Pensions and Retirement Planning - Rest Less (original) (raw)

Everything you need to know about how your pension works

Our pension guides are designed to help you get a clear idea of how pensions work, help you understand pension contributions and tax relief, and provide helpful information about the different ways of managing and withdrawing money from your pension pot.

If you are looking to learn more about how to make the most of your retirement options and how to manage your money in retirement we’ve got plenty of information to get you started.

As a journalistic site, it’s important to remember that we do not provide financial advice and you should always do your own research before deciding on a specific course of action. If you are looking to speak to a qualified financial advisor, you can find one on VouchedFor or Unbiased.co.uk, or for more information, check out our guide on How to find the right financial advisor for you.

If you’re considering seeking professional financial advice on the options available to you, we’ve partnered with nationwide independent advice firm Fidelius to offer Rest Less members a free initial consultation with a qualified financial advisor. There’s no obligation, however if the adviser feels you’d benefit from paid financial advice, they’ll talk you through how that works and the charges involved.

Fidelius are rated 4.7 out of 5 from over 1,500 reviews on VouchedFor, the review site for financial advisors.

Pensions news

The world of pensions is constantly evolving. Here we bring you the latest news updates and insight on what’s happening with pensions and retirement planning.

Pension basics

Learn the basics of retirement planning including making contributions, avoiding scams and the different ways of taking money from your pension.

Whether you are considering investing in a pension for the first time, want to learn about the various pension terms and schemes, or are self-employed and want to understand your options, our introductory pension guides can help you navigate the world of retirement planning.

The State Pension explained

Pension types

There are various types of pension available to help you save for retirement, including workplace pensions, personal pensions and the State Pension. We cut through the jargon to explain how different kinds of pension work.

Saving for your retirement is one of the most important things you’ll ever do, and there are various different types of pension to help you grow your nest egg .

State Pension

The State Pension forms the bedrock of most people’s retirement income, but it’s not always easy to work out exactly how much you’ll be entitled to, or when you can claim it. Our guides explain who’s eligible, what the amount you’ll get is based on and how it’s changing.

The State Pension explained

In our self-employed pensions section, we discuss the various different pension options available to you if you’re self-employed and explain how pension tax relief works, how much you can pay into your pension and more.

Pension tax relief, allowances, and law

Learn more about the latest in UK pension legislation. From understanding how pension tax relief works to learning more about the various annual and lifetime pension allowances and what happens to our pensions when we die.

Approaching retirement

If you’re approaching retirement and want to understand your options, or simply learn more about how to maximise your pension savings in the final years before retirement – our essential pension guides are designed to help you make informed decisions as you approach your retirement age.

Preparing for retirement: Your eight-step pension checklist

Our pensions are often the most important savings that we’ll make in our lifetime. Given that we rely on our pensions to support us throughout retirement, it’s a good idea to check on them every few years. That way, you can be sure that your finances are on track for the type of lifestyle that you want, and expect later on.

If you are looking for help with your pension and want to speak to someone, our helpful guide offers some helpful starting points to make those initial steps a little bit easier.

If you’re considering seeking professional financial advice on the options available to you, we’ve partnered with nationwide independent advice firm Fidelius to offer Rest Less members a free initial consultation with a qualified financial advisor. There’s no obligation, however if the adviser feels you’d benefit from paid financial advice, they’ll talk you through how that works and the charges involved.

Fidelius are rated 4.7 out of 5 from over 1,500 reviews on VouchedFor, the review site for financial advisors.

How to get advice on your pension

Pension contributions

The payments you make into your pension, and those from your employer if you belong to a company scheme, are highly tax-efficient. We explore how much ideally you should be paying into your pension, and how there are limits on the amount you can contribute, both annually and overall.

The amount you should be paying into your pension depends on how much you already have saved, your financial situation and how close you are to retirement.

Managing your pension

From learning how to trace lost pensions and weighing the pros and cons of consolidating multiple pension pots to understanding where your pension is invested. Our guides to managing your pension can help you make an informed decision on how best to manage your pension.

Should I consolidate my pensions?

Get a free Pension Health Check

If you’re considering seeking professional financial advice on the options available to you, we’ve partnered with nationwide independent advice firm Fidelius to offer Rest Less members a free initial consultation with a qualified financial advisor. There’s no obligation, however if the adviser feels you’d benefit from paid financial advice, they’ll talk you through how that works and the charges involved.

Fidelius are rated 4.7 out of 5 from over 1,500 reviews on VouchedFor, the review site for financial advisors.

Free pension check by VouchedFor

Withdrawing your pension cash

Learn more about the different ways in which you can take your pension benefits, the process for withdrawing money and the implications of doing so on other aspects of your finances.

Should I take my tax-free pension cash at 55?

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