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Financial Planning Matters… a monthly insight with Jonathan Beardmore, an IFA at Pearson Solicitors and Financial Advisers.
Find out more about Pearson on their website or follow them on Facebook and Twitter. For advice on any financial matters please contact jonathan.beardmore@pearsonlegal.co.uk
EVER THOUGHT how much you would love that second-hand Ferrari in retirement? How about a nice little fishing boat to use in the summer?
All this would be possible if only you could access all of the money in your pension fund. Well great news, you can…. BUT DON’T!
Many of you may have heard of George Osborne’s pension freedoms allowing millions of savers access to their entire pension funds. This is great if you have a large amount in ISAs and other investments.
However, for most people a pension represents their sole savings vehicle to provide for retirement and often the amounts saved are very modest.
The obvious use for such changes are to access most of your pension in early retirement when you can best enjoy it and leave the rest to provide a modest income.
This seems sensible as people with fixed annuities struggle at the start of retirement and then have a surplus of cash later in life when they least need it.
However there is no guarantee to stop frivolous spending; I have had numerous enquiries from people asking if they can fund a wedding or a new car.
All seem important now but will seem less so when their only income in retirement is less than £113.10 per week from the state pension.
In short, pension freedoms are a great new planning tool and can add considerably to the quality of your retirement if managed correctly.
As for those that see this as an opportunity to squander their savings, well they will have to live with the unpleasant consequences later in life.
Pearson Solicitors and Financial Advisers will be holding a season of pension workshops with afternoon tea at The White Hart over the coming weeks and months.
If you wish to register or want to know more please contact me jonathan.beardmore@pearsonlegal.co.uk
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