For You / Pensions & Retirement
For individuals & business owners
Pensions & Retirement Planning
Retirement should be something to look forward to, not something to worry about. We help you understand your pensions, your options, and what comes next.
This service supports clients who are:
Overview
A clearer view of your retirement
Most of us have a vague sense of what we want retirement to look like. Travel a bit more. Work a bit less. Spend more time with family. The harder question is whether the money will actually support that life, and for how long.
We start by looking at what you already have. Old pensions from past jobs, current pension contributions, ISAs, other savings, and any property or business interests that will play a part. We make sense of the whole picture, identify gaps, and build a plan that fits the retirement you actually want.
Whether retirement is decades away, just around the corner, or already underway, the goal is the same: clarity on where you stand, and a plan you can trust.
How we help
- Track down and review old pensions
- Combine pensions where it makes sense
- Show you how much income you can expect
- Plan how to take it tax-efficiently
- Help with final-salary (defined benefit) pensions
- Cash flow modelling so you can see the years ahead
In detail
Whether you are working, near retirement or already retired
Most clients fall into one of two camps. The advice for each is different.
For individuals and families
We help people review their existing pensions, work out whether they are saving enough, and plan how to take the income when the time comes. We will show you what your retirement could look like at different ages, and what changes today could mean for the years ahead.
For business owners
Many business owners put their company first and their own retirement second. We help directors and owner-managers build a plan that uses the business sensibly, including pension contributions from the company, and that lines up with how and when you want to step back. Personal and business goals, planned together.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
What is the pension annual allowance for 2025/26?
The standard annual allowance is £60,000 for the 2025/26 tax year, or 100% of your earnings if lower. Higher earners with adjusted income above £260,000 may have a tapered allowance. Carry forward allows you to use unused allowance from the previous three tax years.
Can I take money from my pension before age 55?
Normally not without a tax penalty, unless you have a protected pension age or are in serious ill health. The minimum pension access age rises from 55 to 57 in April 2028 for most people.
What happens to my pension when I die?
Currently, defined contribution pensions sit outside your estate for inheritance tax. From April 2027, most unused pensions will come within the IHT net. The way pensions are passed on depends on the type of pension, the age at death, and your nomination of beneficiaries. Keeping nominations up to date is important.
Should I take an annuity or drawdown?
It depends on your priorities. An annuity provides a guaranteed income for life with no investment risk. Drawdown keeps your pension invested and offers flexibility, but the income is not guaranteed. Many people use a combination.
See how we helped
A couple in their late 50s, retiring with confidence
A real, anonymised example of this advice in practice.
The first conversation is free
Talk to a retirement specialist
Book a no-obligation conversation. We’ll talk through where you are now and explore whether we can help.
Book a meeting →The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate Wills, Trusts, Tax advice or Cash Flow Planning. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and may be subject to change in the future. The value of your investments can go down as well as up, so you could get back less than you invested.