Showing Up – From Visiting the Gym to Making Pension Contributions

All, Neil's Blog

Neil Stewart is a Financial Adviser holding the Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning. This article is not financial advice, it is for your general information and is not intended to address your particular requirements.

Resolutions

I made a few new year’s resolutions this year. It’s not something that I tend to do as we all know most resolutions tend to be out of the window by February. However, this year is a big year for me: I turn 40.

I have no problems with turning 40, I’m married with kids, have a nice house and a great job. I’m fortunate enough to have my ducks in a row. However, I’ve certainly let a few things slip, namely my fitness and therefore my health.

The biggest resolution I made was to “Show Up”.

This meant at the gym, or at a weekly football game, or to try and fix my golf swing at the driving range. It is now March and I’m still showing up, so I think I can chalk that up as a success.

 “Mony a mickel maks a muckle”

Doric phrase. (Many small coins make a larger amount, or lots of small things add up)

There are big similarities in beginning an exercise regime to beginning an investment plan:

  • It may be painful to begin with
  • You won’t notice any benefits particularly quickly;
  • But small changes today will make a big impact in the future.

The equivalent in financial planning to turning up at the gym regularly is to be making regular contributions to your investments.

I don’t go to the gym hoping to morph into Arnie overnight, and I don’t make monthly contributions to my pension in the hope of being a millionaire next month.

By having a robust financial plan in place, and potentially making a few sacrifices today you can set yourself up for life.

At Structured Financial Planning we provide our clients with bespoke financial plans for retirement.

We use a state-of-the-art cash flow planning tool that can estimate how much you need to be saving today to provide you with your desired “inflation adjusted” and after tax income in retirement.

Contact Neil for advice on any aspect of your financial planning.

neil@sfp-ifa.co.uk

07762 045037