A journalist at the Daily Express is after responses to the following two Qs:<ul><li>What are the most common mistakes people make when planning for their retirement?</li><li>Is the 3.1% pension increase enough/fair?</li></ul>No need for an essay. Just a few lines for each will do. Deadline is tight - 14:00 today!

Daily Express pensions article

"The most common mistakes are leaving it too late to build up a significant pension, underestimating how much should be saved towards retirement goals, and failing to take financial advice in advance of retirement. Another issue is underestimating how much non-essential expenditure is required during retirement.

"The 3.1% rise is fair in context with low wage rises and the current state of the economy."


Poise Financial Planning is a firm of Independent Financial Advisers, delivering advice to clients in Central Scotland and throughout the UK. The firm is headed up by Chartered Financial Planner Graeme Inglis.

Poise Financial Planning

Graeme Inglis

The biggest mistake people make when it comes to retirement planning is not starting saving soon enough, and not saving enough.

People should join their employer's pension scheme as soon as they can and pay in as much as they can afford.

The problem is that when you're in your twenties, retirement seems a long way off. But those years will fly by and you'll wish you started saving sooner.

We’re a multi-award winning, Chartered firm of Financial Planners with a 25-year heritage. Rowley Turton (IFA) Ltd was formed in 1996 by Alan Turton and Rowleys (formerly John Rowley & Co.), one of Leicester’s oldest independent firms of Chartered Accountants. We are now one of the UK’s leading firms of Chartered Financial Planners and Independent Financial Advisers, having won and been shortlisted for dozens of financial advice awards. In total, we look after more than £144 million for our clients. The focus on traditional service and values has never changed, but things have not stood still. We have always placed an emphasis on keeping abreast of the fast-moving financial world and continue to do so. We deal with the simplest query, to the most sophisticated investment and tax planning. Our service is designed to take on as much, or as little, of the burden of managing your planning as you would like us to. Our wealth of experience, our independence and our focus on ‘joined-up planning’ means that you can rely on us to do so and help you to achieve a successful financial future.

Rowley Turton

Scott Gallacher

"Not contributing enough. For example, if you would like to spend £30,000 per year in retirement for 30 years, that is a total expenditure of £900,000. Contributing £100 per month for 30 years is a total of only £36,000. Even with some decent growth it is not going to get you there. Be realistic about what needs to be put away for your future self, and start early."

An award-winning boutique team of Financial Planners and Mortgage Advisers in Borehamwood

The Orchard Practice

Joshua Gerstler

The most common mistake is having no plan whatsoever.  Most people stick their head in the sand when it comes to retirement.  There are always more pressing things to worry about.  But when people reach 60 they start to panic.

Actuary and independent financial adviser. We sincerely believe that good financial planning can change your life - we're committed to helping people make better financial decisions in order to live freer, happier, more fulfilling lives.

Daily Express pensions article

4 responses from the Newspage community

Graeme Inglis

Director and Chartered Financial Planner at Poise Financial Planning

Scott Gallacher

Director at Rowley Turton

Joshua Gerstler

Chartered Financial Planner / Owner at The Orchard Practice

Daniel Wiltshire

Actuary & IFA at Wiltshire Wealth