A plan before the first withdrawal
What the money is for, what it must cover and what happens if you live longer than expected, all written down in plain language.
Private Client
Retirement savings
A clear plan for when and how to take money out, so your savings last as long as you need them. We work out the order, the amounts and the tax, and we review it every three months.
How we plan
Tax taken in the right order
Pensions, ISAs and ordinary accounts drawn in a sequence that uses your allowances each year instead of wasting them.
A cash buffer for poor markets
A year or two of spending held in cash, so income never depends on selling investments at the wrong moment.
Reviews every three months
Progress measured against the plan rather than the headlines, with adjustments as spending, tax rules or markets change.
Drawing an income
Taking money out is where most plans quietly go wrong. Before you rely on your savings, we work through the details that decide how long the money lasts:
- When state and workplace pensions start, and how they fit alongside your own savings
- How much of your spending is fixed and how much you could pause if you needed to
- The order in which you draw on tax-free savings, pensions and ordinary accounts
- What you want to leave behind, and what that means for how much you can spend
- How the plan holds up if markets are poor in the first years of retirement
The value of investments can fall as well as rise, and past performance is not indicative of future results. A plan improves the odds; it does not remove risk.
Common questions
When should I start planning withdrawals?
Earlier than feels necessary. A year or two before you rely on the money, we set out what you will spend, where each part of it comes from and which tax allowances you will use, so nothing has to be decided in a hurry.
How much can I safely take each year?
There is no fixed percentage that suits everyone. It depends on your spending, your other income, your health and how markets behave. We test the plan against poor markets and agree a figure with room to adjust if things change.
Which savings should I draw from first?
It depends on the allowances available to you. We look at tax-free savings, pensions, ISAs and ordinary accounts together, then set an order that keeps more of the money working for you for longer.
What if markets fall just as I stop working?
We hold a cash buffer covering a year or two of spending, so income does not depend on selling investments at a low point. If markets fall further than expected, we adjust the plan rather than the spending you rely on.
Can you work with my pension provider?
Yes. We do not hold your pension or take custody of it. We plan around the arrangements you already have, tell you what to change and when, and share the paperwork your provider, accountant or solicitor needs.
Start the conversation
Tell us when you plan to stop working and what the money must cover. A partner will reply within five business days.
Contact us