One thing retirement is not, is an age. Not any more anyway. Gone are the days of being told to stop working one day and pick up your State Pension the next. Today you have new freedoms to decide when and how you retire.

Pension freedoms in 2015 fundamentally changed the rules for cashing in your pensions. Current rules allow you far more freedom and flexibility over how to take your pension than in previous generations.

If you’ve saved into a defined contribution pension scheme during your working life, you’ll eventually need to decide what to do with the money you’ve saved towards your pension when you retire, or at age 55, whichever is sooner.

Leaving your pension invested

You may not be ready to take your pension at the age of 55. Leaving it invested and continuing to contribute can provide you with more retirement income once you are ready to take you are ready to take it out. Obtaining professional financial advice will ensure that you have your pension invested effectively.

Withdrawing your entire pension

At the other end of the scale, you have the option to withdraw all the savings in your pension at once. But this option has serious drawbacks, as clearly you won’t be able to take an income from your pension if you’ve withdrawn all the money. You may also receive a significant tax bill to pay. While the first 25% of your pension can be taken tax-free, you’ll pay income tax on the rest at your highest marginal rate. It would be unwise to do this without obtaining expert professional financial advice.

Withdrawing a portion of your pension

You can withdraw a lump sum from your pension and leave the rest invested to continue growing. Up to 25% of the lump sum will be tax-free and the rest will be taxed as income. So, the amount of tax you’ll pay will depend on your other sources of income.

Buying an annuity

An annuity is a guaranteed income for life (or for another set period). The income you’ll receive depends on how much you have in pension savings. You can buy an annuity with this, as well as some other factors, such as your health. If you choose to buy an annuity, you can also take up to 25% as a tax-free lump sum when you start your retirement.

Taking a flexible income from your pension

Finally, you can take a regular income from your pension while it remains invested and has the opportunity to grow. You can take this income at whatever rate you want, but you are responsible for ensuring it lasts throughout your retirement years. Your professional financial adviser will help you establish a sustainable withdrawal rate and make sure that the rest of your pension is invested appropriately.

For more information or to discuss any of the issues raised in this article, please contact us. Further information can also be found at gov.uk.

 

A pension is a long-term investment not normally accessible until 55 (57 from April 2028). The value of your investment (and any income from them) can go down as well as up. This could have an impact on the level of pension benefits available. Your pension income could also be affected the interest rates at the time you take your benefits.

The tax implications of pension withdrawals will be based on your individual circumstances, tax legislation and regulation which are subject to change in the future. You should seek advice to understand your options at retirement.

Personal circumstances differ and not all of this information is applicable to every client and/or their business, this information is general in nature and should not be relied upon without seeking specific professional financial advice.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) does not regulate tax advice, estate planning, trusts or will writing.

The content in this article is for your general information and use only and is not intended to address your particular requirements. Articles should not be relied upon in their entirety and shall not be deemed to be, or constitute, advice.

Although endeavours have been made to provide accurate and timely information, there can be no guarantee that such information is accurate as of the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No individual or company should act upon such information without receiving appropriate professional advice after a thorough examination of their particular situation. We cannot accept responsibility for any loss as a result of acts or omissions taken in respect of any articles.

Thresholds, percentage rates and tax legislation may change in subsequent finance acts. Levels and bases of, and reliefs from, taxation are subject to change and their value depends on the individual circumstances of the investor. The value of your investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.

Pareto Financial Planning Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).