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Our insights
5 ways to get retirement ready
Whether retirement seems a long way off or just around the corner, it makes sense to spend some time thinking about what kind of future you want. Increasingly, many of us don’t go directly from working to being retired – and pension savings are now more flexible than ever, giving us more choice about what retirement looks like. These five ideas could help you get prepared.
1. Work out your numbers
Did you know that according to research by Royal London (2018) we need a £260k pension pot to retire comfortably? That’s based on enjoying a similar lifestyle as the average working income. That same research says the average amount people have saved is around £71,000, so there’s quite a gap. A good place to start is by finding out what your pension plans are worth, so you’ve got a clearer idea of what you can look forward to.
2. Build healthy habits
Many of us look forward to retirement as an opportunity to make the most of our free time. A chance to travel perhaps, devote more time to hobbies and interests or spend more time in the company of family and friends. Some people see it as the chance to start something new, like doing a degree or returning to study. Doing more exercise is another thing people look forward to, and it’s certainly a great way to aim for a long and happy retirement.
3. Pay down your debts
Now could be a good time to pay down as much debt as possible. Try to avoid carrying mortgage debt and credit card debt into retirement. Paying off your debt in your 50s could really boost your pension savings. For example, if you can pay off your mortgage then take the amount you’d normally pay each month and add it to your pension. It could all add up to a significant boost to your income in retirement.
4. Set some goals
What kind of retirement are you looking forward to? Increasingly, many people plan to stay active rather than stopping work completely – whether that’s starting a business, working part-time or volunteering. Work out what matters to you, and when you want to achieve things by. Make a budget. Some costs will be lower, such as travel costs – but be realistic: don’t forget to think about things like holidays and entertaining.
5. Consider investing
On top of your pension arrangements, investing could be another way to grow your money for retirement.
NatWest Invest offers you a quick and simple way to help you make your money work harder and go further. Whatever plans you have for the future - whether you’re an experienced investor or taking your first steps, we’ve made it easy to get started.
The value of investments can go down as well as up, and you may not get back your full investment. You’ll need to be a NatWest customer with online banking, aged 18 – 84 and a UK residence for tax purposes. Fees and charges apply.
Check out past fund performance
As investment returns aren’t certain, this shouldn’t be used to guide what you could get back in the future. Log in to NatWest Invest to view our investment forecast tool.