Your pension is likely to be one of the most important financial assets you have and if you’ve received pension advice in the past, you might assume everything is working just the way it should be.
However, there are several reasons that you might want to consider getting a second opinion on your pension, especially if you haven’t reviewed things for a while. Not only is the world of pensions and financial advice constantly changing, but your circumstances may also have altered, so the investments that may have been right for you a while ago may no longer be appropriate.
Here are 9 reasons why seeking a second opinion on your pension could result in you ending up better off in retirement.
If you’re considering seeking professional financial advice on the options available to you, we’ve partnered with nationwide independent advice firm Fidelius to offer Rest Less members a free initial consultation* with a qualified financial advisor. There’s no obligation, however if the adviser feels you’d benefit from paid financial advice, they’ll talk you through how that works and the charges involved.
Fidelius are rated 4.7 out of 5 from over 1,500 reviews on VouchedFor, the review site for financial advisors.
1. It’s been years since you last received pension advice
When was the last time you received advice on your pension? If it was years, or even decades ago, it’s well worth checking whether the decisions you made with the help of an advisor then are still applicable now. Pension providers often update their options, pension rules change and new financial products emerge over time, so a second opinion can help ensure that your retirement savings are still on track and that you’re not missing out on better opportunities elsewhere.
2. Your circumstances have changed
Life rarely stands still, and if you haven’t reviewed your pension for some time, or you’ve undergone a significant change in circumstances recently, such as a bereavement or divorce, you may need to take a look at whether your financial needs have changed.
For example, you might have new goals or dreams for your retirement years, or your health might be different, and these factors could affect how your pension, or the way you plan to take an income from your retirement savings, should be structured. A second opinion can provide valuable peace of mind that your pension aligns with your current circumstances and needs.
3. Your financial advisor is no longer right for you
If the last time you sought financial advice was a while ago, you might find that your current advisor is no longer serving you in the way that you’d hoped. Perhaps the person you originally spoke to has retired, or it may be that they no longer specialise in pensions. It could also be that your advisor’s approach no longer resonates with you, or that you’ve discovered you’re paying over the odds for the service you receive from them.
Seeking a second opinion may help you to find an advisor whose expertise better suits your needs and provide you with a new perspective on your retirement strategy, potentially at a lower cost.
4. The investment landscape is constantly changing
Financial markets, interest rates, and investment options are all constantly evolving, and your pension investments can be hard hit during periods of geopolitical and economic uncertainty. What might have been the right investment choices for you several years ago may no longer be appropriate for you, especially if you’re approaching retirement and reduce the risk of stockmarket setbacks affecting your retirement savings just before you need them.
Your retirement goals might also have changed. When you first set up your pension, you may have had a specific vision for your retirement, but your goals might have shifted. Perhaps you want to travel more, help your children buy a home, or move to a different part of the country or overseas.
A second opinion can help ensure that your investments are still balanced correctly and aligned with your risk tolerance and financial objectives. Learn more about risk in our article What’s your attitude to risk? and about managing volatility in our guide Four ways to weather stock market storms.
5. You want to keep your tax bills down
Tax rules surrounding pensions can be complicated, and if you’re not careful, or don’t fully understand how these rules work, you could end up facing a nasty tax bill when you begin to withdraw funds, or if you exceed your annual pension allowance. You can learn more about pension and tax rules in our guides How much tax will I pay on pension withdrawals? and How do pension allowances work?
Getting a second opinion can ensure you don’t face unexpected tax bills down the line. A financial advisor can provide you with a clear understanding of how taxes might affect your pension and help you plan to keep tax bills to a minimum when you start drawing from it.
6. You’re worried about pension charges
Pensions come with charges, whether that’s for managing your investments or administrative fees. Over time, these costs can eat into your returns, leaving you with less to live on when you eventually retire.
If you’re not sure what fees you’re paying or whether they’re reasonable, a second opinion can give you clarity. An independent review could help you find ways to lower your fees or identify whether you might be better off by transferring your pension to a different provider. You can learn more about the impact of charges on your retirement savings in our article What pension charges am I paying?
7. You’ve got several pensions you’re not sure what to do with
It might be that when you last sought advice you had just one pension, but given that most of us have several different jobs during our working lifetimes, you may have ended up with a few pensions that you’re not sure what to do with.
Getting a second opinion from an advisor can help you work out whether consolidating pensions that are similar into one plan would be beneficial for you. It’s important however to always check that by combining your pensions, you are not giving up valuable pension guarantees – for example, transferring a final salary pension into a personal pension plan is rarely the right decision. You can find out why in our guide Should I transfer my final salary pension?
You can find out more about pension consolidation in our articles Should I consolidate my pensions? and How to transfer your pension.
8. You’re worried that you might not have a big enough pension to retire
One of the most common worries people have as they approach retirement is whether they have enough saved up. If you’re feeling uncertain about how much income your pension will provide you with, getting a second opinion could help you see if you’re on track, or whether you should boost your contributions if you can afford to.
Alice Haine, personal finance analyst at Bestinvest for Evelyn Parters, the online investment platform, said: “Topping up a pension not only boosts your retirement income in the future but also slashes your income tax bill because any contributions attract tax relief at your marginal rate.
“Remember, those with assets held outside a tax wrapper can also consider taking advantage of Bed & ISA or Bed & Pension rules to transfer assets. This is where investors can sell shares and funds, taking care not to incur a capital gains liability in the process, and then repurchase them within an ISA or Pension – a move that protects those assets from future tax on both income and gains.”
9. You’re thinking about taking a lump sum out of your pension
If you’re thinking about taking your pension as a lump sum it’s really important to seek professional financial advice.
Withdrawing big sums of money out of your pension early can have serious financial consequences, including tax penalties or leaving you with less income in retirement. A second opinion can help you understand all the pros and cons of taking money out and make sure you’re making the best decision for your future. You can find out more in our articles Should I take a tax-free lump sum from my pension? and Should I use my pension to boost my income?
A final thought…
Retirement should be a time to relax and enjoy life, free from financial worries. However, the decisions you make about your pension today can have a lasting impact on your future. Seeking a second opinion on your pension isn’t a sign of doubt – it’s an opportunity to ensure that you’re making the most of your hard-earned savings and that you’re still on target to achieve your financial objectives.
Whether your situation has changed, you’re unsure about your current pension’s performance, or you simply want a clearer understanding of your options, a second opinion can offer fresh insight and peace of mind.
If you’re considering seeking professional financial advice on the options available to you, we’ve partnered with nationwide independent advice firm Fidelius to offer Rest Less members a free initial consultation* with a qualified financial advisor. There’s no obligation, however if the adviser feels you’d benefit from paid financial advice, they’ll talk you through how that works and the charges involved.
Fidelius are rated 4.7 out of 5 from over 1,500 reviews on VouchedFor, the review site for financial advisors.
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