retirement Archives - Pounds and Sense https://www.poundsandsense.com/tag/retirement/ A UK blog covering personal finance and much more from an over-60 perspective Wed, 18 Mar 2026 10:03:15 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://www.poundsandsense.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/coffeespecs-150x150.png retirement Archives - Pounds and Sense https://www.poundsandsense.com/tag/retirement/ 32 32 What Is an Annuity – and Who Should Consider Buying One? https://www.poundsandsense.com/what-is-an-annuity-and-who-should-consider-buying-one/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=what-is-an-annuity-and-who-should-consider-buying-one https://www.poundsandsense.com/what-is-an-annuity-and-who-should-consider-buying-one/#comments Wed, 18 Mar 2026 10:00:55 +0000 https://www.poundsandsense.com/?p=14410 If you’re approaching retirement (or have retired already), you’ve probably come across the term annuity. For some people it represents security and peace of mind. For others it feels restrictive and poor value. So what exactly is an annuity – and who should consider buying one? Let’s take a closer look. What Is an Annuity? […]

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]]> https://www.poundsandsense.com/what-is-an-annuity-and-who-should-consider-buying-one/feed/ 2 Why Growing Numbers of Over-50s are Buying Park Homes https://www.poundsandsense.com/why-growing-numbers-of-over-50s-are-buying-park-homes/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=why-growing-numbers-of-over-50s-are-buying-park-homes https://www.poundsandsense.com/why-growing-numbers-of-over-50s-are-buying-park-homes/#respond Thu, 20 Nov 2025 11:18:02 +0000 https://www.poundsandsense.com/?p=14028 Today I’m looking at a growing trend among older people: the switch to park home living. I am grateful for their assistance with this article to my colleagues at Compass Insurance – leading specialist providers of park home insurance. What Is Park Home Living? As the UK faces a growing shortage of accessible single-storey homes, […]

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]]> https://www.poundsandsense.com/why-growing-numbers-of-over-50s-are-buying-park-homes/feed/ 0 Should You Take a Tax-Free Lump Sum from Your Pension Now? https://www.poundsandsense.com/should-you-take-a-tax-free-lump-sum-from-your-pension-now/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=should-you-take-a-tax-free-lump-sum-from-your-pension-now https://www.poundsandsense.com/should-you-take-a-tax-free-lump-sum-from-your-pension-now/#respond Tue, 11 Nov 2025 10:41:37 +0000 https://www.poundsandsense.com/?p=12654 As speculation mounts ahead of Rachel Reeves’ upcoming budget on 26 November 2025, many UK retirees and those approaching retirement are wondering if now is the right time to take a tax-free lump sum from their pension. Already it appears growing numbers have been doing just that in anticipation of a possible tightening of the […]

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]]> https://www.poundsandsense.com/should-you-take-a-tax-free-lump-sum-from-your-pension-now/feed/ 0 Winter Fuel Payment 2025/26 – What Pensioners Need to Know https://www.poundsandsense.com/winter-fuel-payment-2025-26-what-pensioners-need-to-know/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=winter-fuel-payment-2025-26-what-pensioners-need-to-know https://www.poundsandsense.com/winter-fuel-payment-2025-26-what-pensioners-need-to-know/#respond Sat, 25 Oct 2025 10:17:59 +0000 https://www.poundsandsense.com/?p=13905 As you doubtless know, one of the first acts of the new Labour government last year was to scrap the Winter Fuel Payment (WFP) for all but the very poorest pensioners (those eligible for pension credit). Such was the outcry they had to backtrack and most pensioners will now receive WFP this winter – but […]

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]]> https://www.poundsandsense.com/winter-fuel-payment-2025-26-what-pensioners-need-to-know/feed/ 0 Annuity or Drawdown? Weighing Up Your Pension Income Options After 50 https://www.poundsandsense.com/annuity-or-drawdown-weighing-up-your-pension-income-options-after-50/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=annuity-or-drawdown-weighing-up-your-pension-income-options-after-50 https://www.poundsandsense.com/annuity-or-drawdown-weighing-up-your-pension-income-options-after-50/#respond Thu, 09 Oct 2025 10:18:25 +0000 https://www.poundsandsense.com/?p=13874 As you approach retirement, one of the biggest financial decisions you’ll face is how to turn your pension savings into a reliable income. Two of the main options are buying an annuity or using a pension drawdown strategy. Both approaches have pros and cons, and which is right for you will depend on your circumstances, […]

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]]> https://www.poundsandsense.com/annuity-or-drawdown-weighing-up-your-pension-income-options-after-50/feed/ 0 Dividend Investing vs Total Return: Which Works Best for Income Investors? https://www.poundsandsense.com/dividend-investing-vs-total-return-which-works-best-for-income-investors/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=dividend-investing-vs-total-return-which-works-best-for-income-investors https://www.poundsandsense.com/dividend-investing-vs-total-return-which-works-best-for-income-investors/#respond Thu, 28 Aug 2025 11:00:06 +0000 https://www.poundsandsense.com/?p=13749 As we move into our 50s and beyond, many of us start to shift focus from building wealth to drawing income from our investments. But when it comes to generating that income, there are two main approaches investors tend to consider: dividend investing and a total return strategy. Both can work, but they operate on […]

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]]> https://www.poundsandsense.com/dividend-investing-vs-total-return-which-works-best-for-income-investors/feed/ 0 Here’s Why I’m Not a Fan of FIRE https://www.poundsandsense.com/heres-why-im-not-a-fan-of-fire/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=heres-why-im-not-a-fan-of-fire https://www.poundsandsense.com/heres-why-im-not-a-fan-of-fire/#respond Wed, 06 Aug 2025 11:02:33 +0000 https://www.poundsandsense.com/?p=13698 As a Pounds and Sense reader there’s a good chance you’ll be familiar with the FIRE concept already. But just in case you’re not, it stands for Financial Independence, Retire Early.  The term was first coined in the US but soon crossed the pond to Britain and Europe. FIRE involves working hard to make (and […]

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]]> https://www.poundsandsense.com/heres-why-im-not-a-fan-of-fire/feed/ 0 The Many Benefits of Learning a Musical Instrument in Later Life https://www.poundsandsense.com/the-many-benefits-of-learning-a-musical-instrument-in-later-life/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-many-benefits-of-learning-a-musical-instrument-in-later-life https://www.poundsandsense.com/the-many-benefits-of-learning-a-musical-instrument-in-later-life/#comments Mon, 09 Jun 2025 11:13:30 +0000 https://www.poundsandsense.com/?p=13461 I’m slightly off topic today, but it’s a subject I hope will resonate with many readers of this blog (which is, of course, aimed primarily at over-50s). Have you ever dreamed of strumming a guitar, tickling the ivories or even giving the ukulele a go, but assumed it was too late to start? Think again. […]

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]]> https://www.poundsandsense.com/the-many-benefits-of-learning-a-musical-instrument-in-later-life/feed/ 2 Where to Get Pension Advice https://www.poundsandsense.com/where-to-get-pension-advice/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=where-to-get-pension-advice https://www.poundsandsense.com/where-to-get-pension-advice/#respond Fri, 16 May 2025 11:25:06 +0000 https://www.poundsandsense.com/?p=13365 Whether you’re just starting, mid-career, or approaching retirement age, getting the right pension advice is crucial to ensure a secure and comfortable future. Fortunately, there are many places in the UK (both free and paid) that offer pension guidance and tailored advice. In this blog post, we’ll explore reasons why you need pension advice, the […]

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]]> https://www.poundsandsense.com/where-to-get-pension-advice/feed/ 0 Why UK Retirees Shouldn’t Panic Over Trump’s Tariffs and Market Wobbles https://www.poundsandsense.com/why-uk-retirees-shouldnt-panic-over-trumps-tariffs-and-market-wobbles/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=why-uk-retirees-shouldnt-panic-over-trumps-tariffs-and-market-wobbles https://www.poundsandsense.com/why-uk-retirees-shouldnt-panic-over-trumps-tariffs-and-market-wobbles/#respond Sat, 19 Apr 2025 09:29:54 +0000 https://www.poundsandsense.com/?p=13263 If you’ve been watching the news lately, you’ll probably have seen headlines about stock markets taking a tumble thanks to a wave of tariffs announced by Donald Trump. It’s enough to make any retiree feel uneasy – especially if your pension is tied to the markets. But before you start panicking or making any big […]

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