Pension Provision

In order to build a retirement fund it is usually necessary to put aside a proportion of income during your working lifetime in order to sustain you in retirement.

State Pension benefits are very limited when you consider that, based on today’s average life expectancy, you could live for another 20–30 years in retirement.

The Government encourage you to save through Pension Schemes by offering favourable tax concessions. Under current legislation tax relief is given on your contributions at your highest rate.

Pension funds are not taxed by the Government.

At retirement you may draw up to 25% (or higher if you have a protected lump sum) of the accumulated fund as a lump sum (currently tax free).

The residual fund is then normally used to provide you with a lifetime income which is treated for tax purposes as earned income.

If you want to maintain your lifestyle in retirement you need to start planning as early as possible. The earlier you tackle the problem the greater the benefits you will receive.

Pension contributions can be made on a regular basis from income or taken from capital.

These types of plans normally form the initial building blocks of your retirement provision if you are self employed or do not have access to an employers’ pension scheme.

Anyone under the age of 75 can effect a stakeholder Pension or Personal Pension and they offer a high level of tax efficiency.

You can make one off single contributions or contribute on a regular monthly basis.

SIPPs offer individuals the opportunity of being more closely involved in the investment process with a much wider range of funds to choose from. Purchase of business premises is a popular choice for SIPP investors.

Please contact us for advice in this area.

These pension schemes offer a very wide choice of investment options and are suitable for business owners.

• Investment Options include;
• Commercial Property
• Investment Funds
• Equities (including unquoted shares)
• Cash
• Discretionary Investment Manager
• Alternative investment funds
• Loans to and purchase of shares in sponsoring employers

SSAS’s are not regulated by the Financial services authority.

Please contact us for advice on this area.

Most people are likely to accumulate a variety of different pension plans throughout their working life.

If you have one or a range of pension plans we can review these and advise whether it is in your best interest to transfer the value to an alternative pension provider, or simply retain it and make some internal improvements.

Your provider may be closed to new business and subsequently have only a small number of investment funds and unable to attract top investment managers. Alternatively your plan may have valuable in built guarantees – we will find out the detail for you.

At your selected retirement date you will want to obtain the best possible benefits available.

We can analyse each plan and provide you with an informed opinion of your options.

We can provide expert advice on whether it is likely to be in your best interest to effect a transfer from one pension scheme to another.

By the time you reach your selected retirement date you may have accumulated a number of different pension plans during your working lifetime, each one offering a number of different options.

Insurance companies convert an accumulated fund into a Pension Annuity using mortality tables based on average life expectancy.

It is a competitive market and rates fluctuate on a daily basis.

You are allowed to transfer your accumulated fund from your present provider to another Insurance Company offering a higher Annuity rate.

Some older type pension contracts offer important guarantees.

We will review all the options on your behalf taking into account your health and financial considerations.

A Lifetime Annuity converts money from your Pension fund into pension income, which is taxed.

There are different types to suit your circumstances.

Specialist Annuity providers will take into account your individual circumstances and the state of health of you and your spouse.

If either of you have a serious illness or condition which may affect your life expectancy this will be reflected in the terms offered.

Smokers are also normally able to achieve an enhancement as are people with minor medical conditions such as high blood pressure and cholesterol.

It is not necessary for you to draw your income as an Annuity in retirement. Instead you may opt to take your tax free cash from your pension find and leave the balance invested from which you can draw a variable income.

There are many different considerations to take into account when reviewing this alternative route. The size of fund, your attitude to risk, your state of health and whether you have other income available.

Phased retirement is a tax efficient means of providing income and gives you the opportunity to stagger your retirement and only to draw what is actually needed from your pension pot, thus leaving the balance of your fund invested with potential for future growth and initially improved death benefits over full withdrawal of your pension fund.

The reality of living too long is that your health tends to deteriorate as you get older and there comes a time when you can no longer manage on your own without help.

This may be a question of buying in care so that you can continue to live in your home or sheltered accommodation, or, going to live in a residential or nursing home.

In most cases there is very limited help from the Local Authority and you are expected to fund the cost out of capital or income. Careful planning can alleviate your worries and concerns.