7 things to do if you’re retiring in 2020

May 15, 2020

Are you planning to retire this year? If so, congratulations! Retirement is a milestone you may have been looking forward to for years, but it’s not one you should just dive into. There are steps you should take to ensure your retirement lives up to expectations.

1. Think about the retirement lifestyle you want

You might have spent a lot of time looking forward to retirement, but have you really thought about the lifestyle you want? Often, we focus on giving up work and getting more free time for ourselves. Yet, how we’ll fill that time can end up being forgotten about or we focus on the big events we have planned.

Thinking about the day-to-day lifestyle you hope to achieve not only gives you some direction, but is important for planning your finances too. Are you looking forward to pottering in the garden or do you hope to indulge in new hobbies? Are you planning to travel more or spend more time with loved ones? Without a blueprint, retirement can end up falling short of expectations.

2. Make a budget

With an idea of the lifestyle you want to achieve in mind, it’s time to start putting together a budget. This should cover two areas. The first should look at what your day-to-day outgoings need to be to meet your goals, from covering essential bills to disposable income to spend on luxuries. This can give you an idea of the regular income your pension needs to generate throughout retirement.

Second, you should list one-off expenses that you plan to make in retirement. Typically, retirement spending is at its highest during the first three years as we make big-ticket purchases. This could be renovating your home or travelling more. Remember to factor these in when assessing your pension and how to access it.

3. Assess how long your pension will need to last for

An annual budget isn’t much use if you don’t think about how long you’ll need to draw this income for. As a result, life expectancy is an important part of retirement planning.

Whilst retirement age is rising, we’re living far longer than previous generations. Those looking forward to retiring in 2020 may expect to live for several more decades. Therefore, your pension needs to stretch further too. Understanding how your wealth and pension will deplete over the next 30 years or more can provide confidence that you’ll remain financially secure throughout your lifetime.

At this point, you should also consider the impact of inflation. Inflation means the cost of living rises and whilst this makes relatively little difference year-to-year, over the long term the impact can be significant.

4. Find out what State Pension you’re entitled to

The State Pension can provide a base to build your retirement income on. It’s a reliable source of income that will last throughout retirement. How much you receive will depend on your National Insurance record. Those receiving the full State Pension in 2020/21 will receive £175.20 per week. If you haven’t already checked when you’ll receive the State Pension and how much you could receive, you should do so here.

5. Review your pension pots

Over your working life, you’ve been paying into a pension, but understanding how this translates into an income can be difficult. This is why reviewing your pension pots to create a plan that’s tailored to you is important.

If you have a Defined Benefit pension, also known as a Final Salary pension, this will provide a regular income for the rest of your life.

If you have a Defined Contribution pension, you will need to decide how and when to access your pension. The options include purchasing an Annuity, which will provide an income for life, and entering Drawdown, which allows you to take flexible payments whilst your savings usually remain invested.

Reviewing your pensions before retirement means you can see how they align with your lifestyle goals and help make the right choices for you.

6. Evaluate your other assets

Whilst pensions are often the focus of retirement planning, other assets play a role too. Even if you don’t intend to use other assets to fund retirement, it’s worth understanding what your options are. Other assets to consider include savings, investments and property.

7. Seek financial advice

Effective retirement planning involves pulling together numerous different strands to create the lifestyle you want. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to retirement so it can be difficult to know what is right for you. This is where financial planning and advice can be invaluable. We’ll combine your lifestyle goals with the financial means to help you create a retirement blueprint that provides confidence as you start the next chapter of your life.

Please note: A pension is a long-term investment. The fund value may fluctuate and can go down, which would have an impact on the level of pension benefits available. Your pension income could also be affected by 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.

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I would highly recommend Darius and John. I’ve used a financial adviser previously and could never get in contact with them when I needed their help. Stratton Wealth Management have been excellent from the start. They are always available to talk, and they also don’t talk in financial jargon!

Dave Rigby -

A client since 2015

Having recently transferred my financial management to Stratton Wealth Management, I have been extremely impressed with the highly professional service I have received. I feel I have been fully involved in all decision making, and the company's highly skilled advisers have shown commitment and patience in any dealings I have had with them. I have also always found them to be easily accessible for any discussion I may require.

Denise Thornton -

A client since 2019

As a business owner and father of four children, finances are usually the last thing we think about. Stratton oversees and manages our finances, both in terms of advice for my business and our personal investments. It is comforting to know that our retirement, investment and life insurance planning has been taken care of. Darius and John are always so efficient in dealing with our affairs. As someone with no real understanding of the ins and outs, it has been fantastic to have experts giving us great advice and making sure our best interests are always the top priority.

Lee and Claire Parkinson -

Clients since 2016

Darius deals with my family’s finances and is a very trusted adviser. We meet a number of times a year, but I know I can call him any time if I have any questions. He is proactive, helpful and friendly!

Jonathan Dennis -

A client since 2019

I knew I needed to begin saving and planning for the future but didn’t know where to start. Stratton helped me to understand my finances and put together a savings plan that is affordable and works for me. I now have and an ISA and a pension, and whilst retirement is many years away, I have the peace of mind that I am saving for my future. I look forward to working with them for many years to come.

Martin Corrigan -

A client since 2016

I have been impressed with the advice and service provided by Stratton Wealth Management and have always found Darius to be approachable, dependable and highly professional in his approach. It is reassuring to be able to have such a high level of confidence and trust when it comes to financial advice.

Russell Jones -

A client since 2018

Many thanks indeed for your in depth report for my client Mrs H – it is most thorough and above all readable. This might sound particularly strange; however you may well gather that in my profession we see many such reports, and I often feel that if the adviser fills it with charts and graphs it evidences a level of research. In truth most of what is produced is readily obtainable from the internet.

I would like to thank you (and your organisation) for your prompt and professional attention to my requirements on behalf of my client. As a practice we shall definitely be putting Stratton Wealth Management on our “preferred supplier list".

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A client since 2015