Retirement Planning

Planning for Tomorrow, Today

It’s never too early to start thinking about packing up and taking off to live the dream. All it takes is a plan. Putting it off until tomorrow will simply delay the inevitable.

Pensions are still one of the best ways to plan for your financial security after retirement, but these plans are also one of the most complex and confusing ways to secure your financial future.

Pension experts, such as our advisers at Cotswold, will simplify all the technical details and help you to navigate the complexities of pension planning, so that you can sit back and enjoy your retirement.

Why Conventional Pensions Aren’t Enough

Most people rely on some form of state pension to ensure a comfortable retirement. However, these plans only pay out around £8,000 per annum, which is much less than most people need to spend on rent, bills and food, never mind the medical and nursing costs which are often necessary later in life.

It is therefore vital for you to provide for your own retirement fund while you are still able to earn enough money to do so. However, making the right choice in investments, retirement annuities and personal pension plans can be daunting; especially with so many types of plans out there and terms and conditions which you don’t understand or have the time to study.

"Matthew is a good and clear communicator of the services I was asking about - very helpful educational value to anyone new to pensions"

Mr Preston

At Cotswold Independent Financial services, our experts are on hand to guide you through the various retirement options available and what they mean. Some of the options we can look into include:

Pension Transfers

Sometimes it can be beneficial to transfer your pension funds to a new plan. For example, if you want to bring several pension pots into one place or to simply get a better deal on your pension.

Defined benefit pensions

A defined benefit pension is a work based pension scheme where the amount you receive is based on what you earned and how long you worked for your employer. This is paid as an annual income with the option to take 25% as a tax free lump sum.

Final salary pensions

A final salary pension is a work based pension where the amount you receive is based on your final salary before you retire or leave the company. This is paid as an annual income with the option to take 25% as a tax free lump sum.

Annuities

Annuities are retirement products sold by insurance companies for which you can swap all or part of your pension pot in return for a guaranteed regular income for the rest of your life.

Personal pensions

Personal pensions are pensions which you arrange with a pension provider yourself. What you receive from them will depend on the plan you choose and the contributions you make.

At Cotswold we offer independent financial advice, meaning that we can look into all possible choices available on the market to give you the best advice for your circumstances.

To find out more, simply contact our pension scheme experts today and we will be able to point you in the right direction.

It’s Your Journey

When you contact us, we will ask questions to determine how much you need to live a comfortable retirement. Everyone’s dream is different and what you value will be different to everyone around you. However, money and how you save it is the overriding factor to a more financially secure future.

Taking the first step is easier with support. As experienced retirement planning advisers, our guidance is designed to find you the right way forward. We will:

five step process drawing

1. Determine your retirement needs

2. Work backwards to discover your target retirement income

3. Perform a personal pension audit

4. See if your existing pension will pay out the required amount

5. Identify gaps and select appropriate pensions, investments or savings

We will also ensure that any financial products you choose are flexible enough to adapt to changing circumstances between now and retirement. All of this is supported by our cash flow planning process which helps build a picture of your retirement income, based on different scenarios and rates of return.

Start saving today to live the life you’ve always wanted