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Where do I start?
So I've never worried about my retirement savings or pensions - I've been paying into a Civil Service pension for over 20 years and thought that would be all I needed to do. Then I was widowed a couple of years ago and now my financial situation has changed a fair bit. I've covered off the big things: Mortgage is paid, no…
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Missing NHS pension.from the year 2000.
I was a nurse at a london hospital. I worked there for two years and I joined the NHS superannuation scheme in 1999 ish. Fast forward to today and I am trying to locate my NHS pension. I contacted the NHS pension tracking system in Newcastle and they said, they have NO RECORD of me being in the scheme, even though I showed…
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Fixed Term Annuity Tax Question
I am planning to purchase a fixed term annuity and want to understand if there is any difference in tax treatment between, for example, an annual income of £30,000 for 10 years followed by a maturity value of £30,000 OR an annual income of £30,0000 over 11 years? I am not quite sure of the correct terminology for that…
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Transfer of NHS pension to LGPS
I would greatly appreciate advice regarding my pension arrangements due to a pending change in employment. Approximately six years ago, I transferred my Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) benefits into the NHS Pension Scheme when I took up a position within the NHS. The transfer value at that time was £110,000. My…
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Defined benefit pension 1987-1995 GMP element
I have this modest pension I’ve been getting for 3 years now. I recently found an old “deferred pension certificate” that I think suggests I should be getting a larger payout than I am (by about 30%). I cannot pretend I properly understand it and have requested details of calculations from the provider, which I now have.…
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work pension
my work pension originally was to complete on 7th may 2026 i rang them in april to extend it to 7th may 2027 which was agreed upon they have sent me the deferral letter which says 7th may 2035 i will be 74 and possibly dead by then any advice on would be appreciated its with aviva
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Income tax when inheriting pension
Hi, new here so hope I’ve posted in right category. My mom sadly passed away aged 65 (under the 75 threshold) the pension company are ready to release the funds but have strongly advised seeking financial advice before taking it as a lump sum due to income tax. However financial advice seems to be pricey. After hours of…
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National Insurance and Not working
Hi if I have paid up my NI (to date) I mean no shortfalls to the present day and I decided not to work again ever and not taking any benefits, and my official retirement date is not for another 9 years, my question is will I still have a full paid up NI or will I have 9 years shortfall? Thanks in advance
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I Used ChatGPT to Predict the Inflation Rate
I saw the government's prediction for future inflation rates today: which I found to be laughable. It seems that wherever it is now, they think it will head rapidly to 2% then stay there. I asked ChatGPT to take the same graph and make a prediction. Here is the result: Slightly different… Though perhaps even more unlikely…
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IHT on Pension Pots after April 2027
What are the implications for Inheritance Tax of leaving part of your pension pot(s) to someone other than your spouse or civil partner? For example: A married man or woman has a £400K pension pot and dies before their partner. As I understand it, if the entire pot was left to their spouse, IHT would automatically transfer…
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sovereign wealth funds
There is always lots of talk about the success of the Norway sovereign wealth fund. Could the UK government start one with the view to reducing national debt or starting to cover the rising state pension costs? Or have we missed the boat?
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Ex-Employer Fails to Pay Contributions
My ex employer has failed to transfer mine & my ex colleagues pension contributions to the Pension provider since December 2025. I know the pension company has reported him to the Pension Regulator. Is this theft? I can’t possibly be the only person this has happened to. What action can I take against him?
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Index linked gilts and index linked annuities: are you moving money into them, yea or nay?
There has been a dramatic switch around in the real redemption yields on index-linked gilts recently (see my chart at end of post). The return above inflation available for an index-linked gilt bought today if held to maturity is for example around 1.5%pa for the 2048 maturity, compared with around minus 2.5%pa back in…
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Pension or ISA
We are able to put more money into out private pension pot monthly. Is it better to put into the pension or ISA? Planning to retire in next 5 years.
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Pension Scammers Target People Who Want To Avoid IHT
Putting this here just in case although I suspect none of the regulars here would fall for it. As with all IHT, the only ways to avoid it are impoverish yourself, risk running out of money, convert cash to income, or trust your offspring.…
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Utmost Life and Pensions unknown pension balance
My wife received a letter from Utmost life and pensions saying that she has an unclaimed pension of about £6K. It seems to be for AVC contributions but she says she never made any AVC contributions. The letter does mention "National Health Service Pension Scheme Personal Pension - Residual Fund". I believe that at some…
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NI gap years 2025
I telephoned the DWP in March 2025 to register my interest in buying 5 full and 1 part years NI gaps after seeing Martin Lewis' programme. Despite a couple of telephone reminders when I was assured I would be contacted and subsequent letter dated 22/09/25 acknowledging that I had contacted DWP on 25 Mar 2025 I have not…
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how easy is it to open a SIPP and use carry forward allowance?
currently I’m putting around 40k a year into my workplace pension. previous years more like 35k. I have a 43k in a cash ISA that I don’t need for at least 3 years, and even then not all of it. that would be after our planned retirement date. so I’m considering whether to try and push it into a SIPP. 25% boost from HMRC,…
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Should I Delay Buying Gilt Ladder
I was intending to setup a 5 year index linked Gilt Ladder in the next couple of weeks with the first year maturing in 2035. The money is currently sitting in a Money market fund. With the strong possibility now of rising inflation and interest rates would there be any benefit in delaying the purchase? My feeling is for…
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Having trouble with nest, anyone else and any advice?
Condensed version. Always had credentials autosaved. About 6 months ago I tried to log in and had issues, the password reset system was then stuck in an error loop. Done all the basic trouble shooting, different devices, browsers, internet connections etc. I've called their customer service several times now and they just…