Your Money - Your Future
Stay focused on your retirement goals
Back to News & ViewsIdentifying any potential financial gaps and bridging these gaps before it’s too late
Retirement is a milestone we all look forward to—a time of relaxation, free from the daily grind of work and financial stress. Achieving a comfortable retirement requires thoughtful planning and foresight. While life may present unforeseen challenges, particularly concerning health, you can take proactive steps to bolster your financial resilience and manage the unexpected.
Regular financial planning is key to assessing your current situation, identifying potential financial gaps, and taking measures to bridge them before it’s too late. Should you find yourself lacking the time or expertise to navigate this journey alone, the insight of a professional financial adviser could prove invaluable in crafting your ideal retirement plan.
Understand your unique needs
The transition from a working lifestyle to retirement brings significant changes. You will no longer receive a monthly salary or face the daily commute. You might have paid off your mortgage, freeing up time and resources for leisure. Yet, with more time on your hands, the costs associated with leisure activities might increase, and inflation remains a constant factor to consider. Recent upheavals, such as surging energy prices, have highlighted how external shocks can disrupt even the best-laid plans.
Consider long-term financial scenarios
As you age, the potential for long-term care costs becomes more apparent and essential to include in your financial planning. A robust plan encapsulates your aspirations, anticipates potential hurdles, and prioritises your retirement necessities. Cash flow planning provides a solid foundation for broader financial strategies, allowing you to stress-test various scenarios like fluctuating living costs, inflation, investment growth, and interest rate changes.
Adapt your retirement planning strategy
Retirement planning requires flexibility and periodic reviews to accommodate personal and external changes. There’s no universal strategy for retirement; what works for one person might not suit another. It’s crucial to contemplate your required income, desired activities, and the degree of risk you’re willing to accept. An annuity offering a guaranteed lifetime income might be ideal for those adverse to investment risks. Conversely, a drawdown approach could be more suitable if you prefer flexibility and can tolerate some level of investment risk. Often, a blend of both may serve your needs best.
Seek expertise for tailored solutions
Professional financial advice can tailor a bespoke plan that remains adaptable over time, ensuring it meets your evolving goals. Retirement is a significant life stage demanding careful consideration. Financial advisers can assist in identifying and prioritising your objectives, assessing your risk tolerance, and formulating a long-term strategy that aligns with your goals. Regular reviews are crucial to keep your plans aligned with your objectives.
Keep reviewing your financial plan
Regular reviews are essential even if you have a solid financial plan in place. Life changes, aspirations shift, and external factors like the financial climate evolve and will influence your retirement strategy. Ensuring your plan remains current and relevant is vital to your financial success. With numerous options available today, it may be overwhelming, yet a comprehensive financial review can help identify the most appropriate path for you.
THIS ARTICLE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE TAX, LEGAL OR FINANCIAL ADVICE AND SHOULD NOT BE RELIED UPON AS SUCH. TAX TREATMENT DEPENDS ON THE INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES OF EACH CLIENT AND MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE IN THE FUTURE. FOR GUIDANCE, SEEK PROFESSIONAL ADVICE.
A PENSION IS A LONG-TERM INVESTMENT NOT NORMALLY ACCESSIBLE UNTIL AGE 55 (57 FROM APRIL 2028 UNLESS THE PLAN HAS A PROTECTED PENSION AGE).
THE VALUE OF YOUR INVESTMENTS (AND ANY INCOME FROM THEM) CAN GO DOWN AS WELL AS UP, WHICH WOULD HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE LEVEL OF PENSION BENEFITS AVAILABLE.
YOUR PENSION INCOME COULD ALSO BE AFFECTED BY THE INTEREST RATES AT THE TIME YOU TAKE YOUR BENEFITS.