Achieving a wealthier retirement

Have you considered your options?

Buying an annuity is typically a one-off purchase, so it’s essential to obtain professional advice to ensure that you can achieve a wealthier retirement.

Your options at age 55 (50 until 2010) and 75

Tax-free cash
At retirement you can normally take up to 25 per cent of your fund as a tax-free cash sum (also known as pension commencement lump sum) with the remainder being used to provide a taxable income.

Annuity
(secured pension)
With an annuity, you use your pension fund to buy a taxable income. This is a secure, reliable income paid to you for the rest of your life.

Income drawdown (unsecured pension)
This is where your fund remains invested within a pension, but you take a taxable income from it within limits defined by the government. This gives you flexibility, as you can vary your income to meet your requirements. But as your fund remains invested your investments could still go down in value, or you could deplete your fund by drawing too much income. Income drawdown is not available with stakeholder pensions and therefore you may have to transfer to an alternative pension.

Your options after age 75
Alternatively secured pension (ASP)
If you have not taken an annuity by age 75, normally your fund will convert into an ASP. This is similar to income drawdown, although if you have not taken any tax-free cash from your plan you will not be able to do so, and the income you can take is more restricted to reduce the risk of running down your retirement fund early. An ASP is not available with stakeholder pensions and therefore you may have to transfer to an alternative pension.

The value of investments and the income from them can go down as well as up and you may not get back your original investment. Past performance is not an indication of future performance. Tax benefits may vary as a result of statutory change and their value will depend on individual circumstances. Thresholds, percentage rates and tax legislation may change in subsequent finance acts. Fluctuations in exchange rates can affect the sterling value of any income received.