Retirement guides

Achieving your dream retirement takes planning and preparation. With our handy guides, you can learn how to build a retirement plan, understand your pension options and more.

Starting a pension

Discover your pension options and see how you can save for life after your career, with our guidance on state, workplace and personal pensions.

Taking a guaranteed pension income

Looking for a stable retirement income? Learn more about purchasing a guaranteed income for life, known as an annuity.

Taking a flexible pension income

See how you can take income directly from your pension as and when you need it with flexi-access drawdown.

Taking a cash lump sum from your pension

Get access to your entire pension pot by taking all or some of your pension fund as cash lump sums.

Deferring your pension benefits

If you’ve reached retirement and don’t need to access your pension straight away, then it could pay to leave your pension pot untouched.

Consolidating pensions

In this guide, we talk you through everything you need to know about merging your pension pots - from how it works to the potential benefits.

How much do I need to retire?

Planning for life after work is an exciting prospect, but knowing how much you need for a comfortable retirement can be tricky. Learn more in this guide.

Equity release explained

If you're a UK homeowner aged 55 or over, equity release could allow you to access money built up in your home. Read more.

Partial retirement

For some, stepping back from the workplace can feel daunting. For others, giving up work entirely simply isn’t financially practical. See why partial retirement is becoming the go-to choice for many.

Early retirement

Want to stop working sooner rather than later? In this guide, you can find out how and when you might be able to afford an early retirement.

NHS Pension Scheme guide

With three different parts of the scheme in operation, the NHS pension isn’t the easiest thing to understand. This guide takes a detailed look at how membership of the NHS pension works - and what it might mean for your future retirement plans.

Retirement planning guide for medics

In this guide, we’ll look at some of the things you might want to consider before calling time on your career. Find out how much money you might need to retire, and why it always pays to plan ahead.

Retirement planning guide for teachers

Get prepared for life beyond the classroom, with specialist advice on the complexities of retirement planning, your options for retirement, and how you can make the most of your Teachers’ Pension and retirement income.

Teachers’ Pension Scheme guide

Pensions can be complicated at the best of times, and the Teachers’ Pension Scheme is no exception. Discover the ins and outs of the scheme, including how much you pay in and the benefits you might be entitled to.

Pension or ISA?

Is a pension or an ISA the better option when it comes to saving for retirement? Learn more about both, including accessibility and tax implications, in our comprehensive guide.