If you opened a defined contribution (DC) pension in the 1990s or 2000s, the charges you’re paying could be higher than comparable pensions opened more recently. Between now and your retirement, the difference could add up to thousands of pounds. Research conducted by the Institute for Fiscal Studies found that many older DC pensions deliver “poor value for money”. Among people in their 50s, the average annual fee for a DC pension taken out in the 1990s is above 1.1%. This co

If you’re nearing retirement, you may be starting to think about planning the next stage of your life. What steps spring to mind? You may prioritise organising your pension, claiming your State Pension, or reviewing how much you have in a savings account. These steps are important for creating security, yet good retirement planning goes further than your finances. So, what should retirement planning include? Setting out lifestyle goals is crucial for building a retirement pla

When you retire, your income may be coming from multiple sources, and it may not be regular. This can lead to some retirees being overtaxed. While you can claim back overpaid tax, it could affect your plans and you may not realise you’ve paid too much. Understanding your tax liability can help you manage your budget and income in retirement. Retirees have overpaid around £835 million in tax since 2015 In the last quarter of 2021 alone, HMRC returned more than £42 million in o

The 2022/23 tax year has only just started, but you should already start thinking about how you’ll use your allowances over the next 12 months. It can help maximise your assets. In the 2022/23 tax year you can deposit up to £20,000 into ISAs. If you don’t use this allowance before the end of the tax year, you lose it. You can save or invest tax-efficiently through an ISA, so making full use of your allowance can help your money go further. The period from February to the begi

Over the last two years, investors have experienced a lot of volatility. If you’ve been tempted to change long-term plans, data can highlight why you shouldn’t panic. At the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, markets fell sharply, and investors continued to experience volatility as the situation and restrictions changed. Just as things were slowly getting back to “normal”, tensions with Russia began to rise and stock markets reacted strongly when Russia invaded Ukraine in Februa

Throughout March, the war in Ukraine continued to dominate headlines and affect investment portfolios around the world. Many companies, from well-known businesses like L’Oréal and Coca-Cola to smaller firms, have withdrawn operations from Russia, including online sales. Others, such as Unilever and Nestlé, have halted investment in the country but are continuing to provide some goods. This has led to some volatility within the markets, although they did rally towards the end

Getting the most out of retirement and reaching your goals requires planning. Not thinking about your post-work years until you reach that milestone can mean that a retirement that promised much, falls short. While you might daydream about giving up work, pinning down the details, from your lifestyle to your income, means you’re more likely to turn your dream into a reality. This guide can help you start to think about the retirement you want and the steps you need to take to