Monthly Archives: March 2024

LIVING LIFE TO THE FULLEST AND ACCOMPLISHING LONG-HELD DREAMS

Early retirement typically signifies reaching financial autonomy before the statutory pension age, usually in the mid-60s. In the United Kingdom, retirees can begin drawing their State Pension at age 66. However, this retirement benchmark is set to increase to age 67 by 6 April 2028.

ASPECTS OF LIFE

During the early retirement phase, the focus tends to be on living life to the fullest and accomplishing long-held dreams. One’s spending might then reduce as activity levels decline, only to surge again later, possibly due to rising care needs.

It’s common for individuals to either overestimate their health or underestimate their lifespan. As average life expectancy gets longer, some people may spend over 20 years or more in retirement – over twice our grandparents’ duration. Yet, as with many aspects of life, this depends on luck.

COMPLEX CALCULATION

In fundamental terms, full retirement implies that your lifetime expenses should not surpass your income plus any remaining assets, such as savings and investments. This can be a complex calculation in many instances. It will require you to weigh your pension and other income sources against your expenditure and evolving needs as you age.

Simultaneously, it’s crucial to consider investment returns and inflation, which refers to the rising cost of living. As we have recently witnessed, everyday prices can escalate rapidly, significantly diminishing the purchasing power of a fixed income or cash savings.

MULTIPLE FACTORS

Embracing early retirement doesn’t necessarily translate to a full-stop on professional life. Instead, many individuals transition into more flexible, part-time roles or switch toward volunteering. This shift allows retirees to sidestep less appealing aspects of working life, such as long commutes or stressful work environments while reaping employment benefits.

Unfortunately, early retirement due to ill health isn’t a choice but a necessity, creating unique challenges for some. Time constraints limit opportunities to plan and build retirement finances. Additionally, careful planning for care and support becomes a priority. Making the decision to retire early is significant and requires thorough consideration of multiple factors.

To determine whether you can retire early, you will need to assess your financial standing. This means calculating your total pension pots, tracking lost ones and considering other possible income sources or debts. Additionally, you need to envision your ideal early retirement lifestyle and estimate its costs.

READY TO DISCUSS NAVIGATING YOUR RETIREMENT JOURNEY?
To retire early, starting to plan sooner rather than later is essential. The earlier you start saving, the harder your money can work for you. Please contact us for further information or assistance in navigating your retirement journey. We’re here to help you plan for a secure and fulfilling future.

THIS ARTICLE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE TAX OR LEGAL ADVICE AND SHOULD NOT BE RELIED UPON AS SUCH. TAX TREATMENT DEPENDS ON THE INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES OF EACH CLIENT AND MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE IN THE FUTURE. FOR GUIDANCE, SEEK PROFESSIONAL ADVICE.

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

DISCUSSING FINANCES MAY FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE, BUT IT IS CRUCIAL TO MAINTAIN A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP

Transparency is the foundation of any strong relationship, which holds true regarding financial matters. It is easy to fall into the trap of assuming that you and your partner have similar financial habits and attitudes.

STAY ON TRACK AND WORK TOGETHER

Open conversations about finance can help set expectations, resolve issues, formulate a budgeting plan that suits both partners and construct a robust financial plan. Aim to establish mutual goals. Having individual life objectives is commendable, but it might be easier to stay on track if you feel you’re working together. Setting one or two shared goals provides a tangible target for you as a couple.
The significance of setting goals cannot be overstated. It helps determine how much money needs to be saved and where it should be invested. For instance, placing this fund in a low-risk cash savings account would be prudent if the goal is to upgrade to a larger property in three years. This strategy eliminates the risk of the savings plummeting in value right before they are needed.

However, if appropriate, consider investing funds in the stock market for long-term goals spanning ten or more years. This approach allows your money to grow over time, helping you achieve your goals faster.

TAX-EFFICIENT INCOME AND GROWTH

Tax planning might not be the most appealing topic, but it offers several opportunities that could help your money stretch further. For example, Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) allow each partner
to invest up to £20,000 a year (2023/24), offering the advantage of tax-efficient income and growth. If both partners open an ISA, a combined £40,000 is shielded annually from Income and Capital Gains Tax (CGT).

If your ISA allowances are exhausted, the CGT exemption permits each partner to realise tax-free investment gains of up to £6,000 in the 2023/24 tax year. Married couples or those in a registered civil partnership can transfer investments between one another tax-free, effectively doubling the CGT exemption to £12,000. Remember that the CGT exemption will be reduced to £3,000 from 6 April 2024.

The personal savings allowance provides an amount of interest that can be earned without tax. This is £1,000 for basic rate taxpayers, £500 for higher rate taxpayers and nil for additional rate taxpayers. Married couples or those in a registered civil partnership could consider transferring savings between each other to maximise each partner’s personal savings allowance.

AVOIDING SUBSTANTIAL FINANCIAL HARDSHIP

Discussing life’s darker aspects, such as death and illness, may not seem ideal for a romantic evening, but it’s crucial to ponder how your finances would fare if the worst were to happen. As partners, your financial lives are likely deeply entwined; a serious illness or demise of one could lead to substantial financial hardship for the other.

We’re here to help you navigate these difficult conversations and decisions. We can assist you in selecting the right protection policies and levels of cover tailored to your unique circumstances.

WEALTH AND ASSETS ALLOCATED ACCORDING TO YOUR WISHES
This is also an opportune time to consider drafting a Will. Creating a Will ensures that your wealth and assets are allocated according to your wishes. This vital document guarantees that your money and other possessions go to the intended recipients, fulfilling your wishes.

Having a Will becomes even more crucial if you’re not married or in a registered civil partnership. Even after living together for years, without a Will you have no legal rights to your partner’s estate if they pass away.

READY TO TAKE THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS A SECURE FINANCIAL FUTURE?
Whether it’s deciding on the right insurance cover, drafting a Will or simply creating a budget, we are here to assist. If you need further information or have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. Your secure financial future is our priority.

THIS ARTICLE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE TAX OR LEGAL ADVICE AND SHOULD NOT BE RELIED UPON AS SUCH. TAX TREATMENT DEPENDS ON THE INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES OF EACH CLIENT AND MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE IN THE FUTURE. FOR GUIDANCE, SEEK PROFESSIONAL ADVICE.

THE VALUE OF YOUR INVESTMENTS CAN GO DOWN AS WELL AS UP, AND YOU MAY GET BACK LESS THAN YOU INVESTED.

THE TAX TREATMENT IS DEPENDENT ON INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES AND MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE IN FUTURE.

THE IMPACT OF AN INCREASED LIFESPAN ON YOUR RETIREMENT FINANCES

Living to the ripe old age of 100 could require an additional £260,000 in pension wealth to ensure a comfortable retirement, compared to someone living until the current average life expectancy, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

In 2022, the ONS estimated 15,120 centenarians (people aged 100 years and over) lived in England and Wales, an increase of 3.7% from 2021. The number of centenarians has more than doubled since 2002 (including a doubling of the numbers aged 105 years and over from 300 in 2002, to 640 in 2022).

Similarly, those planning a moderate retirement may need an extra £121,000 in pension wealth if they live beyond the average life expectancy. These calculations stem from the 2022 Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association (PLSA) Retirement Living Standards.

RETIREMENT LIVING STANDARDS AND PENSION POT CALCULATIONS

The standards suggest that single retirees need a private pension income of £15,383 for a moderate retirement and £32,882 for a comfortable one, assuming they have a full State Pension. Interactive investor computations consider someone retiring at 66 and using income drawdown to extract this income from their pension pot.

Life expectancy significantly influences the size of the pension pot you will need, as those living longer may require a substantially larger pension pot to last throughout their retirement. Despite a slight decrease in life expectancies during the Covid pandemic, the number of individuals over 90 actually increased by 2% in the year leading up to 2022, according to recent ONS estimates.

MODERN MEDICINE AND PENSION PLANNING

The advancements in modern medicine are enabling more people to maintain good health for longer periods, impacting our pension planning. With an increasing number of us reaching advanced ages, predicting how long our pension needs to last can be challenging.

Typically, retirees need their pension pot to sustain them for about 17 to 20 years, with women outliving men by an average of three years. However, these are just averages, and many people live beyond 90 years old, requiring their pensions to last significantly longer.

IMPLICATIONS OF LIVING UNTIL 100

If you live until 100, you might need £260,000 more than if you lived until 83 years old. Running out of money could result in dependence on the State Pension alone, providing only a basic, frugal retirement.

It’s also crucial to account for potential care home costs as part of your retirement planning. The average nursing home now charges approximately £61,000 per year, meaning two years in a care home could cost around £122,000, though home care costs are generally lower.

ROLE OF WORKPLACE PENSIONS IN RETIREMENT SAVINGS
Fortunately for those still in employment, nearly all workers automatically contribute to a workplace pension, which can accumulate significantly by retirement. Keeping track of your savings and ensuring you’re on course to meet your retirement objectives is essential.

REQUIRE FURTHER GUIDANCE OR ADVICE?

If you require additional information or guidance, don’t hesitate to get in touch. We’re here to assist you in making informed decisions about your retirement planning.

THIS ARTICLE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE TAX OR LEGAL ADVICE AND SHOULD NOT BE RELIED UPON AS SUCH. TAX TREATMENT DEPENDS ON THE INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES OF EACH CLIENT AND MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE IN THE FUTURE. FOR GUIDANCE, SEEK PROFESSIONAL ADVICE.

THE TAX TREATMENT IS DEPENDENT ON INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES AND MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE IN FUTURE.

£26.6 BILLION IN FORGOTTEN PENSIONS

Did you know as many as 1 in 20 people could have a pension they didn’t think they had? Could that be you? It’s estimated £26.6 billion is currently trapped in forgotten pensions, averaging about £9,500 each.

With most individuals juggling multiple jobs

throughout their lifetime, it’s no wonder that some of these pensions fall through the cracks. Whether due to a change of address or simple forgetfulness, these lost pensions could be the key to a more comfortable retirement.

SEARCH FOR LOST PENSIONS

Losing track of an old pension is easier than you think, especially if you’ve moved house and should have informed your old pension provider. But if you suspect that you have a lost pension, don’t despair. Start by reaching out to your previous pension provider. If you’re unsure who that might be, the government’s Pension Tracing Service can provide up-to-date contact details for your pension scheme.

TIPS ON HOW TO TRACK DOWN YOUR LOST PENSION:

Begin by revisiting your CV or recalling every job you’ve held since leaving school or university. You may have had a workplace pension for each of these roles. Check any old pension statements you might have for details about your plans. The more information you can gather, the better.

CONNECTING WITH YOUR PENSION PROVIDER

If you remember the provider of your old pension, contact them first. When doing so, provide as much information as possible to aid in the search for your pension savings. This includes your plan number (if available), date of birth and National Insurance number.

UTILISING THE PENSION TRACING SERVICE

If you believe you have a missing pension but lack information, turn to the government’s free Pension Tracing Service. Available on the gov.uk website or via phone at 0345 600 2537, this service can provide up-to-date contact details if you remember the name of your old employer or the pension company.

CONTACTING THE PENSION ADMINISTRATOR

The Pension Tracing Service will only provide the contact details of the pension’s administrator. It’s then up to you to reach out and determine whether you have a pension and its current value.

VERIFYING YOUR PENSION ENTITLEMENT

Just because you have pension paperwork from a previous employer doesn’t necessarily mean you’re entitled to a pension. You may have received a refund of your contributions when you left the employer. Some older workplace pensions also required membership for a specific number of years before a pension entitlement was granted.

BEWARE OF SCAMMERS

Scammers often exploit legitimate events, so be vigilant around National Pension Tracing Day. Always ensure you’re communicating with legitimate entities.

KEEP TRACK OF YOUR PENSIONS

If you move house in the future, remember to inform your pension providers of your new address to avoid losing track of your pensions again.

TIME TO TRACK DOWN YOUR LOST PENSIONS?
Have you lost track of pensions from previous employers? Don’t let your hard-earned money go unclaimed. Remember, it’s your money, and you have every right to claim it. Let us discuss how we can help you start your search and secure your financial future! We look forward to hearing from you.

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