Retirement age? What’s that? These days it’s not about a date but a timescale: you might gradually retire over five, ten or even fifteen years. We are now firmly in the era of phased retirement – and it’s largely thanks to pension freedom. Not only c…
People taking income from their pension pots are being unusually cautious at the moment, according to new figures. Economic uncertainty has prompted pensioners without a guaranteed income to spend less and take a prudent approach. A significant drop…
Poor stock market performance has hit investments hard over recent months. This can be a real problem if your pension is in a drawdown scheme. Find out how the market might affect your retirement income – and what you can do about it. When you retire…
You can now draw out your whole pension pot in one go – at least in theory. But, like drinking a whole bottle of champagne, what might sound fun can end up being a headache. If you don’t want a tax-induced hangover, it pays to know your limits. A pensio…
In the blue corner, the long-reigning champion of retirement planning: the annuity! In the red corner, the challenger for the pension freedom crown: drawdown! But which is better? There’s only one way to find out. Some people enjoy a flutter now and…
The world of pensions is ever-changing. Rules of thumb that many people took for granted may no longer apply. This could well apply to final salary pension schemes and some questions are now being asked about whether they remain the ‘gold-plated’ opt…
Many people have saved long and hard for their retirement using a pension to invest their money. It’s not only important to think about how your pension can best fund your own retirement, but also to think about how you could pass on your pension to your s…
What is it about pensioners and parachutes? We turn 55 and feel suddenly compelled to fling ourselves from high places strapped to an outsized duvet cover. But by a neat coincidence, skydiving can teach us a crucial lesson about retirement. Picture the sc…
Pension annuity rates have been falling for some time – and the Brexit vote sent them tumbling still further. Can an annuity still provide could value for you in retirement, or should you explore other options? We take you through some ‘what if?’ scenarios…
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