Media Wall
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We’ve produced a range of helpful films, videos and programmes to help you understand more about the choices you have available for financing your retirement and how you go about making the right decisions for you.
Questions to ask at retirement
As retirement draws closer, what financial questions should you ask?
This is the first of a series of lessons on retirement finance from professional Financial Adviser Pete Matthew who gives an overview of the recent changes to pension legislation (known as the ‘Pension Freedoms’). He talks through the key issues to ask “when’s the best time to consider how to provide an income in retirement?”
Pre retirement
Shelagh describes what she is most looking forward to when she retires.
Shelagh is less than twelve months away from retiring. We talk to her to find out how she is preparing for retirement, the changes which are likely to happen in her life, and what she is most looking forward to when she has more time, but less money.
Retail Price Index
Ever wondered what the RPI is? Find out now!
In the UK, the Retail Price Index is a commonly used to measure inflation. Published monthly by the Office for National Statistics, it measures the change in cost of representative retail goods and services. Interestingly you can link an annuity to this measurement, so it keeps pace with inflation. Find out how, in our short animation.
Income choices in retirement
Before entering retirement, what actions do you need to take??
In the run up to retirement there’s a number of things to consider in securing your retirement income, particularly following the many recent changes to the pensions landscape. This is the third in our series on retirement finance from professional financial adviser Pete Matthew. It outlines the options and choices available to provide an income in retirement.
When you’ve recently retired
Clive and Bernice discuss the changes they've made in retirement.
Clive has been retired only a few months. We talk to him and his wife Bernice to find out how their first few months have been, what changes they have had to make to their lifestyles and how they are planning to spend their retirement now they have more time on their hands.
The financial impact of living longer
How can health and longevity impact your finances in retirement?
When you’re considering how to finance retirement, it’s important to factor in your health and lifestyle. This could have a significant impact on the length of time you’ll need your pensions’ savings to stretch for. Second in our series on retirement finance, professional adviser Pete Matthew gives his view on longevity’s impact upon retirement financial planning.
Compound Interest
What is compound interest? And why is it important?
Compound interest can be described as ‘interest on interest’. It makes a loan grow at a far swifter rate than a straightforward interest type arrangement, by increasing the amount of ‘principal’ on which further interest will be earned in the future. Learn more by watching our video, and understand why it’s so important – especially for your retirement.
The impact of divorce in retirement
When facing divorce in retirement - what do you need to know?
If you are unfortunate enough to be considering separation or divorce, there are a number of steps to take to ensure you are adequately protected. In the third of our series of lessons on retirement finance, Pete Matthew examines the key steps you need to take before you end up in court.
Annuities
Annuities matter. But what are they & how do they work?
Annuities are often described as “The most common way for people retiring to secure a steady, guaranteed income. They are bought using the money saved in your pension fund and in return a regular sum of money is paid to you each year, for the rest of your life.” Our animation explains more – in plain English – in less than 90 seconds.
Bereavement in retirement
What are the practical steps you need to undertake?
When the most traumatic of events does happen, there can often be much to think about at an already stressful time. In the fourth of our series on retirement finance, professional financial adviser Pete Matthew gives an overview of what steps you need to take in dealing with the practicalities of someone’s death and where to get more help and support.
Bank of England Base Rate
Base rates sound complex. But they don’t have to be.
According to the dictionary, the BoEBR is “The interest rate set by the Bank of England for lending to other banks, used as the benchmark for interest rates generally.” This is about as clear as mud, so what does this really mean? Find out in less than 90 seconds as our animation converts jargon into plain English.
Inflation
Inflation’s always in the news. But why does it matter?
The dictionary definition of inflation is that it’s “A term used to describe the average increase in the price of goods and services.” As explanations go, this one isn’t bad. But what does this really mean? Find out in less than 90 seconds as our animation converts jargon into plain English.
Considering an equity release plan
Using your home to help fund your retirement.
Your home is likely to be one of your biggest assets so how do you make it work for you in retirement. In the sixth of our series on retirement finance, professional financial adviser Pete Matthews considers all the options available for using your home to help financially when you retire.
Credit Score
Find out what a credit score is and how it’s calculated.
Your credit score is “A statistically derived numeric expression of a person’s creditworthiness that is used by lenders to access the likelihood that a person will repay his or her debts. A credit score is based on, among other things, a person’s past credit history.” Our animation explains why – in plain English – in less than 90 seconds.
Annual Equivalent Rate
How do Annual Equivalent Rates add up?
The dictionary definition for AERs says they have interest that is calculated under the assumption that any interest paid is combined with the original balance, and the next interest payment will be calculated on a slightly higher account balance. This animation explains what this actually means – in less than 90 seconds, using everyday plain English.
Secured and unsecured loans
Secured loans and unsecured loans - separating fact from fiction
A secured loan is debt backed by collateral, such as a house or car, to reduce the lender risk. Unsecured loans are not guaranteed and typically have higher interest rates, reflecting the bigger risk for the lender. The most common unsecured loan are credit cards, student loans, and personal loans. Our short animation reveals all.
Open Market Option
Find out about Open Market Option and how it can benefit you
The Open Market Option gives you the right to shop around and buy an annuity from any annuity provider, not just the company that provides your pension. This lets you search for the best possible annuity rate for your circumstances. In less than two minutes, this animation helps make sense of it in plain English.
LTV (loan to value)
Here, we help unravel the jargon of the term ‘loan to value’
In summary, loan to value is the amount borrowed, expressed as a percentage of the value of the property that is used as security for the loan. Our two minute animation explains more, converting jargon into plain English.
DC Pension (defined contribution pension)
How do defined contribution pensions work?
A pension plan offered by employers in which the benefits are dependent on contributions to, and the growth of, the pension fund. But how do they work? Our simple animation, in plain English explains more in less than two minutes.
Enhanced annuities
What are enhanced annuities and who can qualify for one?
Often described as ‘a type of annuity which uses detailed information about your health and lifestyle to potentially provide you with a greater income in retirement’. This animation gives an overview of them in plain English, in under two minutes.
Lifetime Mortgage
What is a Lifetime Mortgage and how do they work?
Lifetime mortgages are often described as ‘a mortgage secured on your home. No repayments are usually made on the mortgage until the death of the last surviving borrower or their entry into long term care’. But does this really cover it? Our short animation converts jargon into plain English.
Defined Benefits
Defined benefit pension plans explained
Commonly known as a ‘final salary scheme’ this is a pension plan in which an employee’s pension benefit is defined by a formula, usually related to the number of years of service and salary with each employer. Our two minute animation explains more – in plain English.
‘No Negative Equity’ Guarantee
What is meant by a ‘No Negative Equity’ guarantee?
This is a guarantee offered as part of an equity release plan that ensures you will never owe more than the value of your property so is essential when considering equity release. This short animation explains the jargon in plain English.
Occupational Pension
How do occupational pensions work? Understand more here
Also known as a workplace or company pension, this is a pension scheme provided by a company or organisation to generate retirement benefits for its workforce. But how do they work? This short animation explains more - and in plain English.
Home Reversion Plan
What is a home reversion plan and how do they work?
A form of equity release where you sell all or part of your home in return for a cash lump sum and continue to live in your home, rent-free, for as long as you’re able. Our two minute animation explains more in plain English.
Stock Market Volatility
Things to consider if taking income drawdown
Since the pensions freedoms more people have been considering investing some or all of their pension savings in income drawdown. In this Retirement Matters video, Pete Matthew explains what stock market volatility is and how this can affect the value of your fund if you are already taking or considering income drawdown.
When you've been retired a while
Jeff explains how he and his wife are enjoying the freedom of retirement.
Jeff has been retired for some time. We talk to him about how he and his wife are managing financially, why they decided to take out an equity release plan and what it has meant to them, and how they are planning to spend the remainder of their retirement doing the things they enjoy most.
Tax code changes explained
Why do tax codes change and what does that mean for you? In this short video Pete Matthew explains how it works.
The amount of money paid into your bank account from an employer or pension provider can alter as a result of a tax code change. But why do tax codes change and what does that mean for you? In this short video Pete Matthew explains how it works.
