By David Braithwaite, BBC Radio Kent’s Money Mentor and Managing Director of Citrus
Financial
If you are in your 40s or 50s, there is a good chance you have already started saving for
retirement in one form or another. You may have paid into pensions through a number of employers. You may have savings elsewhere too. And you may feel, quite reasonably, that you have been doing the right sort of things over the years.
But there is a big difference between having pensions and understanding what they may
actually mean for your future. For many people, the problem is not a lack of saving. It is a lack of clarity. They have built up several pension pots over time, but do not have a clear picture of where they all are, what they add up to, or what sort of income they may eventually provide. Others have one main pension and are paying into it regularly, but still have no real sense of whether it is on track for the retirement they want. And many simply do not know what “enough” actually looks like.
The risk of drift
In my experience, the biggest risk is not always making a bad decision. It is drift. Drift can look like having three or four old pension pots and never quite getting round to bringing them together. It can look like checking the value once in a while, but not knowing what that figure may really mean in retirement. It can also mean assuming you are probably somewhere in the right ballpark, without ever knowing what sort of number you are actually aiming for. That is where people can lose confidence and, over time, lose control.
Decisions later on
Retirement itself also brings decisions. When can you access your pension? How much can you take tax free? Should you draw an income, take lump sums, or do something more structured? These are important questions, and they are much easier to deal with when you understand them in advance rather than under pressure. That is why we are running The Pension Reality Check.
Join us at Squerryes, Westerham
If this sounds familiar, or you know someone who would benefit from a clearer picture of their retirement plans, we would be delighted to welcome you to The Pension Reality Check, a free evening event at Squerryes in Westerham on Wednesday 10th June 2026.
The event is designed to help you understand where you stand, what your pensions could mean in real terms, and what practical steps you can take now to feel more confident about the future.
Reserve your place
Wednesday 10th June 2026 – Squerryes, Westerham
Arrival from 6.30pm for a 7.00pm start
Visit www.citrusfinancial.co.uk/pension-reality-check
or call 01732 834834.
Approver Quilter Financial Services Limited. 25/04/2026
Author: Helen Loder
Co-Director of Sevenoaks Mums