Pension stuff, how's it all looking ? HAve you prepared ?

[ZRX61]

My Vanguard portfolio did damn good during November, up 7.5%

[Noggin]

If I won the lottery tonight I'd still go to work on Monday, just in a Rolls-Royce

I'd rather be happy about going to work than happy about the fact I don't have to do it any more. Fortunately for me, I know what job I want to do and I have the skills to do it. Winner

If I won the lottery tonight, I would keep working for the winter because I have made a commitment to the job and I wouldn't be able to do much about changing accommodation until spring anyway!

And, I do actually like what I do. What I didn't like was being stressed out over it. The deal this year is that I'm working enough to earn a decent full time wage, but not enough to get stressed out again.

Equally, I wouldn't go back to work next winter!! I'd spend winters skiing and summers playing motorbikes!! LOL Despite living a lot longer than expected, I am too aware that life is short and I want to enjoy it. Since I'm single I can be as selfish as I like/can afford to be

There is an interview somewhere with Jordan Peterson (who I don't usually like) but he's talking to someone who has everything they've ever wanted, great career, great place to live, money, etc, but no kids or much family around them and he points out to them that they've sacrificed having a family so they could have all the other stuff and it's a bad mistake to make, they'll spend their elder years without the blessing of grandkids or family, etc.

Some of us had no choice on the family thing!!

My one personal goal in life was to get married and have children and be a mum. My parents goal for me was to have a successful career. I failed spectacularly on both counts!!

It's about the only thing I'm sad about in life - not having children, or having a big enough apartment here (yet) to foster. But the second is something I'm still working on!


However. I look at some of the things that have gone 'wrong' in my life and whilst in some ways I feel I should have done things differently, I wouldn't be living here and being a french speaker if any of the planned things had happened!! Maybe life would have been better, maybe not. But despite the stresses I'm still sorting out, I'm actually very happy with where I am. (I would REALLY like an apartment with a bedroom though! And space to cook for friends!)

Downside is that, due to never expecting to live past (or up to) 40, I never did plan much for retirement! So I currently don't have much of a plan! But, I can work in half of the job I'm doing until I'm pretty old. And if things go the way I'm hoping, I 'should' be able to sort a bit of a solution in the next few years. Just got to make sure this winter goes well and I get a permanent contract - that will pave the way for my 'plan'!!

[gremlin]

Death in Service protection (12 x annual salary, it's a wonder Mrs. G hasn't pushed my down the stairs!),

Wow... i thought 3X was good !!!

What can I say? I'm worth it.

[Noggin]

Some of us had no choice on the family thing!!

Sorry, it was a bit inconsiderate of me to go on about it, it didn't cross my mind that some people didn't have a choice.

To be honest we never really planned kids, they just kind of turned up and although of course I loved them from day one I never really gave a lot of thought to it, they were just there and I did my best. But as someone that has been very aggressive chasing a career, goals and money, and often making sacrifices to achieve some goals, I've sometimes wondered whether I got the balance right.

My parents were pretty dreadful, I won't tell any sob stories but I had a very bad childhood, so I tried my best with ours.

Sorry again if I raised any sore points.

I've seen in your posts how much you've worked to be great with your kids. Always brings a smile to my face and a warm to my heart

And, don't worry!! I've had people asking me when I'm going to settle down and have kids since I was 20 - most people don't realise when they meet me that I'm too old (biologically) to have them now! I do remember asking a colleague how he deals with people asking why he wasn't married (both working in chalets and a similar age!) - he had it easier, he could just say, 'divorce' to shut them up He suggested I said something like "haven't seen enough good examples to want to go there" But I still wish I'd met someone - and sort of hope I will meet someone (who hopefully doesn't still want kids cos, biology!!) - maybe!

It's not a sore point really. Just a smidge of sadness in me, but I don't get pissy if it's mentioned (hope my post didn't sound that way, didn't intend to).

But, like I said, I wouldn't be somewhere amazing or done the bike stuff I've done with kids and a husband! Things wouldn't necessarily be worse, just different. And I do love where life is now And I get to be bad auntie to lots of friends kids (And probably their kids )

[Horse]

I don't think anybody should underestimate how going from the 5-day-a-week grind to retirement can mess with your well-being.

Yes agreed, it'a mainly going to be the intensity for me, I think it was Moofo who highlighted making some pretty senior decisions one day and then retiring and picking up dog shit the next day whilst out walking the dog as a retired person.

I have a truck load of responsibility, so ditching that will be a strange feeling.

Responsibility? Pah! Can happily live without that. It's not knowing that nags. I was - for a particular niche - aware of a lot of stuff, much of it not directly related to my work. That stuff is continuing, but I'm unaware.

However, as I said earlier, training as a CFR has given me a transition rather than 》|End|

Edit: although the CFR role may have literal life or death responsibilities.

[Taipan]

There is an interview somewhere with Jordan Peterson (who I don't usually like) but he's talking to someone who has everything they've ever wanted, great career, great place to live, money, etc, but no kids or much family around them and he points out to them that they've sacrificed having a family so they could have all the other stuff and it's a bad mistake to make, they'll spend their elder years without the blessing of grandkids or family, etc.

My old mate had a lot more stuff than anyone else i knew. He'd done really well out of being a self taught builder! 3 or 4 holidays each year. New truck. New Car. Lovely house etc blah. But they didn't have kids and often joked they had nothing else to spend their money on. Pissed up one night, fighting back tears, he said to me they'd give everything up to be able to have kids. I always thought it was a choice, not because they couldn't have kids, nor did I know, the pain behind the smiles.

[Count Steer]

Responsibility? Pah! Can happily live without that. It's not knowing that nags. I was - for a particular niche - aware of a lot of stuff, much of it not directly related to my work. That stuff is continuing, but I'm unaware.

However, as I said earlier, training as a CFR has given me a transition rather than 》|End|

Edit: although the CFR role may have literal life or death responsibilities.

Losing the responsibility never bothered me a jot. What I missed, a bit, was being 'the expert'. It's a bit like being an industry 'rock star'. For a short while, I was 'an expert' on something (Twice actually if you want to include the incorporation of nitrogen in silicate glass and silicon nitride ceramics. Thrice if you include heat treatment of sintered tool steels.

But then, I always said jobs are like sandcastles. You build 'em as big and as complicated as you like. A couple of tides later and everyone forgets you were there.

[Mr. Dazzle]

(Twice actually if you want to include the incorporation of nitrogen in silicate glass and silicon nitride ceramics.

Nah, I'm good thanks.

[Yambo]

There is an interview somewhere with Jordan Peterson (who I don't usually like) but he's talking to someone who has everything they've ever wanted, great career, great place to live, money, etc, but no kids or much family around them and he points out to them that they've sacrificed having a family so they could have all the other stuff and it's a bad mistake to make, they'll spend their elder years without the blessing of grandkids or family, etc.

Some of us had no choice on the family thing!!

My one personal goal in life was to get married and have children and be a mum. My parents goal for me was to have a successful career. I failed spectacularly on both counts!!

It's about the only thing I'm sad about in life - not having children, or having a big enough apartment here (yet) to foster. But the second is something I'm still working on!

The family thing isn't necessarily always rosy though is it. You come into the world with parents, maybe brothers an sisters and a few years on you may produce your own family. But there's no guarantee that your parents and siblings are going to turn out to be wonderful human beings or that your own children are going to be perfect, cloned copies of you, the perfect parent.

Shit 'appens and it's quite possible that you don't/didn't like your parents and your siblings are, to you, obnoxious. Of course, to your parents and siblings you may be the obnoxious one . . .

You can't choose your family and they didn't 'choose' you and whilst it may well be wonderful to be an all lovey dovey family unit I'd suggest that the norm is somewhat different. You can try your best and work as hard as you like but your family may well not be as great as those you see on the TV or in the movies.

You may just be a lousy scriptwriter so just accept what you've got - it may be considerably better than 'family'.

[Count Steer]

(Twice actually if you want to include the incorporation of nitrogen in silicate glass and silicon nitride ceramics.

Nah, I'm good thanks.

Aww. You're not putting any silicon nitride or sialons in your battery cars? Ah. No valves, no valve seats but I bet they've still got high wear bits that would benefit from a bit of ceramic.

(To be fair, it was a long time ago...like around the time Jimmy Carter visited Newcastle. Haway the laaads).

[Noggin]

There is an interview somewhere with Jordan Peterson (who I don't usually like) but he's talking to someone who has everything they've ever wanted, great career, great place to live, money, etc, but no kids or much family around them and he points out to them that they've sacrificed having a family so they could have all the other stuff and it's a bad mistake to make, they'll spend their elder years without the blessing of grandkids or family, etc.

My old mate had a lot more stuff than anyone else i knew. He'd done really well out of being a self taught builder! 3 or 4 holidays each year. New truck. New Car. Lovely house etc blah. But they didn't have kids and often joked they had nothing else to spend their money on. Pissed up one night, fighting back tears, he said to me they'd give everything up to be able to have kids. I always thought it was a choice, not because they couldn't have kids, nor did I know, the pain behind the smiles.

I was very much worse in the emotional stakes when i realised I physically couldn't have kids any more. There was always hope before. But, I've got family and friends that tried and failed - almost no one admits that they are sad that they can't have them because that's not what other people want to hear

Now, I'm ok with it because I did always want to foster more than get pregnant, so I am still hoping I might be able to foster, one day But it's no longer the be all and end all of life for me

The family thing isn't necessarily always rosy though is it. You come into the world with parents, maybe brothers an sisters and a few years on you may produce your own family. But there's no guarantee that your parents and siblings are going to turn out to be wonderful human beings or that your own children are going to be perfect, cloned copies of you, the perfect parent.

Shit 'appens and it's quite possible that you don't/didn't like your parents and your siblings are, to you, obnoxious. Of course, to your parents and siblings you may be the obnoxious one . . .

You can't choose your family and they didn't 'choose' you and whilst it may well be wonderful to be an all lovey dovey family unit I'd suggest that the norm is somewhat different. You can try your best and work as hard as you like but your family may well not be as great as those you see on the TV or in the movies.

You may just be a lousy scriptwriter so just accept what you've got - it may be considerably better than 'family'.

Oh believe me, I am very very aware of that. Very very aware. I didn't speak to one of my parents for five years because any conversation was horrible and it ended up being kinder (for me anyway) not to. We are back in touch but I work hard to make sure that conversations don't go downhill, and have learned not to react to things that I would have in the past. Maybe they are doing the same.

Apart from that, I think I come from one of the most dysfunctional families I've ever met - but then we rarely find out how functional or not other peoples families are.

It does make me sad to see history repeating itself through three generations but also can see how easy that is. So, in some ways, maybe it's a good thing I haven't, I could have just created yet another generation of fucked up kids! I hope I wouldn't have, but there are no guarantees (and boths sides of my family were pretty FUBAR).

And if I foster and am shit at it, I can stop offering to foster. Hopefully someone will tell me I'm shit if that is the case!! If so, I'll get a LOT of cats and more bikes

[Felix]

Hopefully someone will tell me I'm shit if that is the case!! If so, I'll get a LOT of cats and more bikes

I am sure you are related to my wife. Sound just as nuts at times, bit accident prone, pink hair but she mixes it up now and then and goes blue for a while. Love of bikes although she does not ride now (Steady) and she is the mad cat lady. Got four just now but if i was not here there would be a lot more. I would get replaced by cats if i was to go

[Noggin]

Hopefully someone will tell me I'm shit if that is the case!! If so, I'll get a LOT of cats and more bikes

I am sure you are related to my wife. Sound just as nuts at times, bit accident prone, pink hair but she mixes it up now and then and goes blue for a while. Love of bikes although she does not ride now (Steady) and she is the mad cat lady. Got four just now but if i was not here there would be a lot more. I would get replaced by cats if i was to go

Sounds great

[Felix]

Hopefully someone will tell me I'm shit if that is the case!! If so, I'll get a LOT of cats and more bikes

I am sure you are related to my wife. Sound just as nuts at times, bit accident prone, pink hair but she mixes it up now and then and goes blue for a while. Love of bikes although she does not ride now (Steady) and she is the mad cat lady. Got four just now but if i was not here there would be a lot more. I would get replaced by cats if i was to go

Sounds great

Nah, she is nuts

[Noggin]

I am sure you are related to my wife. Sound just as nuts at times, bit accident prone, pink hair but she mixes it up now and then and goes blue for a while. Love of bikes although she does not ride now (Steady) and she is the mad cat lady. Got four just now but if i was not here there would be a lot more. I would get replaced by cats if i was to go

Sounds great

Nah, she is nuts

That's what I said!!!!!

[weeksy]

So this 25% tax free at 55 then.

Give me some thoughts on taking/not taking it.

There's obviously the fact your pot goes down by 25% but would you need it all anyway... There's clearly a limit of how much you'll need in retirement with 0 mortgage/debts.. So even ignoring the Gov pension for now, you'll still need a lot less money each month than when you're working.

[Horse]

There's obviously the fact your pot goes down by 25%

Unless you're on guaranteed amount (like final salary), it's what that pot will get you. That depends on how you use it (annuity, drawdown).

There's clearly a limit of how much you'll need in retirement with 0 mortgage/debts..

Work out now how much you will need. Be realistic, include everything from Christmas costs to house repairs, etc.

[Mr. Dazzle]

You don't have to spend the 25% right now if you take it.

The remaining 75% will potentially be taxed when you come to actually spend it (depends how much you have and how often you draw money out of your pension).

Therefore it makes a lot of sense to take all of your 25% now and move it to more tax friendly places (e.g. ISAs) if you can.

Deffo one of the "find a professional to help" moments.

[weeksy]

You don't have to spend the 25% right now if you take it.

The remaining 75% will potentially be taxed when you come to actually spend it (depends how much you have and how often you draw money out of your pension).

Therefore it makes a lot of sense to take all of your 25% now and move it to more tax friendly places (e.g. ISAs) if you can.

Deffo one of the "find a professional to help" moments.

Absolutely agree.. but i do wonder to an extent with IFAs as to how independent they actually are... they must get kick-backs etc from somewhere?

The thought of removing 25% sounds ace to re-invest say 50% of that short term... but there's something about a maximum you can put in then as being £10,000 a year into the continuing pension ? or have i mis-read that ?

[Cousin Jack]

There's obviously the fact your pot goes down by 25%

Unless you're on guaranteed amount (like final salary), it's what that pot will get you. That depends on how you use it (annuity, drawdown).

There's clearly a limit of how much you'll need in retirement with 0 mortgage/debts..

Work out now how much you will need. Be realistic, include everything from Christmas costs to house repairs, etc.

And DO factor in inflation! Over the long term it makes a HUGE difference, if you retire at 55 and live to 85........