Pensions
The New Pension Rules That Could Reshape Your Retirement Pot
The Pension Schemes Act 2026 received Royal Assent on 29 April, but here’s the thing about big pieces of legislation: they rarely change your life the day they’re signed. Many of the biggest changes here won’t take practical effect for several years. Still, it’s worth getting to know them now, because they’ll gradually reshape how […]
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Is Your Old Pension Still Good Value? What the FCA’s 2026 Review Means for Savers
If you’ve had the same pension for 15 or 20 years, you might assume that no news is good news. After all, it’s still growing, statements arrive every year, and you haven’t had to think about it. Job done… right? Not necessarily. In July 2026 Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published a review of certain unit-linked […]
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Pension Myth: You Don’t Have to Take Your Tax-Free Cash Straight Away
For many people approaching retirement, one assumption seems almost universal: once you can access your pension, you should take your tax-free cash straight away. It’s advice that’s often shared between friends, family members and colleagues, but it’s also one of the biggest misconceptions about retirement planning. While taking tax-free cash may be the right decision […]
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Why People Don’t Trust Pensions And Why Ignoring Yours Could Cost You
Unfortunately, for many people, pensions don’t have the best reputation. A recent survey in the FT Adviser found that, out of 2,000 people questioned, only 3.8% said they trust the pensions industry “a lot.” That’s a striking number. It helps explain why many people treat their pension like a dusty folder they’d rather not open. […]
Posted in Pensions, Retirement Planning
Pension vs Property: Which Will Really Fund Your Retirement in 2026 and Beyond?
For many homeowners approaching retirement, property feels like the safety net. The mortgage is nearly gone, house prices have done the heavy lifting and pensions were something to “sort later”. But as 2026 rocks up, more people are starting to ask an uncomfortable question: will property really pay the bills when work stops or has […]
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Are You in the £2,000 Pension Trap? What the 2029 Salary Sacrifice Cap Means for Higher Earners
A quiet but important change to pension rules is coming in April 2029, and if you’re contributing to your pension through salary sacrifice, it’s worth understanding how it might affect you. From that date, only the first £2,000 per tax year of pension contributions made via salary sacrifice will be exempt from National Insurance. Employer […]
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Why You Don’t Need £60k to Make the Most of Your Pension
When people hear they can contribute up to £60,000 a year into their pension, many immediately tune out. “That’s miles out of my league,” they think. But here’s the thing: you don’t need to hit that limit, or even get close, to make a real difference to your retirement. Even modest contributions can grow meaningfully […]
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What Happens to Your Pension When You Die? Why 2025 Is the Year to Recheck Your Nomination
Pensions don’t automatically follow your will. Most defined contribution pensions (the kind you build through personal or workplace plans) pass on according to your nominated beneficiary form, not your estate. If you haven’t nominated anyone, or your nomination is out of date, the pension provider may use discretion to decide where the money goes. That […]
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Your 50s Financial Game Plan: 5 Moves to Make Before Retirement Hits
You’re in your 50s. Retirement’s not here yet, but it’s not some abstract idea either, it’s getting real. These next ten years could be the most powerful for shaping your post‑work lifestyle. Whether you’re behind, on track, or flying ahead, this is the time to get strategic. And no, it’s not about chasing some impossible […]
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No Pension Panic: Here’s Your Retirement Backup Plan
Just as we’re settling into the 2025/26 tax year, the retirement headlines are heating up again. Government chatter about raising the State Pension age to 68, sooner than planned, has sparked fresh anxiety, especially for those born in the late 1960s and early 1970s. And understandably so, because if the rules shift, and access gets […]
Posted in Financial Planning, Pensions