Pension planning & retirement advice.
Helping clients understand what they've already got, bring old pensions together, and build a clear plan for the retirement income they actually want.
What's included
- Pension reviews and consolidation of old workplace or personal pensions
- Retirement income planning – turning your pension into an income in the way that suits you, whether that's drawdown, an annuity, or staged withdrawals
- Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs) for those who want more control
- Modelling "when can I afford to retire?" in plain, practical terms
Worth thinking about before you move or draw on a pension
- Moving a pension isn't always the right thing to do. Some older schemes have valuable features, such as guaranteed annuity rates, protected tax-free cash or lower charges, that could be lost on transfer. I'll check these before making any recommendation.
- With drawdown, your income isn't guaranteed and depends on investment performance, so it's possible to run out of money, particularly if you take too much or investments perform poorly. To help guard against this, I build a cash flow forecast to see how your plans might hold up over time, though no forecast can guarantee the outcome.
- I don't advise on transferring out of defined benefit (final salary) pension schemes.
Who this is for
Pension planning matters at every stage – whether you've built up several old workplace pensions over the years and aren't sure what you actually have, you're approaching retirement and need a clear income strategy, or you're some way off but want to check you're on track. I see clients by appointment at Victoria Colonnade in Leamington Spa, visit clients at home elsewhere across Coventry and Warwickshire, and work just as thoroughly with people anywhere else in the UK by phone or video.
This is where being independent really counts: I've no incentive to recommend one provider over another, or to leave an old pension where it is just because reviewing it properly is more work than leaving it alone. I'll research the whole market and recommend whatever genuinely suits your circumstances.
How it works
Introduction & Fact-Find
A proper conversation about your existing pensions and what retirement looks like for you – face to face in Leamington Spa or Warwick, or by phone or video.
Diagnosis & Research
I gather details of your existing pensions and review the whole market for fees, performance and better-suited alternatives – independent means no shortlist, no restricted panel.
Presentation & Recommendation
You get a plain-English recommendation, with every cost, charge and risk laid out clearly – whether that's consolidating, adjusting your strategy, or leaving things as they are.
Consent & Implementation
Once you're happy to proceed, I confirm the details, get your consent, and put your pension plan into action.
Ongoing Advice & Reviews
Regular check-ins to keep your plan on track as your circumstances and the markets change.