Retirement Professionals Ltd

08/09/2026

Annuity or drawdown? It's the biggest financial decision most people make at retirement, and the one they get least help with.

We've written an honest look at the trade-offs, including why the answer for many people is actually "a bit of both".

Annuity or drawdown - or both? An honest look at the trade-offs between guaranteed income and flexibility, and the questions that decide which suits you.

18/08/2026

Planning to finish work in the next year? The 12 months
before retirement are when the most valuable financial decisions get made, and when the most expensive mistakes happen. Our five-point checklist covers what to sort before your last day:

Finishing work within a year? Five things to sort before your last day — from tracking down pensions to choosing how to take your income. Free first meeting.

14/08/2026

Today is National Financial Awareness Day. Most of the advice you'll see is about budgeting and cancelling subscriptions, useful, but it skips the questions that actually shape your retirement. We've written five worth asking.
If you can answer all of them confidently, you're ahead of most people we speak to.

It's National Financial Awareness Day. Most advice focuses on budgeting — but the questions that shape your retirement are rarely asked. Here are five worth answering.

11/08/2026

If you last looked at annuities a few years ago and wrote them off, it's worth another look. Rates today remain up to 60% higher than they were in 2021, meaning the same pension pot buys considerably more guaranteed income now. Here's what's changed:

Annuity rates remain up to 60% higher than in 2021. If your pension plans assumed the rates of a few years ago, your income could be significantly higher than you think.

04/08/2026

Changed jobs a few times? You've probably got pension pots scattered across old employers, and possibly some you've forgotten entirely.
Combining them can simplify everything… but done wrong, it can also cost you valuable guarantees. What to check first:

The average worker builds up multiple pension pots — but is combining them a good idea? The benefits, the traps to avoid, and when to take advice first.

28/07/2026

Did you know a health condition — even high blood pressure or
being an ex-smoker — could mean a HIGHER pension income? Enhanced annuities can pay up to 60% more than standard rates, yet many retirees never check if they qualify.
Here's how they work:

An enhanced annuity could pay you up to 60% more guaranteed income if you have a health condition or lifestyle factor. Find out how they work and if you could qualify.

22/07/2026

UK inflation today fell to 2.6% — its lowest level in 15 months. Good news for households, but what does it actually mean for your retirement income? We've broken down what's changed, what's still uncertain, and what's worth checking in your own plan.

UK inflation has fallen to 2.6%, a 15-month low. Here's what the fall — and the risks still ahead — mean for your retirement income plans.

20/07/2026

From April 2027, unused pension funds are due to count towards inheritance tax — a major change for families who planned to pass pensions on. Our new article explains who's affected and what to consider now.

From April 2027 unused pensions are due to count towards inheritance tax. Find out who is affected, what it could cost, and the planning options to discuss now.

16/07/2026

A professional sporting career squeezes a lifetime of earnings into a few short years — and one bad decision can undo all of it. Here are the five financial mistakes we see sportspeople make most often, and how to avoid every one.

From unprotected injury risk to too-good-to-be-true tax schemes — the five financial mistakes we see professional sportspeople make, and how to avoid every one.

09/07/2026

Standard Life have increased their standard and enhanced annuity rates today, meaning the guaranteed income available from these plans may now be higher than before.

If you’re approaching retirement — or have a pension maturing soon — it’s a great time to review the whole annuity market to see whether these improved rates could boost your long‑term income.

Enhanced annuities can offer even higher payments for those with certain medical or lifestyle factors, so checking updated rates could make a meaningful difference to the income you receive for life.

You can compare Standard Life’s latest rates — and see how they stack up against other providers — with a free, no‑obligation quote here:
https://www.retirementprofessionals.co.uk/annuity-calculator-2/