QA60 - Listener Questions, Episode 60

In this Meaningful Money Q&A episode, Pete Matthew and Roger Weeks answer listener questions on UK pensions, retirement planning and tax-efficient investing. They discuss the upcoming inheritance tax changes for pension pots, whether deferring the State Pension can help with care-fee planning, and how Nest pension contributions and charges really work. The episode also covers partial transfers from workplace pensions to SIPPs, managing commission income around higher-rate tax, and building a cash flow ladder for retirement abroad in Spain.

Shownotes: https://meaningfulmoney.tv/QA60

01:51 Question 1 Thank you for a great podcast. I have been listening to your podcasts diligently since 2014. Even then I made sure to catch up and since then it's been my weekly listen wherever I am. It's so great and I have been a great advocate. The simple rules of saving putting enough money aside thinking about your future and ensuring bad times are fundamental truths that should be taught at school. Don't get me started on the power of compounding. Well done and keep going. I wanted to discuss the previous episode about what Roger said about the recent changes in pensions due soon and which Pete alluded to. This is regarding the new taxation that the government is introducing on remaining pension pot. It was argued that it is fair to tax the remaining pot as was the case before. Before the pension reform, pensions would be DB style pensions and either the government or the employer would pay the pension. In such a case you can argue that whatever is left should be taxed as the pot is expected to be fair across those who live longer and those who died earlier. But they were guaranteed a pension. However when pension freedom arrived the state washed their hands in providing a pension to people and it was up to the individual to secure its own pensions. Rightly so the state gave tax incentives to encourage people to save for their pension. As the state has outsourced the pension provision to the individual not taxing the remaining pot is fair. But now the state want to tax what remains in the pot. I think it's not fair for the state not to provide a decent pension, ask individual to cater for their own and then tax what remains. Despite pension reform, studies have shown that people are under saving for their pension. We have an under saving crisis in the UK and taxing the pension pot will further aggravate that situation. I don't think it's fair for government not to provide a decent pension, delegate pension savings to individuals and on top of that tax any remaining parts. Thank you. Avi

10:49 Question 2 Hi folks. Both Roger and Pete are doing a sterling job. My question/observation. Given there is a good probability of myself entering a rest/retirement/nursing home, and we know how expensive these are. Also, there is now not the carrot of passing on DC pension pots free of IHT (from April 2027). Would not be best strategy be to max out the Basic rate income from ones DC pot, moving it say into an ISA (£20k p.y. as I write). The reason being, the expense of the retirement care and accommodation may be such that any income needed at that time from the DC pot, should funds allow, may be subject to higher rate income tax, in order to meet the bills. I was therefore wondering if there would be any milage in deferring taking my state pension in order to maximise the amount of Basic rate pension I could remove from my DC pension pots? i.e. use this to fully fund my ISA and provide £30k income for living The object being to remove as much as possible from my SIPP so that, should I need care at the end of my life, this could be funded without maying higher rate income tax. Just a thought Best regards John

15:42 Question 3 Hi. Fantastic podcast, I've learnt so much and will continue to absorb as much information as I can. Apologies this is a long question. I worked for a company that enrolled me in a Nest pension whilst I wa