Pensions
At-Retirement Advice
The decisions you make in the final stretch before retirement shape the next 25 years. We help you walk into retirement with a clear plan, not a series of irreversible choices.
Why Choose Us
Get the run-up to retirement right
At-retirement planning blends pension consolidation, tax-free cash strategy, annuity vs drawdown choice and tax phasing into one cohesive plan — ideally several years before you stop working.
- Pension audit and consolidation review 3–5 years out
- Tax-free cash phasing modelled against your spending profile
- Annuity vs drawdown vs hybrid options compared honestly
- Enhanced annuity quotes obtained for health-impaired clients
- MPAA and ongoing contribution implications made explicit
The value of pensions & investments and any income from them can fall as well as rise and you may not get back the original amount invested.
Your Journey
A straightforward process
Retirement Snapshot
We capture every pension, expected state pension, ISAs and target retirement date.
Income Strategy
We model annuity, drawdown and hybrid blends against your spending plan.
Written Recommendation
You receive a clear suitability report covering tax-free cash, income source and timing.
Implementation & Ongoing
We arrange crystallisation and income, then add the plan to our annual review service.
FAQs
Common questions
When should I start at-retirement planning?+
Ideally 3–5 years before your target retirement date. That gives time to consolidate, de-risk where appropriate and model income options before any irreversible decisions are made.
What are the main income options?+
Tax-free cash up to 25% (subject to allowance), flexi-access drawdown, lifetime annuity, fixed-term annuity, and uncrystallised funds pension lump sums (UFPLS). Many retirements combine two or more for the right mix of guarantee and flexibility.
Should I take maximum tax-free cash on day one?+
Not always. Phased crystallisation — taking tax-free cash and taxable income in tranches — can keep more of the pot growing and reduce overall income tax. We model the trade-off explicitly.
Are annuity rates worth considering again?+
Annuity rates have improved materially in recent years and are once more a genuine option for income certainty, particularly to cover essential spending. Enhanced annuities for health-impaired clients can offer significantly more.
Can I keep working while drawing pension?+
Yes. You can take pension income while continuing to work, but flexibly accessing taxable pension income usually triggers the Money Purchase Annual Allowance, reducing future contribution allowance to £10,000 per year.
Walk into retirement with a plan
Book a no-obligation at-retirement conversation. We'll show you the options before you make any decision you can't undo.