There has never been a more important time to plan for later years, whether you are already retired or want to make the most of the investments you already have in place ready for when you do.

Midsomer Norton based Waterhouse Financial Advisers Limited have some sage words of advice on how, in these uncertain times, you can work on having some security ready for whatever happens in the future.

Post-pandemic retirement planning

At the time of writing this we continue to face challenging times. As we have emerged from the pandemic, we have entered a period of instability with the war in Ukraine and a cost of living crisis at home. If you have retired in recent years or you are approaching retirement, have you thought about the toll this has taken on your funds and what this means for your retirement?

Approaching retirement

For those of us approaching retirement it's a simple rule that we should do everything we can to continue contributing to our pension. That's because the more we invest, the more we'll benefit if stock markets start to recover. According to research from Which, carried out in 2022, couples need an average income of £28,000 a year to be comfortable. This figure includes basic expenditure and some luxuries such has hobbies eating out and European holidays. However, if you add long haul holidays and a new car every five years then this figure rises to £45,000.

If you're 55 or over and have been made redundant, you may be tempted to change your retirement plans and look to withdraw your private pension early. However, if this wasn't part of your long-term plans then you should consider other options first, such as government support like Universal Credit. Considering all of the options available to you could help maintain the longevity of your pension savings.

If you can delay taking your pension this could also help in the future. When markets recover, by delaying when you claim from a defined contribution scheme your funds will stay invested for longer, so you could benefit from a bigger pension pot when you come to retire. Don't forget, if you defer you could also continue to save as much as £60,000 a year into a pension and earn tax relief under current rules. Another option could be deferring your state pension for extra income. By deferring for five weeks or more, once you do start claiming you'll receive more than you otherwise would have.

During retirement

For those of us already in retirement and relying on drawdown for our main source of income there are a number of things to think about.

Many of us underestimate how long we are likely to live. Put simply, the longer you live, the higher the risk of your funds running out. The key here is to manage the level of income you are taking and to make sure you are invested in the right funds. Firstly, look at your spending and outline what's essential and what's discretionary. By temporarily cutting down on your discretionary spending you may be able to make your funds last longer.

Making savings may mean that if you're relying on a 'natural yield' from your investments you can get by without having to erode your capital, so it maintains its value or grows over time. Drawing money during a market downturn when values have dropped is also more costly than taking the same amount during a strong market. This is because of sequencing risk. When you invest into rising markets, you benefit from compound interest - your capital earns interest, and then the next year it earns interest on both its initial value and the interest reinvested. However, if you start making withdrawals from your pension fund at a time when markets are falling, you lose out as it's not just the withdrawal that is gone, but so too are the future returns that that money might have generated had it been left invested.

If you get off to a poor start then your pension funds will have a harder time recovering and the smaller the fund becomes, the greater the proportion of it is needed to provide the same level of income. However, there are a number of actions a financial adviser can help you take to mitigate against this.

You also shouldn't underestimate the importance of inflation. In recent years we've enjoyed relatively low rates of inflation, we are now in a time of high inflation. However, as we deal with repaying the costs of the pandemic, the Ukrainian war and other world events, there are signs that the pressures are building. The speed at which the prices of goods and services rise can be doubly damaging in retirement because it can reduce the value of your capital, as well as the purchasing power of your income. Investing in the right funds and ensuring your portfolio is well diversified is essential.

While this does look like a challenging situation by benefiting from financial advice you can take practical steps now to make sure you don't miss out on the retirement you planned for, despite the pandemic.

If you'd like to learn more, please get in touch now. HERE

The value of pensions and investments can fall as well as rise.

You may get back less than you invested.

Tax treatment varies according to individual circumstances and is subject to change.