Only freedom will do

SuperSecretSquirrel

Well done on the job Ed!

Earthgirl has just asked the question I wanted to ask... In addition to oodles of pension provision, will the new job also be more fun/fulfilling/enjoyable than your current role?

Onwards and upwards!

edinburgher

@EG -

Yes, I think the role will be a better fit for my personality. I got into my current role because as an impetuous young chap starting out his career, I assumed that I had to rocket my way up the 'ladder' clattering people out of the way as I ascended. I've come to realise that I'm much happier motoring along peacefully in an environment where people support each other. My current job has been an accidental wrong turning, but I don't regret it as it allowed us to buy a lovely home and live a relaxed life

Job will be back in the world of 'information work' and I'm more than happy with my current salary vs. the effort involved.

I have been thinking a lot about a blog post by the Escape Artist in which he talks about subtractions, letting go of activities/areas of your life where you can't spare the time. I don't have the time to start from scratch in an entirely new field, I need to let go of my Gatsbyesque 'magical career glow at the edge of the horizon' :rotfl:

Re. pensions - 2 things.

1) I don't like the direction of travel of the economy, but I am not trying to time the market. I am not selling any funds and will remain fully invested. I am, however, hanging on to some extra cash and reducing debts for sensible reasons. The stock market goes up, I don't see this ending. That said, there's nothing wrong with taking some profits off the table, no shame in that.

2) What do you mean 'information on pensions'? As a starting point, you should find out the value of all your pensions and should draw/spreadsheet a timeline showing the cashflow of all known pots and your state pension, as applicable

@SSS - thanks - think the new job will be good. More team working, CPD opportunities and a chance to use my brain for things other than spreadsheets. I'll just keep them for fun

earthgirl

Thanks Ed. I think I need to do lots of research!

gallygirl

Congrats on the new job Ed :j. As for the pensions conundrum, looks like you've got some well thought through decisions under your belt already :T. Onwards and downwards .

Secret_Saving_Squirrel

Congratulations, sounds like an excellent move.

edinburgher

Thank you all - I am feeling like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders today - the weight of my own unrealistic expectations?

Just thankful to be looking forward to the near future for change and for the flexibility to have a weekly daddy daughter day.

{Sentimentality warning} DD has been under the weather lately and is back on form - I have never been so appreciative of the chance to run around the living room pretending to be a 'kissing shark' - yes, a shark who kisses toddlers :rotfl: {/sentimentality}

£1.92 OPed, off to update some stoozing spreadsheets :j

Karmacat

Kissing shark is a very Dad thing

**oozes sentimentality**

The paycheck is so that you actually have the energy to do things like that I'm glad she's back on form with health, Ed

Save

edinburgher

So, a wee bit inefficient, but it looks like my best bet re. pensions will be to open a Close Brothers SIPP (low fees + no transfer out charges for when the pot becomes big enough to move to a fixed fee broker). This will mean leaving £3-4k in my Best Invest SIPP, their transfer fees are too steep to make it worth moving (would take something like 15 years to break even moving from 0.3% to 0.25% with their fees).

I'll need to get started fairly quickly, my last day of work in my current place will be at the end of July :j

OPed £1.04 and spent the last of my Mr M vouchers from the recent spate of JL voucher buying to get £10 worth of groceries for 6p

edinburgher

Boo! Close Brothers not currently accepting new online applications Have filled in a contact form, hopefully they come back to me.

£1.65 OPed.

Suffolk_lass

edinburgher wrote: »

Boo! Close Brothers not currently accepting new online applications Have filled in a contact form, hopefully they come back to me.

£1.65 OPed.

We have a S&S ISA through Charles Stanley Direct. In case you are interested they are offering a free SIPP wrapper if your combined assets are over £30k. I think you might be talking about moving a DC pension pot, rather than a SIPP. In the money pages of one of The Times or The Telegraph on Saturday, Fidelity came out as a good option for successful pension pot management. Not sure if these offer other options for you to investigate.