27 Jul 2020
Volatile markets: Should I delay my pension?
For those people moving closer to retirement who may have been impacted by the recent market volatility, an option to consider is deferring your private pension.
If you're in a defined contribution scheme, delaying when you claim means that you leave your pension pot invested for longer, so you could secure a bigger pension pot when you do eventually come to retire.
Deferring also means that you can continue to save as much as £40,000 in the current tax year into a pension and earn tax relief under current rules.
There is also the opportunity to defer your State Pension for extra income.
Managing tax liability
Choosing to defer your State Pension means that once you do start claiming it, you'll receive more than you otherwise would have. It can also help you manage your tax liability if you don’t want to be pushed into a higher income bracket.
The most important thing to do in the face of what is an unexpected and uncertain period for investors is not panic.
We have seen extremely volatile stock markets recently, and it is impossible to say when markets will recover.
These are the reasons you might wish to delay your pension:
- Your pension has longer to grow;
- You can maximise your investment potential before moving to safer assets;
- Your employer will keep topping up your pension;
- You’ll continue to receive tax relief on pension contributions until age 75; and
- Delaying your State Pension can boost your payments.
Speak to a financial adviser
Our independent financial advisers can help you devise the correct pension, investment and saving strategy to allow you to enjoy the lifestyle you want when you retire.
Click here if you would like to speak to one of our advisers.