Can I Crystallize one pension

Albermarle

Seems the gov have it pretty well stitched up. 

I do not really understand this comment ? Pension tax regime is very tax beneficial/generous  overall, especially for higher earners . It is often commented on this forum that it is surprising that the many benefits have not been clamped down on more . No mention in the recent budget of stopping higher rate tax relief, Salary sacrifice loophole etc 

marlot

>> 3) my wife and I will both get max state pension but my wife’s only other pension is about £2.5k pa so my pension has to support us both and pesky kids still at home.

If she's not working, she can still put 2880 (net)/3600 (gross) a year into a pension.

Marcon

You can increase your LTA by up to £30,000 by having 3 separate personal pension pots of no more than £10K each. If you cash them in (one at a time or all 3 together - doesn't matter, but you need to take the whole of each pot) specifying that you want to use the 'small pots' regime they won't trigger the MPAA and use 0% of the LTA.