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Pensions and retirement planning
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.
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If you’re considering seeking professional financial advice on the options available to you, nationwide advice firm HUB Financial Solutions is offering you a free initial consultation with an expert retirement specialist. There’s no obligation; it’s to help you understand your options and how our services work. If you choose to receive paid-for regulated advice, we’ll explain how that works and the fees involved.
HUB Financial Solutions is rated ‘Excellent’ on Trustpilot (Mar 2026). With investing, your capital is at risk.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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If you’re considering seeking professional financial advice on the options available to you, nationwide advice firm HUB Financial Solutions is offering you a free initial consultation with an expert retirement specialist. There’s no obligation; it’s to help you understand your options and how our services work. If you choose to receive paid-for regulated advice, we’ll explain how that works and the fees involved.
HUB Financial Solutions is rated ‘Excellent’ on Trustpilot (Mar 2026). With investing, your capital is at risk.
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.
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.
Get a free Pension Health Check
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If you’re considering seeking professional financial advice on the options available to you, nationwide advice firm HUB Financial Solutions is offering you a free initial consultation with an expert retirement specialist. There’s no obligation; it’s to help you understand your options and how our services work. If you choose to receive paid-for regulated advice, we’ll explain how that works and the fees involved.
HUB Financial Solutions is rated ‘Excellent’ on Trustpilot (Mar 2026). With investing, your capital is at risk.
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.