Episodios

  • Listener Questions Episode 12 - PENSIONS!

    Listener Questions Episode 12 - PENSIONS!
    Apr 30 2025
    This week we devote an episode of the MMQ&A to pensions of all flavours, answering questions on public sector schemes, partial transfers, fund choices and much more! Shownotes: https://meaningfulmoney.tv/QA12 00:52 Question 1 Hi Chaps! I only recently got into podcasts and am frantically trying to listen to as many pension ones as I can. Yours are the most useful I’ve come across and now I can’t stop listening to them all! A small question I hope you can clarify for me please: I am 48 and a few years away from possibly an early retirement (hopefully 58) but trying to plan ahead. I have both a DB pension through work (NHS) and a personal Vanguard SIPP pension I also add to monthly and am of the understanding that you can take 25% tax free (up to the set limit) from your pensions overall and therefore my question is- could I take all the 25% tax free amount from my SIPP and leave the rest of my SIPP and all my DB pension pot to pay me a pension from. In example (arbitrary figures): my DB and SIPP are each worth £100000, totalling £200000. Therefore, under current rules, could I take £50000 tax free from the SIPP (the overall 25%) and the other £100000 in DB and £50000 left in my SIPP to pay me a pension monthly. Or is this not possible at all as they are different schemes, ie DB and DC? Many thanks Jon, from Norfolk 05:30 Question 2 Hi Guys, Firstly, a massive thank you for all the information you provide, it really has completely transformed my personal finances. I still have a long way to go until retirement (I've just turned 30) but thanks to you, I'm confident it won't have to be the state pension age! My question is – I work in Local Government and, whilst the salary is distinctly average (37k) it does come with the benefit of a DB pension scheme. I'm now considering making some additional contributions but there are two options available and I'm struggling to find any useful information online… – Make AVCs into what I understand to be a separate pension scheme more akin to a DC pension – Make APCs whereby I effectively buy more DB pension. It works out at approx an additional £10 guaranteed yearly income for every £80 (£100 if including tax relief) I contribute. In my head, this sounds good as long as I make it 10 years into retirement! Is there an obvious answer to this question? Only obvious downside to the DB option is, if I were to pass away before retirement, the additional pension is effectively lost and not paid to my next of kin! But then again, I don't intend to go anywhere anytime soon! Any thoughts appreciated and thanks again! Jack 12:03 Question 3 I have a question relating to the upcoming change in minimum pension age and how it affects those of us in the 55 bracket before the 6 April 2028 change. I don’t know if there is any clarity from government yet but if I am 55 in September 2027 and take a PCLS 25% tax free from an AVC DC running alongside my DB pension scheme, then want to retire fully and start taking the DB in September 2028 when I am 56 is that possible? There seems to be a grey area about what happens after the April 2028 cut off to those of us in this age range. It doesn’t even appear clear if someone taking early retirement at 55 would then stop being eligible for monthly payments after April 2028 until they were 57. So they think they have retired fully, then when April comes around their payments stop! Appreciate that sounds a dramatic scenario but I haven’t been able to find anything comprehensive on it so hope you can help. I also have a question on DBs with AVCs which might be useful for others. If I have a DB pension valued at £300k and saved £75k in AVCs over the years, can I take the full £75k at 55/57 without it a) affecting the DB monthly amount which can be taken from age 60 in my case, and b) without it being classed as a pension event, so I can continue to contribute over £10k a year into a DC scheme as I plan to continue working until 60. Appreciate they are specific to me but thought there must be others in a similar position. Sorry for more long questions. Thanks for all the great podcasts, look forward to the next. Thanks, Don 19:34 Question 4 Hi Pete! Hi Rog! I've been a long time listener to your dulcet tones and concise advise for a long time and love what you guys do, so please keep doing it! Another pension Question I'm afraid! A while ago I consolidated a few old workplace pensions in to a SIPP, but I still have my current workplace DC pension ticking away. Its not great, being the bare legal minimum (2.5% contribution from my employer) and the fees seem higher than they should be. If I close that pension and transfer to my better performing and cheaper SIPP, I effectively opt-out of the employer contributions scheme. My question is what should I do to be most efficient with my pensions to ensure I am getting the benefit of employer contributions without paying over the odds for an ...
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    38 m
  • Listener Questions 11 - Capital Gains

    Listener Questions 11 - Capital Gains
    Apr 23 2025
    This week we answer questions on the loose theme of capital gains tax and investing via General Investment Accounts (GIAs). Spoiler alert - nothing’s as simple as it might seem! Shownotes: https://meaningfulmoney.tv/QA11 01:06 Question 1 Whenever a question comes up in our Facebook group about Capital Gains and GIAs (General Investment Accounts) I get a sinking feeling as I do not know much about that type of account, and I don’t have one myself. I am not alone. I have gathered questions from our listeners about capital gains, so in this episode Pete & Roger can tell us all about Capital Gains, Dividends, and anything else we need to know about using a GIA, and other situations which involve capital gains tax. 19:03 Question 2 Hi both, I've recently discovered your podcast and have thoroughly enjoyed my commutes listening to you. Personable and informative. I have a question about selling my buy-to-let property that is in my personal name. My mortgage term is ending in June 2026 and I'd like to sell it for one of better quality that has less issues. I'm currently a higher-rate taxpayer but we're planning to start a family in the next year, meaning I'll be on maternity leave for 12 months which will push my salary down to basic-rate. Impossible to plan when I'll get pregnant but it would be useful to know how HMRC calculates my salary (and over what time period) so that I pay basic-rate CGT when selling my buy-to-let? Apologies for a very wordy question! Thanks a lot and best wishes, Winnie 22:17 Question 3 Hi Pete, I hope you're doing well! I’ve been really enjoying the Meaningful Money podcast and had a question I’d love to hear your thoughts on the show: In a general investment account (GIA), is it's better to use an income fund to avoid triggering CGT if income is needed (assuming the dividends covers the needs in the short term)? Thanks so much for your wisdom! And keep up the great work on the podcast! :) Best regards, Chloe 26:53 Question 4 Hi Pete, Roger (and Nick who I assume is reading this :-)) I have a question I'd be grateful if you could answer which is around capital gains tax on any shares or funds held outside an ISA/pension. To use an example with higher numbers so that the allowance is used for simplicity: - You have £100k in a GIA - it increases by £10k a year for the first two years; - it's then down £2k in the third - the total value is now £118k - You then want to draw out £10k - How do you work out what capital gains the tax is to be paid on i.e. is the full £10k considered a gain? - Is the withdrawal from the original £100k or from the increase in value i.e. gain? - Would you be better to withdraw up the annual allowance every year and then put it back in to reduce the gain, considering there's no allowance for the impact of inflation? Love the show, keep up the good work in whatever format you decide going forwards - you've made real differences to the way I've managed my investments over the years, especially at scary times like Covid and your book and courses have given my kids the education they need for their long investing lives. Thanks, Dino 36:39 Question 5 Hi Pete & Rodger, I started a deep dive into our overall finances over the Christmas period, to set the picture I am 47, my wife’s 42 and we have two children a boy 5 & a girl 3. I received a diagnosis last year which will have a long term impact on my ability to sustain my current level of income & type of work I do. We have a 154k mortgage with 19 years left on the term, with the uncertainty around my health I have decided to target maximum overpayments on the mortgage, this year we can pay 18k extra. My questions are: 1. I plan to save circa 1k per month salary to put into the overpayment pot, I am hopeful that the HL shares will meet past highs and I can use some of that money to top up the salary savings and hit our target. Do I pay tax on the profit I make from selling shares? If it’s no more than 3k? I was hopeful I could sell shares annually and withdraw the gains annually, then reinvest in same stock when they dip. I realise that past performance isn’t always guaranteed but monitoring since covid the stocks I am invested in are fluctuating from a £15 low to £20 high annually. So looking to sell at £19.5. Is this the best way to use the extra cash at present given the plan to access quickly at times. I have maxed out isa allowance for current FY (2024/25) but will probably pay the 1k per month into an isa in new FY. 2. I am planning to do lump sum overpayment rather than setup monthly, just to give easy access to funds should they be required. I plan to cash in some company SIPPS annually when they aren’t taxable (after 5 years) that sum will be on average 1k per year. Will the SIPPS cashed in and gains from HL sales leave me vulnerable to paying capital gains tax? If all goes to plan we could be mortgage free by 2033 approximately and there would be less of a ...
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    52 m
  • What (not) to do when markets are volatile

    What (not) to do when markets are volatile
    Apr 16 2025

    We really hesitated to put anything out regarding the current market volatility as we didn’t want to add to the noise. But now that we’re a couple of weeks in, hopefully the hysteria is starting to abate, and we can take something of a measured of things. We want to reassure you that discomfort is normal, but also provide some context that things are not as unprecedented as they might seem…


    Shownotes: https://meaningfulmoney.tv/session571

    02:20 This time it’s different.

    11:30 The US market is too concentrated.

    15:26 I don’t have time to make it back.

    20:50 Time IN the markets beats timING the markets.

    25:48 Action (or inaction!) – What you need NOT to do?
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    40 m
  • Listener Questions Episode 10

    Listener Questions Episode 10
    Apr 2 2025
    As usual, we cover lots of ground in this week’s Q&A, including tax-free cash recycling, private medical insurance and Lifetime ISAs. Shownotes: https://meaningfulmoney.tv/QA10 00:57 Question 1 Dear Pete & Roger. I'm a long-time listener and love the podcast, especially more so since Roger joined back in season 21. I'm an additional rate taxpayer with income below the threshold for the tapered annual allowance. I have been contributing £45k to my workplace defined contribution pension via salary sacrifice for the last couple of years, and my effective tax relief rate on contributions is 47%. This coming April (2025) I will turn 55 and will be able to access my pension. I am considering increasing my salary sacrifice contributions by £14,000 per year and funding this by taking just under £7,500 PCLS (i.e. tax-free cash) from my pension. Having watched the MeaningfulMoney video on Tax-Free Cash Recycling and checked the HMRC web site, I know this is not considered tax-free cash recycling because the PCLS withdrawals will be below £7,500 per year. However, I don't know if sacrificing £7,500 of tax-free cash in return for £14,000 of new contributions will have any unintended consequences. In retirement I plan to withdraw money via UFPLS and use tax-free cash to minimise my effective tax rate and have no plans to use it to fund large purchases. Have I missed anything? Simon. 04:01 Question 2 Hi Pete, I hope you're doing well! I’ve been really enjoying the Meaningful Money podcast and had a question I’d love to hear your thoughts on the show: With the long waiting times on the NHS, is having private health insurance a new 'must have' protection or still a 'nice to have'? Thanks so much for your wisdom! And keep up the great work on the podcast! :) Best regards, Chloe 07:05 Question 3 Hi guys - thanks for all you do with this podcast. I've been incredibly fortunate to find you in my 20's and absorb so much useful knowledge. My question is surrounding LISA's. My fiancé and I currently live separately but we're looking to move in together ahead of our wedding this summer. She owns her own home and I currently rent so we'll be moving into her house. Our plan is to live for a couple of years in her (or soon to be our) house as she managed to secure a favourable rate that will help us to save together for our next home. The majority of my current house deposit (around £35k) is in a LISA, however in the last year or so I've quickly realised that our next home together will probably sit above the £450k limit that LISA's allow. Given that we live in a pretty expensive area and want to stay here, is there anything you would suggest? We've thought about me 'buying in' to her current house but we don't want to remortgage and lose the favourable fixed term. Any ideas? Cheers, Joe 11:38 Question 4 Hi Butch & Sundance, my question is about SIPPs & ISAs and tax implications when used with State Pension and a Defined Benefit Pension. I’m planning to retire 7 years before state retirement age (67) and plan to use a DB pension and SIPP in those 7 years. The annual income from the DB pension will exceed the current basic rate income tax annual allowance (£12,570) and withdrawals from the SIPP outside of the tax-free lump-sum, would all incur basic rate income tax. I would like to keep investments that continue to grow, but with the removal of some IHT benefits within a SIPP, is it now worth withdrawing more than I need each year and moving the SIPP investments to a Stocks & Shares ISA over the next 7 years and therefore reduce tax paid over the following 20-30 years from the age of 67? Or am I making more of minor issue than is needed? Keep up the excellent work, Jack 16:36 Question 5 Hi both, Love the podcast! I have a question regarding pensions. I have an employer (defined contribution) pension that had been with one provider (chosen by my employer) for the last 11 years. My Company has recently terminated the agreement and mine and my employers contributions are now all going to the new provider and fund. I chose not to transfer my original pension from the original provider to the new provider, as the existing fund had been performing so well. Following a review of both pensions over the last 6 months, I discovered that my existing pension had continued to be perform very well - over double the return compared to the new pension provider and fund). Whilst I understand I could switch funds with the new provider, my preference would be to do an annual transfer from my new pension fund & provider to the original provider and fund. I cannot seem to find any information on how to do this (all the information online is focused around transferring and shutting the new account - I don't want to do as my employer and personal contributions will continue to be directed to the new provider and fund. Thanks for your help, Matt 21:25 Question 6 Hi Pete and Roger I have a question about pensions ...
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    28 m
  • Listener Questions, Episode 9

    Listener Questions, Episode 9
    Mar 26 2025
    Welcome to another Q&A show - this week we cover tax free cash from DB pensions, annuities vs drawdown and whether you should pay down a buy to let mortgage or invest. Plus quite a bit more! Shownotes: https://meaningfulmoney.tv/QA9 Questions 00:41 Question 1 Hi Pete and Roger. Thanks for your wisdom over the years. My question came about from an answer you gave on a previous Q&A about AVCs and tax free cash. You mentioned it was possible (sometimes) to use AVCs as tax free cash to preserve the maximum DB benefit. I have some follow up questions that relate to - A small DB pension that doesn’t appear to offer tax free cash. - A small DB pension that does offer tax free cash, but I have left that job so can no longer contribute to that pension (AVCs or otherwise) I don’t have AVCs in these pensions, but I do have a DC pot separately. Would I be able to use take tax free money from my DC pension if I took it at the same time I took the DB pension sort of in lieu of the tax free component of my overall pension? I suspect this is clutching at straws, but thought it worth checking. Many thanks. Loyal listener, Mark 03:11 Question 2 Hi Pete & Roger! I hail from Northern Ireland and enjoy your Podcast to keep my mind active and up to date in all things financial - Top job. I have been looking at having a go at Voyant after various spreadsheets of my own as a way to play with the numbers so was considering a meaningful academy course - question is which course is right for me? I am in mid 40's and financially secure so in theory wealth all ready built? Mortgage paid, multiple residential and commercial properties owned debt free and an sizeable equity portfolio and so should I be looking at the retirement or wealth course? John 05:30 Question 3 Great podcast and been an avid listener for the last year. I have a question which, I think I know the answer but I'd be curious on your perspective. Background: - I divorced in 2021 and as part of that agreed to transfer the house over to my ex-wife and a charge put on the deeds so that when it's sold I'm owed a percentage of the sale. - The house going on the market will be (or should be) triggered when my youngest son reaches 18 or leaves full-time education. This will be either 2028 or 2031. - Since the divorce I've been able to purchase another house and this is my permanent residence. I'm a higher rate tax payer, and when that ex-marital home is sold I'd expect to get somewhere around £200k. However I won't actually need that to hit my retirement goals and would prefer to pass that onto my 3 kids. Could you please discuss options on how I might do that in the most tax efficient way. Best Regards, Dave 10:38 Question 4 Hello Pete & Rog, I stumbled across the show a month ago and have been "binge listening" since then, its amazing, where have you been all my life, keep it up guys. I am actively preaching the Gospel according to Pete to all and sundry. I am a 61 years old Veteran in receipt of a Military (DB) pension to the amount of £18k per annum, which is index linked to CPI. Additional to this, I have a moderate private pension to the amount of £150k which I contribute £500 per month, it has an approx growth of circa 15% I also have a small Stocks and Shares ISA, valued at £15k which I contribute a minimum of £250 per month, this is also growing at approx 14% pa. I am currently working and contributing the minimum amount into a work placed pension with NEST. I am planning to look at retirement at either my next birthday in October 25 (62yrs old) or continue until 65 as I am enjoying work. I have deliberately avoiding factoring in my wife as she is a senior manager within the public sector and has a good DB scheme Final/Average earnings Pension. My question is pension related and I have a dilemma as to decide between either an Annuity to boost my Mil Pension or veer towards a form of drawdown option at a higher rate until SPA and then look to reduce down withdrawals in order to be tax efficient and make it last longer? I am debt free with mortgage paid off and only real major expense is a holiday account which we both contribute to as we like luxury holidays, I hear Rog saying "spend it now". No plans to put anything towards estate planning as both sons are very successful and they will probably inherit our home in time. Just looking for some guidance on what feels may be the right decision under the circumstances, keep up the great work guys, love the show. Michael 16:34 Question 5 Dear Pete & Rog, I have a pensions Annual Allowance query, the answer to which might be of interest to the MeMo community. A relative uses salary sacrifice for her occupational DC pension scheme, and the employer contributes £40k, annually, into her plan. Normally, she doesn’t make any personal contributions into any pension schemes, but after receiving a windfall, she is minded to do so via a newly opened SIPP — she has rejected the option of ...
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    25 m
  • Listener Questions, Episode 8

    Listener Questions, Episode 8
    Mar 19 2025
    It’s another Q&A, and this week’ we’re talking Lifetime ISA withdrawals, whether you need life insurance and the NHS pensions scheme, among other things! Shownotes: https://meaningfulmoney.tv/QA8 01:08 Question 1 I just wanted to start by thanking you so much for your podcast. I'm probably one of your younger listeners, having started listening to you when I was 26. I feel very fortunate to have discovered your podcast at such a young age, as it means I will hopefully have years, if not decades, to put your excellent advice into practice. I have a quick question that I was hoping you could help me with. I currently have a LISA that I was planning to use as a deposit for a house. However, I am now planning to move to Australia permanently with my Aussie fiancée. I have separate savings that I can use for a deposit now, but since ISAs are not recognised in Australia while UK SIPPs are, would it be wise to take the 25% hit by withdrawing the money from my LISA and transferring it into a SIPP to benefit from higher rate tax relief and continued tax advantages? I understand you cannot offer specific advice, but I would be interested to hear if there are any general pitfalls or advantages in this plan that I should be aware of. Many thanks! Simon 04:40 Question 2 Will try to keep this brief but is challenging. Do we need life insurance? If I die whilst employed my wife gets a lump sum which will cover our only debt the mortgage through my DB pension scheme. If I retire aged 60-65 my lump sum will cover any mortgage remaining if still have one. My wife has no such pension / cover if she were to die (currently between jobs). I have emergency fund / Overpay into pension for tax relief & child benefit purposes / and recently opened stocks and shares ISA for myself and 2 children. Age 39 trying to build for future but started late :) Many thanks Lee 09:55 Question 3 Many thanks for all the ongoing information and discussion, I’ve been listening for years, but still learning and trying to put into practice all positive behaviours (just like with diet and exercise, knowing and doing are rather different!). A question and a thought. Question; (apologies, after I typed it, it turned out to be very long and NHS specific so feel free to ignore, but I think the point about revising tax returns after submission when new info comes is more generally applicable). I’m in the NHS pension scheme and am awaiting my RPSS after McCloud judgement. They were due by October. It’s November and I haven’t had mine (many others say the same). I believe they are prioritising those with who have definite AA charges and I doubt my NHS figures trigger that as I was part time for much of the relevant period. However, I also contributed to a private pension every year, the amounts varied, but were usually calculated quite closely using the AAPSS that I had at the time to maximise residual allowances - so basically I think I may now have Annual Allowance issues that I didn’t at the time, but am not being prioritised by the NHS pension scheme for a new statement because they don’t know about my extra contributions. Added to this I have already submitted my 23-24 tax return before I realised there might be a problem. Others have added a comment to theirs essentially saying ‘watch this space for more information’ and apparently have 12 months to amend them once their RPSS arrives. So, the question is, can I still change my tax return (submitted on behalf by my accountant if that’s relevant) if new information becomes available after Jan 31st (or even in the new tax year)? Do you have any advice for those waiting documents from the NHS pension scheme or insider knowledge re. Timescales for remaining documents? Anja 13:28 Question 4 Thank you so much for an amazing podcast! My question… After 7 years of a long distance relationship, I’m talking to my partner about moving in together. Apart from checking your significant other listens to the podcast (mine does - phew) what are the most important areas to cover when thinking about joint finances, particularly if you haven’t talked much about money before? Thank you! Elizabeth 19:07 Question 5 Hi Pete and Roger! Thank you so much for the show. I’ve been listening for the past 6 years and have gone from saving for a house to learning about pensions and now actively pursuing building my pension and ISA pots so that I can be ‘work optional’ as soon as possible (hoping to be there in 5 years and would not have known where to even start if it wasn’t for your podcast). My question is how does the actual mechanics of drawing down from a pension work? Is there an equivalent of PAYE for pension draw downs? How is income tax calculated and collected? Would a tax return need to be done? Thanks so much!! Gavin 24:07 Question 6 I am approaching the Lifetime Allowance (used 91.43%) but my Armed Forces Pension tax-free amount I received was ...
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    29 m
  • Listener Questions, Episode 7

    Listener Questions, Episode 7
    Mar 12 2025
    Welcome to another Q&A show. This week we cover moving abroad, inheritance tax and paying into a pension while drawing from another, and lots more besides! Shownotes: https://meaningfulmoney.tv/QA7 01:16 Question 1 I’ve been a long time listener for my entire working career and your podcast has been invaluable to getting me to the great position I’m in now. I have recently been offered a very exciting job opportunity abroad (specifically Luxembourg) and I’m thinking about financial issues I might want to cover. I am 29 and have a mid-five figure sum in each of my ISA, LISA, and DC pension in the UK. I hope to save and invest heavily abroad with a FIRE sort of philosophy. I wonder if there are any big things to think about in preparation for a move, or things to do while in the EU that will make a move back easier. I realise this is probably a complex question, and maybe too niche for a podcast episode. I’ve considered getting a one-off consultation with a financial advisor before my move, do you think this would be worthwhile, and if so what sort of service or green flags should I be looking for? (Assuming Jackson’s is not a specialist in this area!) Thank you again! Stuart 06:24 Question 2 Hi Pete, Hi Roger, May I ask a question about pensions now being subject to IHT. My father in law’s strategy for passing on his wealth was to pass on an unused pension, previously protected from IHT, and he had also invested in AIM shares, again also previously exempt from IHT but now subject to 20% tax. He is nearly 82. What options might you suggest for him to consider on either of those points, but in particular the pension point. Draw the pension and gift it? Thank you very much. Love the pod and religious listener! Jo 13:00 Question 3 Hi Pete and Roger, A great many thanks for all that you do towards simplifying personal finance principles. It is with thanks to your guidance that I am living within my means and on a budget with clear financial objectives. My question today is on behalf of a family member, let’s call her Glynda. Glynda is 58 years old and intends to continue working until she can claim her full state pension. She currently has two private pension pots, one is a SIPP on the Vanguard platform and one is her workplace scheme with a smaller provider I’ve never heard of called Creative Trust. A few years ago, she chose to withdraw her 25% tax free cash allowance from her SIPP with a view to investing this in rental property. For one reason or another this didn’t actually happen so she is now saving this aside as her 18 month cash buffer. To withdraw the 25% tax free cash, she had to “crystallise” the entire SIPP pot. The remainder is still invested in 100% equities - the growth engine as you say, but it is now in a flexi access drawdown account, not a pre-retirement pot. Meanwhile, the workplace scheme is growing nicely with contributions of around £3500/yr, which is not insignificant on her modest salary. This pension is not yet “crystallised” and is also aggressively invested through the limited fund selection on that platform. You have spoken at length about pensions but my question has not yet come up, though I appreciate it may be niche. If the SIPP has been crystallised and the Workplace scheme has not, can they still be combined? Does Glynda need to take her tax free cash from her workplace scheme BEFORE transferring/combining this scheme into her SIPP for ease of management? If she opts NOT to take the tax free cash before transferring, does she lose that option? What is the point of “crystallisation”? Why is it even a thing in a world of flexi access drawdown, it seems irrelevant to me. Do platforms charge different levels of fees post-crystallisation? If so, can Glynda transfer her crystallised SIPP to a new provider if savings can be made on fees. Many Thanks, Sam 19:48 Question 4 Hi Pete and Roger, I have been an avid listener to the podcast for a long time now, probably 5 years, what a journey! Thank you for all the content you put out. Pete; I think I read your book first which put me on to the podcast, or perhaps it was the other way around, I can’t remember. I’m pleased to say that when I read your book, I then went through it with a fine toothcomb and ticked off everything I needed to do! Needless to say I’ve been in a good situation for a while now, thanks to you, your book and this podcast. I still use a Meaningful Money Budget Spreadsheet to plan my monthly finances! I did leave a review a good while ago on the app store letting you know how Meaningful Money has helped me! I have attached a picture of my copy of your book, hope you don’t mind all the post it notes! My question is surrounding Emergency Funds and what criteria we should apply as to whether something is an “emergency?” Classic things such as a broken down car, a leak in the house or the boiler breaking down are all perfect scenarios for an emergency fund. But...
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    44 m
  • Listener Questions - Episode 6

    Listener Questions - Episode 6
    Mar 5 2025

    In this episode we answer questions about RSU’s, the Cashflow Ladder, Pension vs LISA and a whole lot more!

    Shownotes: https://meaningfulmoney.tv/QA6


    01:42 Question 1

    Hello Pete and Roger.
    Recently discovered this and am listening to every single episode. Brilliant. I've read a fair amount about the % balance of Equities, Bonds/Gilts and Cash I should have in my retirement pot, based on my age (61). Somewhere in the 40%s for Equities, perhaps. What I am not finding advice on is whether I should include my DB pension in this equation and, if so, how? Do I consider it to be cash? And if so do I use the transfer value or use the predicted annual pension pay-out in some kind of calculation?
    Thanks for any clues!
    Best wishes, Phil


    11:14 Question 2

    I enjoy listening to your podcasts whilst running and I read your book, recommended to me by a financial advisor friend.
    I’m 37, and early next year I am likely to get around £220k from some shares I hold in the company I work at. If capital gains tax rises, I guess I’ll see, at best, £150k.
    Any advice on the best place to keep it / invest it for up to 5 years?

    We plan to then use it to relocate abroad and perhaps set up a lifestyle business such as a B&B. I read about setting up a 'dividend-paying company' which could be useful as it’s often accepted as ‘passive income’ when moving to another country (potentially Portugal or Cyprus). This holding company could pay out whilst growing the savings through managed investing. Is this a potential option for my money?

    Many thanks, Faye.


    19:14 Question 3

    Your recent podcast on Helpful Basics: Self-employment and Side Hustles got me thinking about retirement saving vehicles. Specifically, what is the best investment vehicle for a self-employed basic rate taxpayer; a pension or a stocks & shares LISA for retirement purposes?

    Personally, I am 44 years old and started a LISA from its inception. I am a homeowner. Is it best to maximise LISA contributions until I am 50 years old, then focus on pension contributions?

    I have a pension pot of £250k which I am minimally contributing to, preferring to prioritise LISA (and ISA) contributions. I like the idea of the 25% bonus on contributions and tax-free withdrawals, which should complement future pension withdrawals from the pension pot in a tax efficient manner.

    Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.
    Best wishes, Adam


    23:06 Question 4

    Where someone has had a number of jobs over their career then consolidating multiple DC pension pots can seem attractive (to reduce admin and costs etc). However, what sort of benefits/ guarantees can be lost by transferring pensions, in particular are there specific things to be aware of with regard to older stakeholder / with profits pensions?

    It would be handy to know what to look for and what sensible questions to ask when talking to existing pension providers.

    Thank you
    G Locke


    32:05 Question 5

    Hi Pete and Roger,

    Loving your podcasts, great content as always. A question to do with retirement cashflow forecast planning.

    I have been reading an article by an American financial planner named Ty Bernicke. In his article, he asserts that retirees voluntarily spend less as they get older, referencing statistics from US government departments.

    Is there any equivalent recent research in the UK? Should I use his approach and figures when attempting my own forecast?

    With very best wishes and thanks again,
    James Cotterill


    37:40 Question 6

    Hi both,
    Stumbled across your podcast recently and have been binging on the episodes ever since. Very insightful information for an early 30 something year old trying to make better financial decisions, so thank you!

    My questions is:
    You often talk about paying off credit card debt before investing, but what if the credit card debt is not excessive and can be managed? What are your thoughts on paying off small amounts off your credit card monthly but also investing monthly, especially if returns on investing is potentially greater than the interest on the debt?

    Thank you
    Nathaniel
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