Retirement planning
Retirement can feel like a distant idea, until suddenly it isn’t. The quality of life you enjoy after those years of hard work is often shaped by the planning established decades earlier.
Retirement can last 30 years or more
That’s great news, as long as you don’t outlive your savings.
It’s vital to make the most of retirement planning opportunities but it’s a complex area, and the pensions landscape is increasingly uncertain.
Being ready for retirement isn’t defined by age. It comes from setting realistic expectations, utilising the power of compound growth and reviewing your plans as your life and legislation changes.
The value of an investment with St. James’s Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds you select and the value can therefore go down as well as up. You may get back less than you invested.
Financial Adviser Ben Johnson talks to Ben Friday about reframing our lifestyle goals in our later years and smoothing to pathway full retirement.
Our retirement advice and LifePlan technology
We offer expert advice and services across all areas of retirement planning alongside the Pinnacle LifePlan.
Whether you’re employed or self-employed, we’ll support you to make the right decisions at the right time.
When you’re building your pension fund, nearing retirement, or enjoying life after a career, our technology will enable you to see how much wealth you will have in your later years.
“Financial freedom isn’t achieved by luck, nor is it guaranteed by a high income. It requires professional, expert advice and a well-defined plan for someone to live a full life, free from financial worry. We call it the Pinnacle LifePlan.”
Frequently asked questions about retirement planning
How much money do I need to retire comfortably?
There isn’t one figure that works for everyone. According to the latest Retirement Living Standards, featured by St. James’s Place, a single person could need around £45,400 a year for a comfortable retirement, rising to £62,700 for a couple. Yet just 9% of people are currently on track for a comfortable retirement.
What you need will depend on the lifestyle you want, when you plan to retire, your expected spending and the income and assets you’ll have available. Pinnacle’s LifePlan can bring these together and help you understand your own number, and whether you’re currently on track to reach it.
Read SJP’s June 2026 retirement figures
Source: Pensions UK. Retirement Living Standards Update 2026, developed in partnership with Loughborough University Research facility.
How do I know if I can afford to retire early?
Retiring earlier can mean funding a longer retirement and potentially bridging a gap before pensions or other income become available. The Pinnacle LifePlan can help you model different retirement dates and spending levels, so you can see the potential long-term impact before making the decision.
What is the most tax-efficient way to take an income in retirement?
Your retirement income may come from several places, including pensions, ISAs, investments, savings and other assets. How and when you use them can affect the amount of tax you pay and how long your wealth may last. Planning ahead can help you structure withdrawals around your circumstances and make appropriate use of available tax allowances and reliefs.
When should I start planning for retirement?
The earlier you start, the more options you may have, but it’s never simply a case of being “too late”. Retirement planning becomes particularly important in the years approaching retirement, when decisions about pensions, investments, tax, spending and when to stop working begin to come together. The important thing is understanding where you are now, where you want to get to and what may need to change.


