Retirement planning can be complicated. Getting help early might be the key to retiring comfortably – but even if you're behind on savings, we could find unexpected ways to improve your situation.
These are the questions we help our clients answer every day when it comes to retirement planning.
Will I have enough money to live the retirement I've planned for?
Drawdown, annuity, or a combination? What's best for my situation?
Are you taking full advantage of tax relief and employer matching?
Planning for longevity means your money needs to last 20-30 years or more.
Ensure your retirement income maintains its purchasing power over time.
Would bringing them together save fees and simplify your planning?
Probably the most ignored part of your everyday finances is putting money towards retirement. For some, it's decades away. Others feel they're so far behind that it's hopeless. Neither is true – it's never too late to start, and it's never too early.
The average UK retiree needs around £19,000 per year for a moderate lifestyle – but many find themselves with less than half that. Without proper planning, you could face difficult choices: retire later than you'd hoped, accept a lower standard of living, or continue working part-time into your 70s.
We help you answer the big questions: when can you afford to retire? How much income will you need? What's the most tax-efficient way to access your pensions? And crucially – will your money last?
The average UK retiree needs £19,000 per year for a moderate lifestyle. We'll help you plan to exceed this and enjoy the retirement you deserve.
We'll help you determine how much income you'll need and how to generate it sustainably.
Bring your pensions together to reduce fees and simplify your planning.
Maximize your retirement income by minimizing unnecessary tax.
Plan for potential care costs in later life to protect your wealth.
Ensure your retirement income maintains its purchasing power.
Balance enjoying your retirement with leaving a legacy for your family.
We'll discuss your family situation, assets, and goals. This helps us understand what you're trying to achieve and who you need to protect.
We'll calculate your potential inheritance tax liability and create a comprehensive estate plan that minimizes tax while protecting your loved ones.
We'll coordinate with solicitors, accountants, and other professionals to put your estate plan in place – and review it regularly as your circumstances change.
If you die without a will (called dying "intestate"), the law decides who gets what. Your unmarried partner gets nothing. Your stepchildren get nothing. And if you have children under 18, the court decides who looks after them.
The fix: Make a will. It doesn't have to be complicated or expensive, but it does need to exist.
DIY wills are cheap, but they're often invalid due to incorrect execution or ambiguous wording. This can lead to expensive legal disputes that cost far more than a professionally-drafted will.
The fix: Use a qualified professional to draft and witness your will properly.
Marriage automatically revokes your will (unless it specifically mentions your upcoming marriage). Divorce doesn't revoke it, but removes your ex-spouse as a beneficiary. New children, new houses, new assets – all need to be reflected in your will.
The fix: Review your will every 3-5 years, and always after marriage, divorce, births, or significant changes in assets.
Many people think inheritance tax only affects the very wealthy. But with house prices rising, more "ordinary" families are being caught out. A £500,000 house plus a £200,000 pension could easily trigger IHT.
The fix: Calculate your potential IHT bill and consider strategies like lifetime gifts, trusts, or life insurance to cover the cost.
While everything passing to a spouse is inheritance tax-free, it can actually increase the tax bill when the second spouse dies. It can also cause problems if your spouse remarries or develops dementia.
The fix: Consider using trusts or making use of both partners' tax-free allowances to minimize the overall tax burden.
Estate planning doesn't have to be morbid or complicated. We'll help you create a plan that gives you peace of mind – and protects the people you care about.
Initial consultation is completely free with no obligation.
