Five Saving Strategies to Help You Prepare for Retirement

by Magical Penny on January 29, 2014

Maybe I’m strange but I get a thrill preparing myself for retirement.
It’s not that I’m looking forward to those days – I love my life and being in my 20s.  However,  I’m also aware that everything I do during this first decade of adulthood will have lasting effect on the rest of my life – and if I can help my future self by saving for retirement then that’s great.
Retirement is something most people look forward to.
This is often a time where you have more freedom to do what you want, when you want, assuming of course you have made good preparations for it.
In order to make that happen, a number of things need to be taken into consideration. Health and financial independence are probably the two most important. Of course, there are other things to think about, but if you take care of yourself over the years, and are healthy enough to enjoy retirement, then having the money to do what you want becomes the chief concern. In order to prepare for retirement you need to lay a foundation, a basic plan to carry you through to your golden years and help ensure you’ll be able to live like you want to. Here are 5 suggestions to help you prepare for retirement.

1. Start Saving Early

Don’t wait until you’ve been in the workforce for decades to start putting money away for retirement. The earlier you start saving, the more your money works for you. Put together a budget that will help you put a little aside for retirement as soon as you begin receiving a pay check. Consider the type of lifestyle you envision for retirement, then work to make it happen. It may seem foolish to think about how much money you’ll need to live on in 20, 30, or 40 years, but when the time comes you’ll be glad you gave it proper thought.

2. Plan Ahead

If you want to retire early, or merely want to prepare for that day when you can say goodbye to the work-a-day-world, you need a plan…a destination. Where do you want to go? After you’ve decided how you see yourself living as a retired person you can determine what it will take to get you there. When you retire your life will be different than it is now. You won’t have a job to go to and you may have less money coming in. Your investments may still be paying off, but you won’t be receiving a pay check. You’ll have to watch your expenditures; learn to live within a new budget. Your expenses will probably be much less, also, maybe noticeably so due to the fact that you won’t have to worry about going back and forth to work or feeding yourself while you’re there. Many changes will be taking place quickly and having a plan to deal with them will lessen the stress when they actually take place.

3. Invest Carefully

It will probably cost more to live in the years to come–the cost of living tends to go up, not down. With that in mind, you need to carefully consider your retirement investments.
If you are in Australia and have begun working, you should already have some retirement savings in the form of Superannuation. This is a type of compulsory retirement fund which is funded by your employer who pays pays a certain percentage of your salary into.  Many organisations such as Suncorp Superannuation can help you maximise your funds in order to retire comfortably. These organisations take away all the hard work and uncertainty, and return provide solid growth and peace of mind. Although many people choose to self-manage their retirement funds, it is only recommended to those who actually know a thing or two about investing.

If you are in the UK, your National Insurance contributions that you pay each month will mean you become eligible for the state pension and, if you earn enough and are not self employed, you may be eligible for S2P, a sort of second state pension that tops up the basic one.

That said, it’s recommended that you have other pension provisions in the form of private pensions and investments because a basic state pension does not cover anything above the basics. For your own investments it may be tempting to take a chance on a long shot with the possibility of a huge payoff, but if you hope to truly enjoy your retirement years you’re undoubtedly better off taking a slow, cautious approach to investing. Seek out investments that are diversified like ‘index’ or ‘tracker’ funds. You also need to look for ways to ensure you won’t be taking any sudden, unexpected loses that will cripple your chances of retiring on time. This can be done by considering what’s called your ‘asset allocation’ (the mix of different types of investments).

4. Focus on the Long Term

Taking the slow, steady approach to investments means exercising patience. Not expecting to make a gigantic return on a small outlay of cash is simply common sense. Yes, that may happen occasionally but the smart investor takes a long term approach to putting away money for retirement. Gambling with your future is not the way to go. If the person investing your pension funds were to go to a casino and bet everything on black, you would probably not be happy with them, especially if the ball landed on red. The expectation of making quick money is thrilling but unrealistic. Instead focus on long term investments. Putting your money to work in places that ensure a slow, steady income beats finding out you lost everything by taking a chance you never should have.

5. Seek Tax Advantages

As the time approaches for retirement thought must be given as to how you’re going to access the money you will have saved. Depending on how you have saved you may  face tax consequences. Consulting with a financial advisor can help you find the most equitable solution to this problem by coming up with ways to lessen the tax burden and keep more of your money available for you to do the things you want.  It all comes down to planning ahead in order to enjoy your retirement.

Like this article? Keep reading to keep learning 🙂

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conversation-in-purpose

There’s thousands of blogs on the internet but it’s only a rare few in my experience that make you feel like you’ve found something really special. I felt that way back in 2011 when I first stumbled across Dave Ursillo’s online home.

When I first found some of Dave’s online musings on leadership and creativity, I was struck by his passion and found his writing often-times profound, and written with a  surprising level of finesse in contrast to a lot of my regular reading in the blogosphere.

A little in awe, I didn’t reach out to Dave at the time, but I knew exactly who he was when our paths crossed in Austin, Texas at SXSW in 2012.

Since then we’ve stayed in touch and last autumn I saw an invitation on his personal Facebook page that read:

I want to be a part of 50 conversations on topics that matter, all recorded, all with different hosts, all to go live in January to kick off the new year with a bang. I see them being less-formal, less-promotional, less pointed than interviews — more like “conversations anchored in a purpose.” Nothing prescripted or prepared. Maybe there’s one idea, thesis or story that kicks them off, and 20-30 minutes later, we end up somewhere that we probably didn’t intend.

Dave was also planning a trip to the UK so I thought it would be perfect to record a conversation in purpose, in person!

The topic was my choice: ‘Providing Value.’ It’s a topic I’ve been thinking about a lot, especially over the last few months as I explored what career path I should pursue after leaving my market research job back in 2012. I’m decided to focus on becoming qualified as as financial advisor to add more legitimacy to my work here at Magical Penny, and help me build a career I could be proud of.

I thought Dave would be the perfect interviewee for this topic. As I did when I left my job in my first career in market research, after leaving his job in politics Dave had been wrestling with big issues about how to live a life of service and meaning. He channelled this energy into his first book, Lead without Followers, and has now gone on to build a successful Writers Group with a difference, the Literati Writers.

I’m sure you’ll get a lot out of this interview:

Learn more about Dave here:

http://www.daveursillo.com/about/

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What on Earth is Bitcoin?

by Magical Penny on January 26, 2014

You’ve probably been hearing quite a bit about this Bitcoin thing lately. It’s popped up on various media, news outlets and in the online realm a lot over the past few months. But what is it? And will you be exchanging your current account for a Bitcoin one soon?

One site, bitcoin.org, defines Bitcoin as a “consensus network that enables a new payment system and a completely digital money”. So far, so opaque. Perhaps the best way to look at it is: a currency for the internet.

Maybe the simplest way to explain how the currency works and how it shot to prominence is to give you a quick history lesson.

Bitcoin came into being in 2009.

It was created by Satoshi Nakamoto, a mysterious character who has never given an interview. It was trundling along nicely as the preserve of free-thinking libertarian types until last year (2013) when its value suddenly shot up by 1,000 per cent.

And I actually saw this coming coming and profited!

Here’s what I posted to my facebook account back in April 2013:
bitcoin

In case you’re curious, the value continued going up, crashed, then went on to bigger highs. I got out in October 2013 or so, having doubled my investment (although I wasn’t really investing, but rather speculating!)

Some have the rise in value of Bitcoin was partly down to the global financial crisis and in particular the financial situation in Cyprus. Their economy hit the skids and the Cypriot people were tapped for a few quid. Savers were hit by a government levy in order for their bailout to go ahead.

In light of government interference in individual’s private finances a non-centralised form (i.e. it doesn’t have a central bank) of currency completely free from government meddling suddenly seemed a lot more appealing.

If all this sounds like something you would want to get your hands on, well you can’t, because it doesn’t exist in any physical form.

As stated at the start it’s merely an online thing. If you do want to get some though, there are various ways you can go about getting some.

First you need an online bitcoin wallet

You can go to bitcoin.org and download a ‘wallet’ to your computer and mobile.

Or you can keep your wallet online like I did using http://blockchain.info/ or any other of the multitude of sites that have sprung up. Once you have a wallet you can begin receiving and sending Bitcoin to others using your unique wallet address.

Of course, it is also possible to mine Bitcoin and for this, you will need to invest in some computer store crypto hardware that will enable you to do so effectively. In order to mine Bitcoin, you need to have a lot of processing power, so although it is possible to do so with a single machine, you are unlikely to get very far unless you invest in dedicated hardware and run it 24/7. You can find out more about mining Bitcoin at https://www.masterdc.com/blog/how-to-mine-bitcoin-beginners-guide-to-mining/.

So you now know what it is (sort of) and that it’s hot property (or, data really) right now but what can it be used for? Well the good news is that you can technically buy anything, the bad news is that not every site excepts it. Those that do, include sites like WordPress, Wikileaks and Reddit.

This site documents more comprehensively where you can spend bitcoins.

What kind of advantages does a Bitcoin transaction have over the regular kind?

We’ve already discussed the freedom element, in theory they should be much more secure than credit card and debit card transactions as they don’t contain personal information and Bitcoin payments contain virtually no fees. But as you might expect, there is still risks involved, like if your digital wallet is hacked or you forget where it is stored.

So is it worth investing in then? Economists seem to think that given that its price has fluctuated so dramatically in the last few months, Bitcoin is nothing more than a novelty currency…but there have always been naysayers when new disruptive technologies and concepts are created.

For the record, I’m completely out of Bitcoins for the moment. It was interesting to explore them, and it was a roller-coaster ride watching the value go up and down, but I’ve got other demands on my resources right now and wanted to get off the ride for a while.

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Make Some Extra Space, Make Some Extra Money

by Magical Penny on January 13, 2014

 Home improvements can add a lot to the value of your property, if you do them right.

Most home improvements, if tasteful and well done, will add more to the value of your house than they will cost you to do. One of the biggest projects, but also one of the things which can add most to the value, is to create space by extending up into your loft or down into a disused basement. If you have an unused attic or a workable basement room, you may want to consider converting them into new rooms.

Both will greatly increase the amount of space you have in your home, providing you with a new bedroom if your family is growing, or even a second living space or study if needed. The cost is likely to be recouped in the long run. So if you are looking for more space, the cost of extending need not be prohibitive and could prove much more effective and much easier than upsizing in the property market.

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The average loft conversion is likely to cost you in the region of £11,500. This may seem a lot but the average increase in the value of properties which have had loft conversions is 12.5%. The latest figures from the Nationwide show that house prices rose by 8.4% in 2013 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-25575964). This puts the average price of a property in the UK at £175,826.

 

According Evolution Money’s Home Improvement Infographic, some home improvements could add more value than others. One of the most cost-effective projects would be a loft conversion. The average cost of this is £11,500, but it could add as much as 12.5% to the value of your property. For an average property, this could increase the price by over £21,000. Converting a cellar, which is only really an option for older properties, would cost around £20,000, but is likely to add 20% to the price (£35,000 for an average property). Many home buyers are looking for larger living space in their new property, so adding a conservatory could be beneficial. On average they cost £6,000, but this could mean an extra 6.7% (over £11,000) when you come to sell.

 

Extending within the home can be an ideal solution for those who looking for more space, but who do not want to have to move house. The work itself may be expensive, but the rise in the valuation of your home means that somewhere along the line the cost will always be recouped.

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The True Cost of Car Ownership

by Magical Penny on January 9, 2014

Out of university and starting my first graduate job, one of the significant ways I found to keep my expenses low enough to start saving substantial amounts of my salary was by avoiding car ownership.

So coming across this info-graphic piqued my interest.

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Now, I have to admit, another convenient reason for not driving in my early and mid 20s was because of repeated driving test failure…and quite a big proportion of savings were lost in that journey (!) but the infographic does make an interesting point about the cost of driving, and those costs can be unexpected for new drivers.

What do you think?

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How to get by on a low income

by Magical Penny on January 8, 2014

caution
When on a low income there can be periods between pay checks or benefits payments where things can be very tough, this can be compounded if a financial emergency arises. In many cases those on a low income are very astute at managing their money. When a person or family has a limited income they are generally very mindful on how they spend their money.

 

Regardless of how well a person’s money management skills may be, there is always room for improvement and tactics that can be used to further improve their financial situation. Below is a list of resource for financial assistance along with practical and proven tips on how to control money and get ahead.

 

Budgeting

As mentioned before, low income earners are generally very mindful of their daily, weekly or monthly budget as they monitor every dollar closely. That being said, seeing the ins and outs of your spending can help identify areas of improvement.

 

Savings

One way to stay out of debt is to establish an emergency savings fund. This doesn’t have to be elaborate and whilst you may think you don’t have any extra cash to start, here are some tips on what you can do – find any areas of savings in your budget and then put that cash into a your savings account, sell unwanted items, if you are employed as for overtime, pick up some side work if possible.

By having a savings account, this can help pay for unexpected expenses. This in turn helps you avoid going into debt to through applying for a loan which will end up costing you even more when you add in the costs for getting a loan (fees & interest).

 

Shopping smart

It might sound tacky, but using coupons is a great way to save extra money. Also, purchasing store brand generic items versus other expensive known brands. Utilising big sales is also another great way to stretch the dollar; end of year sales, Christmas sales, etc…

 

The Government

Are you aware of all of the different types of government assistance that is available. There are loads of programs and grants that are available, even loans for people collecting benefits. Visit the gov.uk site to see what may be available to you.

 

Community Initiatives

Visit your local charities or community centres to see what type of services or initiatives they have in place to help low income earners. You may be surprised on the amount of discounts and financial assistance they may be able to provide.

 

The above is just a small example of how a person or family can improve their financial situation. Using a combination of these tips and resources can provide some great financial gains for those who are looking to get ahead.

 

Do you have any other tips to share? Leave a comment below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Is Your Estate in Order?

by Magical Penny on January 8, 2014

is your estate in order

If you are a senior and have not set up a will or checked that status of your estate in a while, now may be the time. Estate planning in crucial to ensure that you assets are distributed exactly as you want them to be in the event of your death.

It will also be easier for your family members if things are effectively planned out prior to your passing. Now that you are in your retirement years, it is very important that you make sure everything is in place.

Here are some tips to help you get your estate in order.

 

Final Will

A final will serves as an official document that states exactly how you want your personal assets and belongings to be distributed after you are gone. A will can be written by anyone who is older than 18-years old and is considered to be mentally competent. Your will should clearly lay out who gets what property and assets, any amount that you want to have donated directly to charity and details about any trust funds you may want set up for some of your beneficiaries. If you have any dependents, you want to make sure that your will includes who you want to look after your dependents in the event of your death. You can also detail how you want your funeral to be arranged and what type of memorial service you want.

 

Beneficiaries

Now is also a good time to check through all of your policies to see who you have listed as the beneficiary, and make any changes if necessary. Check your different life insurance policies and your superannuation funds to see who you have listed as your beneficiary. A lot may have happened in your life since you took out your policy or started your fund, so you need to make sure the information is up-to-date. The name listed as the beneficiary on your insurance policies or superannuation fund will take precedence over anything you have written in your will, so make sure it is accurate.

 

Power of Attorney 

As a senior, it is also important that you think about selecting someone close to you to be the power of attorney in the event that you cannot take care of your own affairs. There are several types of power of attorneys you can decide on, such as a medical power of attorney who is assigned only to make medical decisions on your behalf, or an enduring power of attorney, who only takes control of your finances, and other matters, if you become incapacitated to do so on your own. A general power of attorney is the most common type, and this person only takes over control over a set period of time, such as if you are traveling out of the country. It is important that you have your power of attorney set-up while you are still mentally stable to do so.

 

Important Papers

It is also beneficial to gather all of your important paperwork and keep it in one specialised location, such as a safe or safety deposit box at the bank. It is best if you keep all of your paperwork together, such as birth certificates, life insurance policies, will, marriage certificate, deeds or titles to property, home insurance, superannuation documents, power of attorney paperwork, prearranged funeral paperwork and health insurance information. This will make it easier for your loved ones to sort through all of the paperwork if everything is at one place.

 

While no one wants to thinking about dying, it is important that you have things set up properly to protect your assets and your family. You may want to seek advice from an attorney and/or a financial counsellor to determine what is the best way to split your money or how to set up any necessary trust funds. A little work now will ensure that you wishes are followed out after your death.

This article was brought to you be Pensioner Loans Assistance, a financial blog that helps seniors with all things finance. Get great information on money, how to save and stretch your dollars, debt, government benefits and more. 

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Save Money by Only Buying the Things You Really Need

by Magical Penny on January 7, 2014

If you want to build a secure financial future for you and your family, you need to start saving money from now.

Many people try and track their monthly expenses by keeping a spreadsheet.

This gives them an accurate record of where their money is being spent and how they can stick to a budget. If you want to track every penny that you are spending, and avoid impulse-buying, then keeping a record of your monthly outgoings would be a good start. Here are some more tips on how to be more frugal.

Eating out can be fun, but it will work out more expensive than cooking your meals at home.

Taking your family to a restaurant once a month rather than once a week would make financial sense, and soon you will realise just how much you can save this way.

Adopting a minimalist wardrobe is another tip to save money.

Take a look at your current wardrobe and decide whether you actually need to buy any more clothes.

Using the library instead of buying books and DVDs will save you even more.

Some libraries allow their members to borrow up to 6 books and DVDs for up to two weeks, so why buy when you can borrow. You can easily find free games to play on the internet instead of buying from your local store. There are also websites that allow you to download free movies so you won’t have to go to the cinema.

By practicing frugality, you will become more aware of how much you are paying for items, and you will know whether you are getting a good deal or not. Collecting coupons and going to car boot sales will certainly help you save money.

Putting money away in a savings account means you won’t be tempted to spend it all.

When you get paid, set aside the amount you need for food, bills, petrol and other essential expenses. What you are left with can be put in a savings account to earn interest. This way, not only your savings will grow, but you will also have something for a rainy day.

Bargain shopping is another great way to save money while buying the items you really need. This tactic will stop you from spending too much on non-essential things. Next time you go shopping, avoid designer boutiques and head straight down to flea markets.

If you don’t have the time or you are not keen on searching all the shops for sales, then opt for the convenience of the internet to buy what you need. The best thing about the Web is that you can browse through websites from the comfort of your own home, whenever you have the time.

You can also order your groceries online to save money.

Using a service like Milk and More will help you prevent making impulse buys as you will only be purchasing what you really need. The best thing about this website is that it has no minimum order and delivery is free of charge. All you have to do is sit back and wait for your groceries to arrive. Before placing an order online, make sure you prepare a shopping list of all the essential items you need so that way you don’t overspend.

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4 Unique Tips for Elder Care Planning

by Magical Penny on December 30, 2013

Elder Care PlanningWe all should be aiming to grow our pennies to help us live richer lives.

You may not have thought about it but  making plans for your own care later in life or figuring out how to provide for an elderly parent or other loved one is an important step in this process.

Unfortunately, until you have experienced the unique challenges that can unexpectedly arise in old age it can be very difficult to know what questions to ask and what arrangements to make. To help in that regard, here are four tips from those who have “been there, done that” when it comes to elder care.

1) Include Alzheimer’s Planning

First of all, prepare for the possibility that the senior will suffer from debilitating memory loss and confusion related to Alzheimer’s or dementia. One out of every three seniors will die of Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia and the presence of that disease can radically complicate elder care. That’s why it is prudent to assume that it may be a real possibility – otherwise your carefully crafted plans could be upended and rendered obsolete by the onset of dementia and all the problems it brings.

People afflicted by this disease become unable to cognitively manage their own affairs. They may experience symptoms including fear and panic-inducing confusion, short term memory loss that impairs their ability to take care of themselves, or outright psychotic breaks from reality. The prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease is growing as the population ages, and it is estimated that within the next 10-12 years, the number of Americans with Alzheimer’s will exceed seven million. That’s a 40% increase from where we are today, so if you are doing prudent planning you must take these statistics into consideration.

2) Get Your Documents Sorted Out

To ensure adequate care, you need an adequate plan and that includes health insurance, retirement savings, life insurance to provide for your family and documents such as a Last Will and a Health Care Power of Attorney. Sadly, less than half of all Americans have an estate plan.

The implementation of a comprehensive plan can be legally and financially complicated, so do yourself a favor and start early. Keep in mind that these days most people have digital assets including things like important email accounts, smart phone accounts, digital scrapbooks, bank accounts, brokerage accounts, and online businesses. Make an inventory of all significant digital or online assets along with passwords, and keep that valuable information in a safe, secure place.

3) Seek Out Geriatric Specialists

One of the things family members caring for seniors frequently learn the hard way is that there is a world of difference between ordinary health care and geriatric care. Many seniors complain that they cannot even get appointments with doctors and dentists because once the receptionist finds out that they are in their 80s the doctor’s calendar mysteriously fills up. After all, it can be more challenging to treat the elderly and they may represent a greater liability for health care providers who aren’t experts at working with older people.

Treating a patient with Alzheimer’s also exponentially complicates the situation. A simple dental checkup or appointment with an eye doctor to get a new pair of glasses can be fraught with drama and difficulty.  The solution is to enlist the help of health care providers in all the various fields and medical specialties who have additional credentials as geriatric specialists. They are trained to work with the elderly and they know how to deal with the complexities while providing that extra dose of comfort, reassurance, and respect.

It’s also important to note that women are generally healthier than men, but they should not interpret that statistic as an excuse to skip this step. In fact, the opposite applies because women usually live significantly longer than men, which increases the need to shop for doctors experienced in geriatrics.

4) Shop for a Continuum of Care

Last, but not least, when doing research into retirement or assisted living facilities, think long term. Many seniors spend extraordinary amounts of time and money to find an appropriate place to live, but they overlook the fact that the majority of retirement homes and similar facilities do not offer a complete continuum of care. The key question you need to always ask is “If I live in that kind of facility and get sick, what happens then?”

There are quite a few facilities that specialize in Alzheimer’s care, for example, but they do not, however, have the resources to care for people who need skilled nurses. Once a person requires help to get out of bed, for instance, whether it’s because of a broken hip or recovery from some kind of surgery, they may no longer be able to live in a facility. That will require starting all over again to find a new place to live that offers skilled nursing services, and nobody wants to deal with the challenge of that kind of project plus the subsequent move – maybe to a completely different town – at a time like that. The solution is to buy into a facility that offers all three levels of living arrangements – independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing.

Tom Kerr writes for CompareCards.com in addition to others. He has been an avid writer for years, even winning awards for work he’s done.

 

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Find Your Lost Pensions

by Magical Penny on December 23, 2013

It’s surprisingly easy to lose track of your pensions, especially if you’ve changed jobs a few times and moved around a bit.

How I Ended Up With Multiple Pensions

When I started work after university I was offered a company pension scheme, which I diligently took up.

It was a defined contribution pension which means my employer would give a contribution and I would give a contribution and this money would build up my pension ‘pot’.

This is different to a defined benefit pension, otherwise known as a ‘final salary’ pension that uses your salary and years of service to determine how much you are entitled to at retirement.

Whilst final salary pensions are often more generous and puts the risk on the employer rather than the employee, I quite like defined contribution pensions because it gives you more control over your pension investments. However, you can only take control of your pension pot if you know where it is.

A couple of years later after first being given the opportunity to open a pension account, the company I was working for at the time decided to change pension providers.

I imagined the transfer would be relatively simple so agreed.

But it wasn’t even a transfer! Rather, everyone in the company was given a new pension account, with a new provider.

So already, my relatively new financial life was beginning to get more complicated. I now I had two pension pots – one with my contributions to date, and a new one where my money would be going in the future.

cautionFind Your Lost Pensions

The more pension pots you have, the easier it is to lose track of them. Thankfully, the UK Government offers a free service to help you find any pensions you may have.

Click this link to find your lost pensions.

You’ll be asked to fill in a form and the service will look on pension databases to find what you may have lost.

What To Do With All Your Pension Pots

Once your total pension pots reach £10000 you can transfer them into one easy to manage pension pot, called a SIPP (Self Invested Personal Pension).

SIPPs are great, but SIPPs are not suitable for everyone.

Note that you can’t transfer active pension pots that you are currently paying into. Transferring multiple inactive pension pots to one provider is often recommended because it allows you to better understand your entire portfolio and be able to calculate your asset allocation more easily.

Eventually you’ll need to convert your pension into income, often through an Annuity. For more information about annuities be sure to read this:

Annuities Explained

 

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