Deciding to stop working is a big decision. While we celebrate our clients entering the next exciting phase of their lives, we understand that people often feel they are at a crossroads as they approach their intended retirement age.
Our proven Values-Based Financial Planning Process allows us to explore important questions with you to understand your specific circumstances and give you the confidence and reassurance to take the next step, allowing you to spend retirement on the things that matter to you.
What does retirement mean for me?
For some people deciding to stop work suddenly is a scary concept, however you don't have to jump in at the deep end! An alternative could be phasing your retirement to ‘dip your toe’ into what your new lifestyle will look like. We can help you work out what the best option is for you and offer support along the way.
Whatever you decide, having a clear focus on what retirement means for you will allow you to make better decisions around the timing and journey that fits your individual needs. For example, consider what you hope to enjoy in retirement and the aspects of a work-free life you're looking forward to. It might be more time with family and friends, exploring the world, taking up new hobbies, making some home improvements, or more time to relax! You might also want to be honest about your concerns about stopping working. Will you miss having regular contact with colleagues? Are you worried about losing your sense of purpose? Understanding what you might lose when stopping work and how you might fill the gaps will help you to make a plan you can be confident in.
How much money will I need?
You've spent your life saving, investing, and accumulating your assets for your future retirement. Now the time is here you may be asking how much is enough and will my funds last?
Understanding your spending needs: exploring your current income, budget and debt position, potential future costs and inflation adjusting, allows us to review your plan and make tactical adjustments regularly.
Distinguishing between essential and discretionary expenditure is a great starting point. Still, preparing for the unforeseen costs, good or bad, we can stress-test your plan before you make a retirement decision.
We'll also discuss what else you want to achieve in retirement: Will you want to help your children or grandchildren financially? What if you need to fund long-term care in the future? Can your financial plan allow for this, or will you need further action to ensure this is possible?
All of this can be built into your financial plan so you can feel confident that you can settle into a worry-free retirement!
Are my pensions, savings and investments working for, or against, my retirement goal?
Rather than sleepwalking into retirement and delaying your decision to stop working, we analyse where you are now, where you want to be, and what you need to do to give you the highest probability of achieving your goals, whether in retirement or otherwise.
Different assets often have different returns, costs, objectives, and tax considerations. Aligning these into a single long-term strategy that works for your individual requirements is the key to retirement confidence.
Retirement isn’t all about the numbers, it’s about creating a fulfilling life. It's not just about the 'how much' it's about the 'what'. Our team of experts is here to be your guide, not just through financial planning, but through your entire journey transitioning into this exciting new chapter. We'll work with you to understand your unique vision, goals, and concerns, and then develop a personalised plan that helps you achieve them.