24th June 2010

Retirement Age Rise Plan – “Work Till You Drop”

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Oh dear, yet again another government thinks that raising the retirement age is a good thing / plan. No matter how any in term government dress it up or spin it, it is effectively a money saving exercise. “Work Till You Drop” – I have no intention to, it’s called having a life.

The further you are from retirement, the more likely you can presume the retirement age goalposts will change (more likely unfavourably increase), consequentlyi don’t think they can depend entirely on receiving a suitable pension when the critical age is reached.

Governments probably prefer we all pass away the first day after retirement to they don’t have to pay a full pension. In my opinion like when the previous age rise was introduced this should only be applied to the new workforce enteringie new age 16 entrants, not existing ones. For those who have saved in personal pension schemes to have the option of retiring earlier it is a double whammy for them also & can feel justifiably aggrieved also.

I have lost faith in personal pension plans as I don’t think the 25% lump sum a Paltry annuity with the rest of the fund is an attractive enough proposition. If a 100% lump sum was available then would be a more attractive incentive to really enjoy a hard earned retirement. And even leave a decent inheritance to loved ones. Nobody knows how long they will live beyond retirement age.

Unfortunately not everyone has disposable income to contribute to such a personal pension scheme & most folk don’t even consider this at early ages of employment.

Any Government have a weak argument proclaiming that people live longer. Yes they may do on average – but the quality of life, capabilities & your physical health / fitness is not better.

Mid Life Retirement Option

Perhaps there should be a mid life retirement option period where work is resumed afterwards & whatever period up to say 5 years is bolted onto an individuals retirement age before they are in receipt of a pension? At least most will be more fit & able to tour the world, walk the wall of china, complete the Inca trail, quality time with their children or family or whatever their heart / dreams desires.

Perhaps there will come a day where state pensions is not even viable option & eventually abolished, & alternative options need to be seeked & implemented.

Maybe one day the conspiracy theory you see in Sci Fi novels like “Logan’s Run” will be of compulsory euthanasia at a fixed age not only to curb population explosion but to address where they are simply not enough funds to look after the elderly or support pension funds.

Life has a habit these days of imitating art and we maybe already live in an Orwellian society. When money runs out & natural resources dwindle that is how it might be. On theflip side , nature will always be one step ahead of us… we may create a cure for all cancers, but another disease will come along to control the numbers.

We cannot predict.

Retirement Pension Guide

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  1. 1 On June 25th, 2010, jezza101 said:

    I certainly have no plans to work too far past my fifties, and am glad I have been saving into the ol’ pension fund from the start of my career.

    My plan is to pay off the mortage (another 20 years!) and then I’d want work to fit round me, rather than the other way round. I’d still be active in my 50s and 60s but without the pressure of rent to pay and a pension in place I’d hope it will be more enjoyable…?!

    That said, it seems right to me that the pension age has to increase. Quality of life or no, it is the current workers who fund the state pension and there has to be a limit to how many people they can support.

    But that’s exactly why I am planning to fund my own retirement and I’m acting upon it now. And thankfully this option is open to us all.

    Use your productive years wisely! Right, I’m off to sit in the sun with a pint ;)!

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