Retirement

What’s stopping you from retiring sooner? For many, it’s not just finances that are holding them back but their mindset too. If the excitement of retiring is also mixed with nerves, a financial plan could give you the confidence boost you need to take a step back from work.

Finances may play a role in the hesitancy to retire for some people. Yet, others are in a financial position to retire but are still worried about taking that next step. It’s easy to see why you might not want to plunge straight into retirement – it could represent a huge lifestyle change.

So, how could financial planning help you retire sooner? It may provide the confidence boost you need to start the next chapter of your life.

A retirement plan starts with setting out your goals

If you had more free time, how would you spend your days?

It’s been more than a decade since auto-enrolment was introduced, and now most workers automatically become members of their employer’s pension scheme. While more people saving for retirement is excellent news, it could mean you end up juggling multiple pots. 

One option is to transfer one pension to another, known as “consolidation”. It’s usually simple to do and there are many reasons why you might want to transfer a pension. However, there are also some potential drawbacks that you may wish to weigh up first. 

Here are four compelling reasons you might want to transfer one pension to another. 

1. It could make it easier to keep track of your savings during your working life

With each job potentially providing you with a pension, the number of pots you might need to manage could become overwhelming during your working life.

If you’re concerned about running out of money during retirement, you’re not alone. In fact, it’s one of the top financial concerns in the UK. Being proactive and working with a financial planner to create a retirement plan could offer you peace of mind. Read on to find out why.

In an Aegon survey, 7 in 10 financial advisers said their clients’ number one concern was outliving their savings. The good news is that by seeking the support of a finance professional, you can understand what income is sustainable for you and the lifestyle it might afford.

High inflation is playing a role in fears of running out of money

When you retire, you may have a pension pot that you could use to create an income. However, as you may be responsible for managing withdrawals, you might worry about taking too much too soon.

As Generation X, often described as those who were born between 1965 and 1981,  starts to retire, research has found that many don’t feel confident about their financial future. If you’re worried about how secure your life will be once you stop working, there may be some practical steps you could take.

According to a survey from Just Group, 52% of Generation X say they are not confident that they will have enough saved for a good standard of living after work.

It’s not surprising that Generation X isn’t feeling confident about retirement – many are supporting other generations. 3 in 10 are providing financial support to adult children, while around 1 in 10 are helping elderly relatives.

So, you might not only be worrying about your circumstances but those of your loved ones. Supporting others financially could mean you’re neglecting your long-term financial wellbeing too.

More people in England and Wales are celebrating their 100th birthday. It could have implications for your financial plan and creating an income in retirement.

According to a release from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), on Census Day in 2021, there were 13,924 centenarians living in England and Wales. The oldest person to complete the census was 112.

While centenarians represent just 0.02% of the total population, the number of people celebrating the milestone is growing rapidly. In fact, when compared to 100 years ago, the number of centenarians has increased 127-fold. Between 2011 and 2021, the number of people over 100 increased by 24.5%.

Once population is taken into account, the UK ranks as the ninth country for the highest number of centenarians.

Centenarians will have lived through the second world war and decimalisation

The almost 14,000 centenarians who completed the 2021 census have lived through many defining moments.

If you have a defined contribution (DC) pension, the only way to create a guaranteed income for life is to purchase an annuity. An annuity can create financial security throughout retirement, but research suggests many aren’t getting the income they could be because they’re not shopping around.

When you retire, there are several ways you can access your pension to create an income. An annuity is something you purchase with all or part of your pension from an insurance company. It will then pay a set income, either for life or an agreed number of years. In retirement, a lifetime annuity, which will pay an income for the rest of your life, can help to create certainty.

However, you shouldn’t purchase an annuity from the first insurance company you come across. Insurance companies will offer different annuity rates, and this will affect how much income you will receive.

Figures suggest that an increasing number of people plan to work past the traditional retirement age. There are a variety of reasons for doing so and it also could help secure your long-term finances. If it’s something you’re thinking about, there are some things you need to consider.

Almost half of over-50s expected to be part of the workforce by 2030

According to Legal & General research, the number of over-50s in work has increased by 36% in the last year. The rise has been driven by an increase in the number of people in their 60s living and working for longer. It’s not a trend that’s expected to go away either; by 2030, it’s estimated that almost half (47%) of over-50s will be part of the workforce.

Even with the State Pension Age rising, more people are working beyond this point.

How much do you need to save for retirement? It’s an important question, but research suggests that while Generation X is looking forward to the life they’ll have after work, many haven’t thought about the cost.

Generation X, defined as those being born between the mid-1960s and the early-1980s, are beginning to approach retirement. While it can still seem some way off, getting plans and finances ready can help you create the lifestyle you want. Understanding what your retirement lifestyle will cost, and how to pay for it, means you can address potential gaps now to keep your plans on track.

33% of Generation X prioritise socialising in retirement

Retirement is often associated with big-ticket expenses, from luxury cruises to a holiday home in the UK. Yet, a third of Generation X want to prioritise socialising over big-ticket items, according to Money and Pension Service research.