retirement planning UK Archives | Kias Consulting Pro

Hero image for pension tax-free cash article showing a pension pot splitting into 25% tax-free cash in gold and 75% taxable income in grey, with the title Pension Tax-Free Cash Explained and the 25% Rule and £268,275 Cap

Financial Coaching, Financial Literacy, Pension, Tax Planning, Wealth Building

Your Pension Tax-Free Cash (2025/26): The 25% Rule, the £268,275 Cap, and How to Take It in Stages

By Ibiyemi Ayanbisi / May 4, 2026 / crystallised pension, flexi-access drawdown, lump sum allowance, partial crystallisation, PCLS, pension commencement lump sum, pension commencement lump sum PCLS, pension crystallisation, pension drawdown UK, pension IHT 2027, pension inheritance tax, pension planning UK, pension tax relief 2026, pension tax-free cash, retirement planning UK, UFPLS, uncrystallised pension

When you start taking your pension, up to 25% can be taken completely free of income tax. But the total is capped at £268,275 across all your pensions in your lifetime, and the way you take it affects both the tax you pay and whether you trigger the Money Purchase Annual Allowance. This guide explains the 25% rule, the three ways to take your tax-free cash, the partial crystallisation strategy, and the inheritance tax changes coming in April 2027.

Blog header image for pension carry forward 2025/26 guide showing a glass jar filled with coins and a plant growing from it, with the title Pension Carry Forward: Unlock Up to £220,000 of Unused Allowance

Financial Literacy, Pension, Wealth Building

Pension Carry Forward 2025-26: How to Unlock Up to £220,000 of Unused Allowance

By Ibiyemi Ayanbisi / April 23, 2026 / defined contribution pension, MPAA, pension annual allowance, pension carry forward, pension contributions UK, pension input amount, pension lump sum, pension planning higher earners, pension tax relief, retirement planning UK, self assessment pension, SIPP contributions, tapered annual allowance, unused pension allowance

The pension carry forward rules are one of the most powerful and underused tools in UK retirement planning. If you have not used your full pension annual allowance in the past three years, you may be able to contribute significantly more than £60,000 in a single tax year. This guide explains who qualifies, how the ordering rules work, and how carry forward interacts with the tapered annual allowance and the MPAA.

Financial Literacy, Pension, Tax Planning, Wealth Building

Got Old Pension Pots? Here is How to Cash Them In Without Losing Your Tax Relief

By Ibiyemi Ayanbisi / April 8, 2026 / defined contribution pension, guaranteed annuity rates, money purchase annual allowance, MPAA, old pension pots, pension annual allowance, pension consolidation, pension freedoms, pension pot UK, pension tax relief, pension tracing service, retirement planning UK, small pension pots, workplace pension UK

Got old pension pots from previous jobs sitting forgotten with old
employers? The small pension pots rule lets you cash in any pot
worth under £10,000 without triggering the MPAA or losing your
£60,000 annual allowance. This guide explains who qualifies, how
the tax works, whether to cash in or consolidate, and how to track
down pots you may have forgotten about.

Blog header image titled 'Planning for Retirement with a Lifetime ISA – Tax-Free Income from Age 60, UK Guide 2026', featuring a piggy bank, stacked coins, and a Retirement Ahead sign

Investing, Lifetime ISA Series

Planning for Retirement with Your Lifetime ISA: Complete UK Guide (2026)

By Ibiyemi Ayanbisi / March 4, 2026 / early retirement UK, ISA retirement planning, Lifetime ISA, LISA for retirement, LISA strategy, LISA vs pension, retirement income, retirement planning UK, Retirement savings, self-employed retirement, Workplace pension

Planning for retirement with a Lifetime ISA offers unique advantages that many savers overlook. With tax-free growth, tax-free withdrawals from age 60, and a 25% government bonus, LISAs can be a powerful addition to your retirement strategy—especially for basic-rate taxpayers and the self-employed.

This comprehensive guide explains everything you need to know about using your LISA for retirement, including detailed comparisons with pensions, realistic projections of what you could have by age 60, and strategic advice on combining LISAs with workplace pensions.

Importantly, with the government planning to remove the retirement feature for new savers around April 2028, understanding your options now is crucial. If you’re eligible (ages 18-39) and interested in retirement planning, opening a LISA before the changes could preserve this valuable benefit.

Learn how to make the most of your LISA for a more secure financial future.