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Retirement Planning – Let The Power Of Compound Interest Work For You

February 7, 2010 by  
Filed under Personal Finance

If you're planning for retirement soon, you'll be thinking of your pensions and finances.

There are several financial questions you should be asking yourself at this stage:

* Will you have adequate pension to support your new lifestyle?
* If you have an occupational pension, are there penalties if you decide to retire early? What tax-free lump sum are you entitled to take and what is your estimated pension after taking the tax-free lump sum?
* Are your other savings sufficient to supplement your pension?
* Will you willing to cut back on your spending when you retire?

There are loads of other financial questions you will be asking yourself at this stage leading to three most likely outcomes.

1) If you have been prudent and have been saving for your retirement for 30 - 40 years, you are very likely to have an adequate pension when you retire.
2) If you started your retirement planning about 20 years before you reach your retirement age, then it is likely that you will not have built a big enough retirement nest egg to allow you to have a comfortable lifestyle in retirement. You may have to cut back on your expenses when you retire or take a part-time job.
3) If you started your pension planning late, say 5 - 10 years before your retirement age, then unless you are lucky enough to win the lottery or inherit a substantial sum of money from someone, you are likely to have to work past your retirement age.

It is important to start building your retirement nest egg as soon as possible. If you are working, take advantage of your employer's pension scheme. Most private companies have closed their defined benefit (final salary) schemes to new members but many companies are encouraging their employees to join their defined contribution schemes.

Take advantage of your employer's contributions to your pension fund. This is free money but you have got to be in the company pension scheme to get it.

Your pension contributions are also allowable for tax purposes to allow your pension fund to grow more quickly. Maximize your contributions and take full advantage of this tax benefit.

You need time to be on your side, so the sooner you start your pension planning the greater your chances of using the power of compound interest to build a bigger pension fund.

There may be many valid reasons for not starting a retirement plan when you were younger, such as bringing up a family and/or having to pay off your mortgage. But retirement planning is also important, so you will need to make some sacrifices somewhere. You may have to eat out less often or skip your family holiday abroad.

The first step in pension planning is always the most difficult. Start saving a small amount each month, and when you add your employer's contributions and tax benefits, your pension fund will grow into a substantial sum over time. Increase your contributions when you are able to do so.

Although, it is important to consider the financial aspects of retirement, it is equally important to consider how you are going to make certain adjustments to your lifestyle and relationships when you retire from work.


Chow Siew is a retired accountant. He is the webmaster of retirement-lounge.com. This site brings news, pension information and activities for the online retirement community. This is also where seniors socialize and interact with each other. He also maintains a travel portal my-london-breaks.com
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