5 retirement planning mistakes to avoid

By Granville Turner, Director at Turner Little.

Retirement planning is one of the most important financial goals, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. For a successful and secure retirement, Granville Turner, Director at Company Formation Specialists, Turner Little, shares his five retirement planning mistakes to avoid:

Don’t underestimate the value of a clear plan:

Whilst retirement doesn’t necessarily mean stopping work completely, for most people it does mean spending less time working. It’s important to understand what you want from your retirement, consider priorities and how you would like to spend your time, as this will most certainly affect your finances.

Don’t underestimate the cost of retirement:

Research suggests that 48% of individuals haven’t calculated how much money they need to save for retirement. You may think you will spend less when you retire, but whilst your commuting costs might go down, other expenses could increase. Planning is crucial. Think about your day-to-day spending and factor in other expenses such as holidays – budgeting is a key part of retirement.

Don’t rely solely on your pension:

Pensions have traditionally been the primary way of funding this stage of our lives, and still remain the cornerstone of good planning. But pension funds and the contributions you can make have limits, so make sure you consider income from a range of sources from the State Pension, personal or workplace pension schemes, savings, investments or even property.

Don’t underestimate the importance and need for diversification:

Creating a diversified portfolio of assets blended across asset classes is a winning strategy as it reduces the risk of any single asset dragging down your portfolio.

Don’t cash out your pension:

30% of individuals accessing their retirement pot under pension freedoms are depositing their cash straight into low-interest bank accounts. The loss of returns aside, withdrawals can have significant tax implications, so it’s important to assess your options before taking the money out of your pension.

If you would like to discuss your specific requirements, get in touch with us today. Our specialist team of experts will deal with matters pragmatically and sensitively, taking the time to meet with you and discuss your individual objectives in detail, in order to provide solutions that are uniquely tailored to your needs.