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Pension advice

Retirement Planning Advice: Plan Your Future with Expert Financial Advice

Retirement planning is about preparing your finances for the point when you stop working. It helps you understand what income you may need and what you are currently on track to receive. The earlier you start, the more time you have to review your options and make informed decisions.

A retirement plan brings together your pensions, state pension entitlement, savings, investments and any other expected income into one clear picture. Financiable® is a free service that connects you with an FCA-authorised firm who can connect you with financial advisers qualified to help you build a retirement plan around your goals.

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How to get retirement planning advice

  1. Submit a short enquiry

    Tell us what you would like help with and share a few details about your circumstances. It only takes a couple of minutes.

  2. Speak to our team

    One of our specialists will call to understand your retirement plans, what support you are looking for and where you are based. No financial advice is given at this stage — the conversation simply helps us make a suitable match.

  3. Get matched with an adviser

    We will introduce you to an FCA-authorised firm from our panel whose experience is appropriate for your circumstances and objectives.

  4. Have your free initial consultation

    Talk through your current position and what you would like to achieve. Your adviser will explain how they work and outline any fees before you agree to anything. There is no obligation to proceed.

When should you seek retirement planning advice?

Retirement planning isn’t a single decision so much as a series of them, made over years. Regulated financial advice can be valuable at any of these stages.

  • You don’t know if you’re on track

    The starting question is whether your expected income will cover your expected costs. That means estimating what retirement will cost you, then checking your pensions, state pension and other income against it. An adviser can pull these together and tell you where you stand.

  • You’ve found a gap

    If your projected income falls short of your goals, there’s usually time to do something. This could be paying more into a pension or making sure you’re getting the tax relief you’re entitled to. Generally speaking, the earlier the gap is spotted, the smaller the change needed to close it.

  • You’re deciding when to retire

    Your retirement date affects everything else. Private pensions can usually be taken from 55 (57 from April 2028), but many schemes are built to pay out at a later normal pension age, so taking money early can mean getting less. An adviser can help you weigh timing against income.

  • You’re reducing your hours rather than stopping

    Some people reduce their hours instead of retiring outright, topping up a lower salary with some pension income. It can work well, but pension income is added to your earnings for tax purposes, so planning is key.

  • You have several sources to coordinate

    Your pensions, state pension, investments, property and any proceeds from downsizing may all contribute to your retirement income. The order and timing of how you use them can affect how long your money lasts and the amount of tax you may pay.

  • You want to think beyond your own retirement

    Wills, powers of attorney, expression of wish forms and how your pension passes on are all part of a complete plan, and easy to leave until too late.

Why choose Financiable®?

Building a retirement plan can feel more manageable with qualified support. Financiable® offers:

  • Advisers from FCA-authorised firms

    Every adviser on our panel works for a firm that is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

  • A considered introduction to an adviser

    Our team speaks with you first to understand your circumstances, objectives and location. We then introduce you to an adviser from our panel whose expertise aligns with your needs.

  • Coverage across the UK

    Our panel provides coverage across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, with consultations available in person, by telephone or by video — so if you’ve been searching for ‘retirement planning adviser near me’, we can help.

  • Free matching and initial consultation

    There is no charge for using Financiable® or for your initial consultation. If you choose to proceed with regulated advice, your adviser will explain any fees before you agree to anything.

Financiable® helps you take the first step by connecting you with a regulated firm who can assess your circumstances and explain your options. Get in touch with our team to find out more.

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Explore pension advice services

Retirement planning ties together several individual decisions. Depending on your current stage of life, these may be worth a look:

  • Pension Advice

    The pension side of the picture — how your pots are invested, what they’re worth, and how they fit your plans.

  • Personal Pensions

    A pension you set up and pay into yourself, often central to building retirement savings if you’re self-employed or topping up a workplace scheme.

  • Combining Pensions

    If you’ve accumulated several pots over your career, bringing them together can make them easier to plan around, though consolidation is not for everyone.

Trusted retirement planning advice

Retirement planning often runs for years rather than a single meeting, so the relationship matters. Regulated financial advice may also give you access to protections that do not apply to general guidance. Eligible complaints may be referred to the Financial Ombudsman Service, while the Financial Services Compensation Scheme may provide compensation if an authorised firm fails and the relevant criteria are met.

  • Authorised and regulated

    Financiable® is a trading style of TFAS Wealth Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority – reference number: 968148.

  • Registered company

    TFAS Wealth Limited is a registered company in England and Wales – company number: 13664696.

  • Registered office

    Second Floor, St Andrew’s House, 119-121 The Headrow, Leeds LS1 5JW.

  • Data protection

    Registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office under registration number ZB370703.

Get in touch
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There is no obligation when you get in touch with Financiable®. Your initial consultation is free, and choosing not to continue afterwards is entirely your decision.

FAQs

What is retirement planning?

Retirement planning is about working out how you will support yourself once you reduce your hours or stop working altogether. It starts with understanding what retirement is likely to cost and comparing it with the income you may receive.

Your plan should look at everything together, including workplace and personal pensions, the state pension, savings, investments and any income from property. Seeing the full picture makes it easier to spot a potential shortfall and decide what action may be worth taking while there is still time.

When should I start planning for retirement?

You should start planning for retirement as early as you reasonably can. Planning many years before you aim to stop working gives you time to boost your income if you need to. Small changes made early tend to matter more than large ones made late.

That said, it’s rarely too late to benefit. Even close to retirement, there are decisions worth getting right, such as when to take your pension, how to take it and how to make it last.

How much money do I need to retire?

There is no single amount that suits everyone. The answer depends on the lifestyle you expect and how much it is likely to cost.

A financial adviser for retirement planning can then help you review the figures in the context of your wider circumstances.

What are the most common retirement planning mistakes?

Common retirement planning mistakes include:

  • Leaving planning too late, when there is less time to adjust.
  • Losing track of old workplace pensions and never seeing the full picture.
  • Underestimating how long retirement may last or how far your money will need to stretch.
  • Taking a pension before the scheme’s normal pension age without understanding the effect on income.
  • Missing tax relief or gaps in state pension entitlement.
  • Carrying debt into retirement, which can put pressure on a fixed income.

A financial adviser can’t change decisions already made, but they can help you understand where you stand and avoid making the situation harder from this point on.

How can a financial adviser help with retirement planning?

A financial adviser can review your finances as a whole and recommend a suitable course of action. They can help you understand when retirement may be affordable and how your income could be structured once you stop working.

They may also recommend suitable products or providers, while explaining the risks and tax implications involved.

Pension Wise by MoneyHelper offers guidance by explaining the options available. Regulated advice includes a personal recommendation, for which the adviser is accountable.

How much does retirement planning advice cost?

Fees vary between advisers and depend on the work involved. An adviser may charge a fixed fee or calculate the cost as a percentage of the assets being advised on. Hourly and ongoing charges may also apply. The adviser must explain their charging structure and tell you what you will pay before you commit to the service.

Your initial consultation through Financiable® is free.

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