Indeed, the self-serving parasites are all in it together, at our expense.
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I think we both know that the internet is mostly full of rubbish
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It absolutely is, thanks for commenting.
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The internet gives us self-expression, where else are we going to get it? The pubs are closed, the old boozer type of pub anyway. Self expression is frowned upon at home, unless youāre in agreement with the boss.
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Wrong thread, kid. But, in your defense, I think there is something worth chewing over here. Could you please man up, kid, and set up a thread on this topic? I for one would happily contribute to a chat on this matter.
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Self expression is frowned upon by the government too, they donāt like you having an opinion that contradicts their agenda.
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āman upā, what does that mean?
Is it the screen name that confuses and offends you?
Just be brave and dip your toe in the water of setting up your on thread about the performance of the current government. It will be interesting. The āman upā was a joke based on that premise of needing to make a conscious statement with a new thread and reflecting back to your screen name - gettit? Lighten up. Iāll agree that it was barely witty but it was not offensive.
Feel free to make similar inoffensive puns on my screen name in your forthcoming new thread. Perhaps āyour logical lincs are tenuousā or āyou put the con into Lincolnshireā or āthat claim is utter shireā.
PS I actually quite like Steely Dan
Perhaps I should start a separate thread on this, but was wondering on the best way to utilise the lump sum. Iām hoping to retire at the end of 2026 when I will turn 60. Counting down the days!
I already have a long-term cash ISA but maybe I should be moving it to get more interest.
A friend put Ā£50k of some funds she inherited into premium bonds and says that ensures winnings every month which I understand are tax free.
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You do know retirement age is no longer 60. 
Yes, of course you know.
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Crypto? My boy sold his house and after a couple of years heās near doubled his dosh, apparently!
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I guess a lot would depend on when you think youāll need to start drawing down on your savings. If its long term, more than 5 years, then some form of stocks & shares investment (ISA or private portfolio) can be good. But its a long term investment as this years performance shows. The UK FTSE 100 grew 13% per annum, average, over the last 5 years - but I prefer a more mixed portfolio. By comparison premium bond average returns are now only 3.6%.
Rather than a separate thread perhaps speak to an IFA? Certainly that was the best thing I did just before I reached 60.
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One of my pensions allows me to retire at 60. Itās not big bucks but should just about be manageable when combined with savings.
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I donāt trust any of them Lincs. They all have vested interests. Many are also sharks in my experience. Iām sure there are good guys out there but one of my very first jobs when I was 21 was in an independent financial consultancy. In those days they were selling policies that would earn commission for both the financial adviser and the agent. Total lack of independence. There is so much abuse in the industry despite FSA rules and not sure how much can be effectively policed. Iād say that mainly the vulnerable end up scammed or just restricted from accessing their own money. Iāve seen this happen first hand. Itās quite shocking really.
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Will they allow you to keep the Ā£s there? And what would you gain?
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The model for IFAs has changed and the commission based reward that you describe has been removed. That is not to say that all of them are good, true. But if you compare their knowledge and experience and contacts (the good ones that is) then it will most likely be better than you or me (or probably all your friends and everyone on this forum). My only regret is not speaking to an advisor sooner - I reckon a wasted many thousands on money not being in places where it would have grown. I canāt advise on finding a good one as Iām now in France, but surely there are places to go for such info? Up to you of course.
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Not sure I follow. I canāt defer this particular pension so may as well take it. Thereās an option of āpartial retirementā but my job is at risk long term due to restructuring and I havenāt the inclination to keep going through the job application process. It takes so much energy to apply for work and Iām losing interest. I might get a part time job doing something entirely different from my finance career.
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Do remember that your pensions get taxed just like any salary. I had not allowed for the French 17% social charges (same as NI) which was a bigger hit than Iād expected.
Consider what to do with your other pensions - cash them in? Keep them? Keep contributing to them to make them grow more?
A good return on where you put savings might be 3%, maybe bit more some places, so that is only Ā£3000 a year for 100k pot. Also taxed.
But as per the theme of this thread, retiring is great, go for it.
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Yes that was back in the 80s and I was working on mortgage finance at a building society and then moved to the financial adviser job. We were selling endowments like they were the best thing since sliced bread. I remember later they removed the commission gravy train.
But, there is a lot of scamming particularly of the most vulnerable where they are hoodwinked into commission for the financial adviser, the advisers take control of the money and then itās a negotiation to get your money back. I think itās difficult for any of these big professional organisations to be unbiased. This does not apply just to IFAs but also to solicitors and others. You canāt tell whether the advice they are providing is just to make them money rather than you. I had a similar problem with a solicitor who gave me bad advice last year. The SRA are pretty toothless and refer you to the ombudsman. Itās a jungle out there.
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Would you get redundancy if they decided to cull your job? Is it worth hanging on to get that?
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