My experience: maxed up AVCs as soon as I could.
Have taken 20% retirement (it is not actual retirement, but some weird half life), dropped my hours by 20%, have taken 80% of my maximum tax free lump sum (I need collateral right now for project), am continuing to add to the pension pot from salary, and am taking down 20% more income from salary plus pension than when I was 100% on the job. Plus the state pension as I passed 66 in May. What were they thinking?
My employment is all joy and I have no intention of stepping down.
The first 20 years of my working life was a nightmare. Inadequate pay, negative equity (on a dump of an end terrace mess, now renovated and extended). So I am grateful and relieved to have survived it all. Life has been hard yards. No doubt when I eventually exhale.....(you can guess the rest. Something about not following it with inhale).
Have taken 20% retirement (it is not actual retirement, but some weird half life), dropped my hours by 20%, have taken 80% of my maximum tax free lump sum (I need collateral right now for project), am continuing to add to the pension pot from salary, and am taking down 20% more income from salary plus pension than when I was 100% on the job. Plus the state pension as I passed 66 in May. What were they thinking?
My employment is all joy and I have no intention of stepping down.
The first 20 years of my working life was a nightmare. Inadequate pay, negative equity (on a dump of an end terrace mess, now renovated and extended). So I am grateful and relieved to have survived it all. Life has been hard yards. No doubt when I eventually exhale.....(you can guess the rest. Something about not following it with inhale).