Cranleigh, Surrey, GU6 8RZ, UK
01483 266 666
enquiries@oakwoodms.co.uk
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‘Plan for what is difficult while it is easy’ – Sun Tzu

We all know we need to save for retirement, don’t we? But we also know it’s not always that easy to find the spare cash required to do so, especially amid a global pandemic.

Research studies, though, typically show that many retirees wish they’d saved on a more consistent basis and managed to accumulate a larger nest egg. Mike is one of those people who entered retirement harbouring financial regrets.

Plan? What plan…?

Last January, after working for over 45 years, Mike decided it was finally time to retire. But he soon hit a snag; Mike simply hadn’t thought enough about the detail of how he would finance his retirement. Although he knew the State Pension wasn’t huge, he hadn’t realised just how difficult it would be to make ends meet and found it quite a shock when reality hit home. And Mike isn’t alone. Research suggests more than a third of over 50s either leave their retirement financial plans until the two years before retirement or don’t plan at all. As a result, many retirees are ill-prepared for what’s to come.

Funding retirement

Many people save for their retirement through a pension. Encouragingly, the introduction of auto enrolment has resulted in a rising proportion of the workforce having access to a pension, with research highlighting almost three in four workers are now offered a retirement plan by their employer. Worryingly, though, the self-employed largely seem to be neglecting their retirement needs, with just 16% currently saving in a private pension. An alternative strategy is to use other investments, such as ISAs. These also offer a tax-efficient savings route and can provide greater flexibility than a pension. There is also a specific type of ISA – Lifetime ISA – that 18 to 39-year-olds can use to accumulate retirement funds. Bricks and mortar can also be a valuable source of retirement income, either by investing in buy-to-let property, unlocking wealth tied up in a family home by downsizing or through equity release.

Advice is key

Like many people, Mike regrets not saving more across his working life and has two pieces of advice for younger generations: start planning your retirement in plenty of time and seek expert guidance on how to best organise your retirement finances. Retirement should be something we all look forward to and enjoy but to do so, it’s vital to plan ahead. We can help with all aspects of retirement planning, whether you’re just starting out and want help choosing a pension or you’re ready to utilise your retirement pot and want to know the most efficient way of accessing the funds. Just get in touch if you need our expertise.

An ISA is a medium to long term investment, which aims to increase the value of the money you invest for growth or income or both.

The value of your investments and any income from them can fall as well as rise. You may not get back the amount you invested

Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance and should not be relied upon

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Recent Posts

  • How has COVID-19 affected your retirement? 24th February 2021
  • Don’t fall for a financial scam 20th February 2021
  • It’s time to think about life insurance 11th February 2021

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Google Rating
5.0
Oakwood Mortgage Services Ltd
Oakwood Mortgage Services Ltd
5.0
Sharon Price
Sharon Price
15:30 12 Aug 20
In these current times Stuart has assisted me with a temporary solution to my mortgage issues which went very smoothly. I will be working with Stuart again very soon to change mortgage product completely. Thank you Oak wood Mortgage Services
Ben Brown
Ben Brown
16:38 31 Jul 20
I would like to say a huge thank you to Oakwood Mortgage Services and in particular to Richard Burley who seems capable of working miracles, particularly when dealing with the complicated applications of a sportsman. Richard’s calm manner and problem solving have been brilliant over the years and allowed both Katie and I to stay relaxed and in control during stressful house buying moments, as well as helping us to navigate the the complex buy-to-let market! We owe a huge debt of gratitude to Richard and Oakwood mortgage services ahead of moving house next week, and I would highly recommend their services. In particular I would recommend them to other sports people who have previously struggled with mortgage companies based on our short contracts and the potentially volatile nature of our work. Thanks again Richard. Ben and Katie
Gwenie Ralph
Gwenie Ralph
20:57 06 Jul 20
I gave Stuart at Oakwood Mortgage services a challenge of finding me an impossible mortgage. I knew I wouldn't get exactly what I wanted, but he came up with some nice surprises. He explained everything, not pushy at all, a friendly and professional approach. Thank you
nicky Myers
nicky Myers
19:17 25 May 20
We were first time buyers and dealt with Richard around the mortgage application. He helped us understand each process, explaining everything thoroughly and came to meet us twice where he was very personal and efficient. Dave took us through the building and contents and life insurance process, again coming to meet us in person and took us through the options, step by step. Dave was very communicative and answered any questions we had.Emma was there throughout this process and on hand with any urgent queries we had and was a delight to deal with.They managed to make it all happen, even during lockdown!Highly recommend Richard, Dave, Emma and Oakwood. We are very happy in our new home!
Daniella Castro Gouveia
Daniella Castro Gouveia
11:31 19 May 20
I have worked with a number of the Oakwood team over many years and they are all excellent and totally professional at what they do. Dave came to our family home a few years ago to discuss and advise us in terms of financial insurance. He was very knowledgeable, really easy to talk to. Sometimes discussing financial things can be quite tricky to understand, but I felt at complete ease with Dave. I would highly recommend speaking to him if you need insurance or even need a mortgage as he covers both areas. Thanks for all your support Dave. It's always good to have someone who has your back!
Richard Craven
Richard Craven
19:12 03 May 19
Stuart was excellent, helped me obtain a mortgage quickly and painlessly with minimal effort and was always ready to promptly answer any questions I had.
Andrew South
Andrew South
17:50 26 Mar 19
Stuart was very profession and friendly, He was there to help when something went wrong.Highly recommend!!
Ian L
Ian L
13:45 03 Jan 19
When we started looking for a house, we contacted Stuart based on a work colleague's recommendation. Having not bought a house in the UK before, we had a lot of questions.Stuart guided us through the process and was always available to answers questions and provide advice that was easy to understand.We had a protracted period between initial contact and purchase, in this time Stuart was patient, professional and provided us with a high level of confidence that we were in capable hands.A huge thank you to Stuart and the staff at Oakwood, we would not hesitate to recommend them.Ian and Yoosun
Claire Vince
Claire Vince
22:13 21 Dec 18
Great service. Paul talked us through everything really clearly and made the whole process very smooth and straightforward. We have recommended Oakwood to friends as a result.
Christopher Relph
Christopher Relph
23:27 29 Aug 18
The team is very friendly, professional and knowledgeable on their given subject. My situation was rather unusual and my options were very limited, if i had tried on my own i wouldn't have found the best deal for me. The information provided to me was well presented and insightful, if anything was unclear they made sure that i understood things fully. In the end they found the best deal out there that ticked all the boxes i needed and went above and beyond. To make sure i wasn't put into a position i couldn't afford to be in Stuart would go to an agent and tell them when things weren't possible, even when they were insistent on getting a deal, Stuart had my back in it!I can't recommend them enough, and will be returning to them down the line myself!
Sam Eccles
Sam Eccles
15:35 24 Jul 18
Top notch service. Friendly, prompt and accessible no matter where you are based (I'm in the Highlands). Much better service than that experienced by local face-to-face advisers with a large portfolio of companies that ensure you can get the mortgage to suit your needs. Have happily referred to others in less than usual circumstances, all of whom have come away delighted
Michelle Ames
Michelle Ames
18:20 07 Jul 18
Highly recommend. We were first time buyers and Stuart made the process simple and efficient. We found our property and made an offer on the spot, but the agents needed to speak to Stuart before stopping further viewings, so he dropped everything whilst at a conference and the rest is history. Buying a house is an emotional time, so having the mortgage element handled by a professional, yet down to earth person like Stuart was invaluable to us. Thanks Stuart.
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