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DIY Pension - Salary Sacrifice
Hi, I am probably going to start a DIY pension with Hargreaves using one of their Vantage products. My questions is. Can I use salary sacrifice with this if it is a personal pension or does the pension have to be provided by my employer to do this? Looking to do salary sacrifice so I can get the NI from myself and the…
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Vanguard Lifestrategy into SIPP
Have £20k from an old pension that sits with my previous employer (an investment bank). It was a defined contribution pension so would rather move it from their clutches and have a bit more control over it. Also means I would be more likely to contribute to it - on the cusp of becoming a 40% tax payer and intend to put…
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Transferring Spanish NI
Hello, I worked in Spain for seven years. I left in 2007 and came back to the UK. While I was there I paid National Insurance and tax and would like to know if I can transfer it to the UK, at least the national insurance, as I have a gap in mine here for while I was working there and it reduces my entitlemnet to state…
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Pension forecast - what should I ask to see if it's true?
I am due a pension in 10 yrs time at age 58 from a deferred pension. I have pensionable service from 18 November 1985. I left the employer on 1 June 1997. I've had the forecast but it seems very very high and to good to be true! What evidence and assumptions must I ask for to analyse whether it's a sensible forecast or…
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Annuity Advice
I have recently applied for Lasting Power of Attorney for a relative and have been looking at their financial affairs. It is rather involved because he has made decisions over the last few years which, I am not sure he fully understood the implications due to his mental health. We have suspected for a number of years that…
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Can I benefit from pension company mistake?
I have a pension plan with a guaranteed annuity. I have requested some retirement pension figures (but not a pension quotation) from the pension company. They have provided a written reply which, whilst not directly answering my original query, has included a set of figures which seems to be a mistake (and significantly in…
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Is there a danger to my dad's pension from Scottish independence
Could there be a risk to my dad's DB pension if Scotland votes for independence? His scheme has many Scottish members and there has been mention that cross-border funds have to be fully funded. There is no way that can happen in the near future for his scheme (there is a long-term plan for this to happen but that will…
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LTA crystal ball question and advice
Very possible there is no answer to this question but I'll ask it anyway: what is expected to happen to the lifetime allowance for pensions in the next quarter century? Do we expect it to remain where it is in real terms, reduce further, or what? A second question concerning my own situation. I have a defined benefit…
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Is this calculator right?
I'm still young for pension discussions (29 years old) but just planning ahead ... got around £6,000 in my pension pot and saving around £240 per month (£300 plus the 25% the govt. adds) .... from time to time if I manage to save more I throw some £100 - £200 as one off payment into the pot as well... I looked at this…
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Taking Pension Whilst Still Working
I am 57 years old. I have three 'frozen' pensions from three previous employers, valued at 24k, 45k and 78k, and an ongoing pension with my current employer. Under the new rules for next year, can I take one or two of my old pensions as lump sum from next year, and still keep one old and my current pension? How does this…
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How to Choose an IFA?
OH and I need to plan the best use of our pension funds and OH, in particular, needs advice on gradual retirement until his SP age in 6.5 years' time. Unbiased offers good guidance for choosing an IFA, but we think that in addition to having the right qualifications, it's important to find someone with whom we can build a…
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Aigo?
Has anyone heard of this Pension fund?
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Pension Advice please...
Appreciate any advice on following please. End of January I will be 60 and currently have 4 Pension Plans. Prudential have contacted me saying my Executive Pension is due on 60th Birthday and informed me Fund Value is at end August £16945 giving me a Pension Value of £36200 at present. My other Pensions are as follows…
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Civil Service Pension Transfer
Hi all Don't shoot me down for asking this, but has anybody transferred out their Civil Service Pension? If so, what was the procedure? Thanks.
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Retirement/Savings_Advice please?
I'm 43 years old, female and self employed since 2010. Would like to get advice regarding the best way to plan for retirement. Have had a turnover of around £ 70 000 p/a since the start of self employment (didn't earn much working for an employer!) Got a mortgage in place since 2011 (still owing about £ 200 000). I have no…
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Equity Release to pay for homecare- Any thoughts
Hi The council in the area I live wont fund the overnight care my dad needs. They want him to go in a care home. I dont think he is at that stage. He has no savings but I am thinking I can do equity release on his home to fund the care he needs at home. I would never normally consider equity release - I ve always thought…
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Cancer and enhanced pensions help
Female aged 60 has just had communication from two of her pension providers. One is a local government pension which she contributed to for about 4 years. The other is her SERPS fund (£63,000), a CIS policy, with a GMP. She has breast cancer, high blood pressure and smokes. Not married, no children. Would she be able to…
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New State Pension 2016
I am a women who retires in May 2016. I no longer work but have earned 30 years NI contributions over my lifetime which I thought would entitle me to a full state pension. I now know that I will need 35 years to qualify for a full pension under the new scheme. Has anyone seen anything from the government that sets out how…
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A personal pension plan - does it sound suitable?
Hubby and I are looking to set up an additional personal pension to cover the years between when he wants to retire at 60 and when he wants to claim his Royal Mail DB pension at 65. He is 53 now, and a standard rate taxpayer. I am 41 and also a standard rate taxpayer. There's a bit more detail here on the last thread I…
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Financial Advice
Hello, first post from a great believer in Martin's Site. We've just downsized our property to increase our chances of early retirement, I visited an Independent Advisor ( with whom I set up my pension 25 years ago) I want to make a lump sum investment into my pension and I'm putting in £24k My question is, is my advisor…