OFF DIFFICULTIES LATER DOWN THE LINE
Life is becoming unaffordable for many people due to the cost-of-living crisis. Obtaining professional financial advice is invaluable, especially when navigating more complicated financial situations, such as retirement. Seeking the right help now could head off difficulties later down the line.