There was a time when retirement was a line in the sand. You retired from your job, received a carriage clock from your employer and headed off into your sunset years with a decent pension and plans to play a bit more golf or do some DIY.
Increasingly that’s no longer the case.
Retirement is becoming more of a stop-start activity. Later years are becoming more about phased or part-time retirement, or ‘un-retiring’ or plans to return to work or set up a new business. Retirement is no longer a ‘forever’ option for everyone.
Stopping work is no longer a line in the sand, it’s more of a beach full of possibilities.
Financial Planners are responding to this, indeed prospering because of this myriad of new options. For many clients their advisers are becoming more Retirement Planner than just Financial Planner.
Of course, the pandemic has much to do this, plus soaring inflation spooking some retired people into ‘un-retiring’ to boost their incomes but much of the change is long term. It’s fair to say that many retired people have returned to work simply because they got bored and yearn for the company of work colleagues and the desire to have more ‘purpose’ in life.
I always think of the number of actors, politicians, celebrities, musicians, judges and others who seemingly never retire but go on to enjoy a long lifespan. Keeping busy is key. More people are ‘getting’ this.
Financial Planners are perfectly placed to provide any necessary retirement ‘counselling’ on all the options available. Ultimately the client’s happiness and fulfilment is the most important aim, whether they want to retire and sit back and watch the clouds or start a new career in their 60s.
With today’s retirees mostly becoming the wealthiest in history, the options are many.
With all this in mind it is no surprise that demand for retirement advice is increasing, according to a new report.
A new survey by Aegon and NextWealth underlines the changes. It found that retirement advice now accounts for an estimated 58% of all assets under advice, up from 55% the previous year. The report expects demand to continue to rise, and that it will reach 62% of assets under advice over the next three years.
The figures are contained in the fifth edition of Managing Lifetime Wealth: retirement planning in the UK, published by Aegon and NextWealth.
One clear sign of the changes under way is that as retirement uncertainty increases, more people are spurred to seek financial advice. One big fear of retirees is running out of income in retirement and planners are well placed to ensure this never happens.
• Big congratulations to all the planners and industry folk involved in the successful Rock for Ukraine concert in London this week. The huge effort of so many in the Financial Planning community to raise, so far, over £45,000 for the Ukrainians devastated by a pointless and brutal war is hugely heart-warming and inspiring. Well done to the Consumer Duty band – heroes all. If you haven’t done so yet you can do your bit by donating here: https://rockukraine.co.uk/
Kevin O’Donnell is editor of Financial Planning Today and has worked as a journalist and editor for over three decades.
