Many business owners see their company as their retirement plan, but relying on one unpredictable asset can leave you exposed. New research from Rathbones shows the gap between confidence and readiness is wider than most expect. Here's how to close it.
Prepare for your retirement with confidence
As you prepare for retirement, it’s important to plan how you are going to generate an income for the years ahead. With careful planning and advice, you can reduce the amount of tax you pay to make your money go further, help to protect your wealth and lifestyle in retirement.
Tips to reduce tax on your retirement income
Use taxable withdrawals
Start with taxable withdrawals to make use of all your available allowances. From there, a financial planner can tailor the next steps to your priorities, keeping you tax-efficient and focused on your long-term goals.
Consider spreading pension withdrawals
By phasing withdrawals from your pension pot over time, you can keep your taxable income under control, helping to avoid higher tax bands and preserve pension growth.
Optimise all allowances
Structuring your income and assets more strategically helps to reduce your overall tax exposure and preserve more of your wealth in retirement. This may involve maximising your annual ISA contributions, making full use of your spouse or partner’s allowances, or investing in higher risk investments if appropriate to do so.
Review your plan
It’s important to regularly review your plan to make sure it is working as hard as it can and keeping pace with life’s changes. Reviewing your plan with a financial planner can bring clarity and help you make confident decisions.
Upcoming retirement webinars
Webinar - Tuesday 16 June 2026 | 12:00-13:00 GMT+1
Designing the retirement that works for you
Throughout the session, we’ll show how financial planning and investment decisions work together, helping you take ownership of your future and make informed, long‑term choices with confidence. The aim is to ensure your finances are working steadily in the background, so you can focus on the life you want retirement to support.
Webinar - Tuesday 16 June 2026 | 15:00 - 16:00 GMT+1
Staying in control throughout retirement
Retirement doesn’t mark the end of financial decision-making. It’s simply a new phase, with different priorities and opportunities - and for many people, a mix of excitement and uncertainty about what comes next The session will highlight how planning and investing continue to work together throughout retirement, helping you stay confident, informed and in control.
Insights on how to prepare for your retirement
8 minutes
6 August 2026
Gen X pension planning in the UK: are you falling through the cracks?
Too young for final salary pensions, too old to fully benefit from auto-enrolment – Gen X has fallen through the cracks of the UK pension system. Here's what that means for your retirement, and the steps you can take now.
Frequently asked questions
Here are some of the most common questions we hear from clients who are preparing for retirement.