Pension tax relief serves as a cornerstone of retirement planning in the UK, offering valuable incentives for people to save towards their future. This government initiative grants tax benefits on contributions made to pension schemes, providing an immediate boost to savings and accelerating the growth of pension funds. In this guide, we’ll delve into the essentials of pension tax relief, how it works, and its connection to the new tax year. How it works Every pound you contribute to your pension qualifies for tax relief, meaning you receive a rebate on the tax you would have paid on that inco ..read more

Earlier this month, the UK Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman made a landmark decision calling for the government to compensate the Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) women affected by changes to the state pension age. The decision comes after years of campaigning by WASPI activists, who have advocated for fair treatment and compensation for women impacted by the changes to their pension age. Since the acceleration of the state pension age equalisation, many women born in the 1950s have faced financial hardship and uncertainty. This is due to the seemingly poor communicatio ..read more

Talking about your finances, especially debt, can be challenging. It’s a serious issue within UK society, especially when you consider how common debt is. According to a recent survey conducted by Debt Justice, a staggering 6.7 million people in the UK find themselves in financial distress. One in eight (13%) admit to missing three or more credit or bill payments within the last six months alone. Unfortunately, debt has become an inescapable reality for many individuals amid the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. Meanwhile, for those approaching retirement, tackling debt when preparing to give up ..read more

On the 27th of January, we celebrated a milestone at My Pension Expert as we proudly announced our Official Partnership with The Jockey Club! This exciting collaboration will see us engaging with the Jockey Club’s fanbase to offer unique content as well as supporting over 30 races. These races include some of the UK’s largest races and some on the most iconic racecourses including Cheltenham, Aintree and Newmarket. We kicked off our partnership in style by sponsoring The My Pension Expert Clarence House Chase on Festival Trials Day at Cheltenham. And what an incredible day it was with Elixir ..read more

The Auto Enrolment Pension Scheme, often referred to simply as auto-enrolment, is a government initiative that was introduced in 2012. The scheme aims to help people save more for retirement, with both employers and employees make contributions towards the employee’s pension. But, despite its apparent success, beneath the surface of the Auto Enrolment Pension Scheme lies a hidden reality: many Britons are drifting towards retirement without giving their workplace pension the attention it needs and deserves. It’s definitely a case of ‘out of sight and out of mind’. Yet not keeping tabs on your ..read more

When you say “Lent”, we say “giving up our favourite things for 40 days”. Taking place in the lead up to Easter, Lent carries various traditions across different cultures. Observers of Lent may follow a strict fasting plan, while others may abstain from a single luxury, such as sugary treats, social media, or shopping. Whatever the tradition, Lent is a season of significant sacrifice and offers a period of reflection and discipline.  Choosing what you forego is usually based on what you enjoy or rely on the most; popular options for many include cutting out chocolate or the internet for 4 ..read more

Hey there, fellow green thumbs! As avid gardeners, we all share a deep appreciation for the wonders of nature and the joy of nurturing life from seed to bloom. Lately, you may have seen a craze taking hold of the nation – propagation from plant cuttings. One of our favourite ways to expand a green haven, propagation is the wild world of making more plants from the ones you already have. Whether cultivating a bountiful vegetable patch or adorning your landscape with vibrant blooms, propagation offers scores of opportunities to enhance your gardening journey, and anyone can try their hand at it ..read more

In the hustle and bustle of urban life, finding moments of tranquillity and connecting with nature can be a challenge. However, with some creativity and greenery, you can transform your living space into a lush oasis of calm and serenity. Embrace the trend of urban jungle living by incorporating indoor plants into your home décor. Not only do indoor plants add a touch of freshness and vitality to your space, but they also contribute to greening grey urban environments and promote mindfulness.  Here are five fun ideas to help you create your at-home plant oasis. Vertical Planting: Ma ..read more

There has long been calls to address the gender pensions gap – in other words, the significant difference in pension savings and retirement income between men and women.  The numbers speak for themselves. Women retire with an average of £136,000 less in savings compared to their male counterparts. The pensions gap can be broken down into multiple factors. Yet to truly grasp the issue, we can’t overlook the gender pay gap. Despite some strides, the reality remains: women in the workplace are receiving less income than men. Currently, eight out of ten firms with 250 employees or more still ..read more

As with most things in life, just because something sounds like the best possible, fail-safe idea, it’s not guaranteed to work out as planned. Take the My Pension Expert Clarence House Chase for example, the favourite, Jonbon, lost out to Elixir de Nutz in a nail-biting finish. This is of course not what anyone expected or, for some, wanted. The same can be said about pensions planning. Just because one idea sounds perfect, doesn’t mean it will be perfect for you. Within the pension world, there are a variety of products available to you. The clear favourite on paper may not be the best when a ..read more