Retirement income,
put into perspective.
Bring your pensions, spending and plans into one picture. A practical workbook to help you prepare for retirement and ask better questions about advice.
Download your planning packFree PDF · 12 A4 pages · No sign-up
See what is inside
A workbook you can use.
Start with approximate figures. Keep the completed pages for yourself, or take them to a conversation with an adviser.
Your spending and income
List everyday costs, annual bills and income sources. Separate a pension pot from the payments it might provide.
Worksheets · pages 3-4The years between
Map the gap between stopping work and each pension starting. Follow an example with three different income phases.
Timeline and example · pages 5-6The decisions ahead
Understand pension options, test assumptions and record the costs and questions you want an adviser to explain.
Options and meeting preparation · pages 7-11
Begin with an ordinary month.
Use recent statements to estimate what you spend. Divide annual bills by 12, then allow for things that may change when work stops.
Next, compare that spending with income expected in the same period. Use figures after tax where possible, and label anything you still need to confirm.
A shortfall gives you a question to investigate. It does not tell you how much you can safely withdraw from a pension.
Try MoneyHelper's retirement budget plannerOne retirement. Different income gaps.
Alex and Sam are an invented household. These monthly figures illustrate a calculation, not pension rates or a recommended retirement budget.
| Monthly amount | First 2 years | Next 3 years | Later years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spending | £2,800 | £2,800 | £2,800 |
| Income identified | £1,400 | £2,200 | £2,600 |
| Monthly gap | £1,400 | £600 | £200 |
£1,400 × 24 months + £600 × 36 months. A further £200 monthly gap remains afterwards.
This simple sum holds the figures constant. It excludes inflation, returns, charges, tax on extra withdrawals and unexpected costs. It does not establish how large a pension pot needs to be or whether retirement is affordable.
Turn your questions into a conversation.
If you would like help finding advice, tell us what you need. Advisedly reviews your enquiry and contacts you about a possible introduction. You choose whether to take advice.
Start a retirement enquiryWe aim to acknowledge enquiries within one working day and update you within two working days.
Before you use the pack
Do I need to give my contact details?
No. You can download and print the pack without signing up. Downloading it does not start an enquiry or sign you up for marketing. If you want an introduction, use the separate enquiry form.
Will it tell me whether I can afford to retire?
No. It helps organise the information and questions a retirement plan needs. Personal recommendations require an assessment of your circumstances, pensions, tax position and risks.
Can I complete it on my computer?
This edition is designed to print and write on. You can also use your PDF reader's annotation tools. Keep completed pages private; there is no worksheet upload or automatic submission.