Could you become an accidental millionaire?

Having a final salary pension

Defined benefit (or final salary) pensions are notoriously difficult to measure against the allowance and can catch people out because the calculation is quite complex.

The simple method is to multiply the annual income you are set to receive in retirement by 20 and then add your maximum tax-free cash entitlement. The final number, if above £1.03 million, will mean you may have tax to pay.

Having multiple pensions with different providers

Most people change jobs many times across their lifetime and can accumulate a number of pensions. It can be difficult to keep track of multiple pensions. You regularly need to review up-to-date valuations and watch how your investments are performing, which is often time-consuming, tedious and sometimes complicated.

Choosing good investments

Though it seems unfair, you could be penalised with a tax charge if your investment growth takes you over the lifetime allowance. However, nobody can predict exactly how well their investments will perform in the future – and therefore when they should stop making contributions.

A financial planner can help

A financial planner can help you consider consolidating your pensions*, assess your final salary pensions against the lifetime allowance and forecast your future investment growth so you know how much you could contribute without risking a surprise tax bill. We can also help you to protect your pension from the lifetime allowance tax charge up to £1.25 million.

Would you like to talk to a Coach about your pension?

If you know your pensions need some attention or you just want to make sure you’re doing all you can, why not book a free call with one of our Coaches.

The Best SIPP

Alternatively, if you just want a good home for your pension investments, try our Best SIPP. Our multi-award winning pension puts you in control of your money, making it easy to make contributions and keep an eye on your investments.

 

Important information

*Before you consider transferring a pension, it is important to ask yourself: Will I lose any valuable benefits or features from my existing pension plan? Will I incur any penalties on my existing pension if I transfer? Is it an occupational final salary pension scheme? (in which case it is very unlikely to be advisable to transfer) Have I considered the charges on my current plan? (a new arrangement may be more expensive – especially if you have a stakeholder pension).

SIPPs are not suitable for everyone. They may not be right for you if you don’t want to invest across different asset classes or don’t think you will make use of the investment choices available to you. Please contact us for guidance or advice if you are unsure.