Page 62 • The HERALD • 29th October 2026 v SHOP LOCALLY FOR SERVICE AND VALUE v ASK A PROFESSIONAL For many of us, retirement planning brings a familiar question: should we be putting more money aside, or making the most of life while we can? It can feel like a choice between two good things. Perhaps you want to help your children, take a longplanned trip, spend less time working or simply enjoy more weekends with friends. ose hopes matter just as much as the number on a pension statement. A useful nancial plan makes room for them alongside the life you want in later years. e place to start is with a picture, rather than a gure. What might an ordinary Tuesday look like when you stop working, or work less? Would you travel frequently, volunteer locally, care for family or pursue a hobby you have never had enough time for? Your answers help you work out what income you may need and when you may need it. Next, take stock of what you already have. Many people have pensions from several jobs, as well as savings they have never considered part of a retirement plan. Bring the statements together and check your State Pension Forecast. It shows what you could receive and when; your State Pension age may di er from the age at which you hope to retire. Oyster can also help you explore how a di erent retirement date or level of contributions might a ect your estimated income. en ask what your money needs to do at di erent times. You may want accessible savings for unexpected costs and near-term plans, while investing money intended for much later. Investments can rise and fall in value, so the right approach depends on your circumstances and how much risk you are comfortable taking. A plan also gives you permission to enjoy today. If regular saving is on track and you can see how your future income may support you, spending on a family celebration or a much-anticipated break may feel less uncertain. Equally, a shortfall spotted now gives you time to consider your options, which could include saving more, changing your retirement date or adjusting what you expect to spend. Your late forties, ies and sixties are o en full of change. Children may become independent, caring responsibilities may grow, or the idea of stopping work altogether may give way to a gradual retirement. Revisit your plan when life changes, and at least occasionally even when it does not. e aim is not to predict every expense decades ahead. It is to make thoughtful choices with the information you have today. Retirement planning works best when it helps you look forward to the future while still enjoying the years that get you there. To discuss your retirement plans, however far away they are and to ensure you have the right balance between today and your planned future retirement, do get in touch. Call: 023 8084 8410 or email: michael@ oyster nancialplanning.co.uk or just pop in! MAKE ROOM FOR TOMORROW - AND FOR TODAY! by Michael Osman, Oyster Financial Planning in Hythe Michael Osman, Oyster Financial Planning
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTIyNzI=