Should I stay or should I go now?

Key aspects that influence retirement decisions

Whatever you want to do when you retire, the better prepared you are, the more rewarding it will be. It’s important to assess the key aspects that will influence your retirement, as the decisions you make can have a real impact on your savings. There are some important considerations to think about.

Timing

• Drawing savings too early is likely to result in lower returns and/or lower lifetime income
• Drawing savings later may not result in higher returns – this depends on how you invest and use your savings

Capital requirements

• Many people withdraw capital from their pension savings not because they ‘need’ it but because they can, and they end up just retaining it in a less tax-efficient environment
• Meeting income needs from capital could be extremely efficient – it may even be necessary

Income requirements

• There are choices to make between generating income now versus providing for your future
• You may also continue earning some income during retirement through paid work, business ventures or even lucrative hobbies
• Your income needs are likely to vary over time, and some expenses are fixed while others are variable. Most critically, long-term care can prove expensive
• Your income preferences are also key – having a known stable income source may be preferable to having a higher but less stable income
• Generating surplus income is inefficient from a tax perspective

Attitude to risk

This is the trade-off between relative safety (which you may choose out of concern) and taking risk (which you may choose with an aim of achieving growth). Your attitude may also change as you accumulate wealth (because you have more to lose) and as you get older (because you have less time to recover if your investments fall in value). But risk is never completely eroded – even with cash or an annuity.

You also need to ask yourself some of the following questions:

• What is my life expectancy, and how much money will I need to achieve my retirement plans?
• How could my income and capital needs change in the future?
• Do I have an effective plan to leave a financial legacy?
• How much money would my spouse/partner need if I die before them?
• How might I protect against the effect of inflation?

Helping you plan and enjoy your future

Regardless of the life stage you have arrived at, it is important to receive expert and professional financial advice on your pension plans and requirements. Talk to Reeves Financial on 01403 333145 or email areeves@reevesfinancial.co.uk about your circumstances, wants and needs. We will then assess how close you are to achieving them based on your current plans – please get in touch for more information.

Source data:

This is for your general information and use only and is not intended to address your particular requirements. The content should not be relied upon in its entirety and shall not be deemed to be, or constitute, advice. Although endeavours have been made to provide accurate and timely information, there can be no guarantee that such information is accurate as of the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No individual or company should act upon such information without receiving appropriate professional advice after a thorough examination of their particular situation. For Reeves Financial, published by Goldmine Media Limited, Basepoint Innovation Centre, 110 Butterfield, Great Marlings, Luton, Bedfordshire LU2 8DL Content copyright protected by Goldmine Media Limited 2017. Unauthorised duplication or distribution is strictly forbidden.