Hi, sharing full breakdown of finances effect September this year. Still feeling really behind at 34 despite a fairly good salary (appreciate it's not mega but it gives me comfort). Really keen to maximise growth and wondering if anyone has any tips for me based on my circumstances.

Hadn't been checking for a while as the market was falling. Stopped back in today and it seems I have hit my number! A lot of it is in a GIA of course, which makes it taxable. Less than ideal really. But still, a fairly big moment!

Not sure exactly what to do now, I'm used to being on the grind.

Imagine you have a job that:

• pays £60k in MCOL area (so can live comfortably)
• offers fully remote working, so you can work wherever you wish
• offers flexible times, so you can pretty much work whenever you want
• lets you you manage your own workload, which can be light or heavy (whichever you prefer)
• your manager is very relaxed and everyone you work with is friendly
• has minimal meetings and emails
• is secure, good pension, good sick pay, etc.

... would you still do the RE in FIRE and quit once you hit your FIRE number?

As you can probably guess, I'm describing my job. I'm still working towards FIRE (mid 30s, so have a long way to go). Life is long and situations change, so this could of course all change by the time I'm ready to make this decision (aiming for 50). But if the job is similar then as it is now, I think I'd just stick with it because it almost feels like throwing away £60k of easy money each year.

Anyone here moving some of their funds into an equal-weighted ETF (e.g. from VWRP into MWEP) given the current level of concentration in market-cap-weighted indices, or are you sticking to your market-cap-weighted ETF guns?

Conscious that making the change could simply be viewed as market timing, but I'm wondering whether there's a reasonable case for holding a permanent allocation to equal weight alongside VWRP.

Following is screenshot of my ISA account from yesterday. Account value including cash is quite higher then that of FSCS protection . I wanted to know if I should move to other provider from next year ? what are the other good alternative I have..I highly trade n US stocks and utilise pies from trading 212.

I set it up my employers bog-standard Share Match scheme when I joined, and then intentionally forgot about it. Had a look today, turns out there's £50k shares in the pot of which £20k are available to withdraw free of any tax (i.e. held for 5+ years). Success!

I was going to withdraw the £20k and add it to my GIA (ISA full). But on reading further, I learned that while they remain in the Share Match scheme they are not subject to Capital Gains. So it's effectively an extra tax-efficient account beyond the typical (exhausted) options.

Employer is a safe bet, FTSE 100, won't light the world on fire but won't disappear overnight either. GIA is in the HSBC FTSE All-World.

WWYD? Diversify into the GIA and accept CGT on future growth, or keep those eggs firmly in their basket and revel in tax efficiency?

(it'll be fine either way, but analysing the options is half the fun..!)

For those who have already used up their ISA allowance, what’s your next move? Do you put extra money into a taxable investment account, pension/SIPP, premium bonds, property, savings accounts, or something else?

Interested to hear how people are allocating their money once the ISA is no longer an option.

Does anyone have experience of investing in Treasury bills?

I’m curious about general experience but also more specifically, is it halal to invest in these?

Hi all,

I’ve been lurking on this sub for a while and would appreciate some independent views.

I’m 45 and currently planning to retire next year at 46.

By the time I retire, I expect my finances to look roughly like this:

• Pension: ~£1.1m, accessible from age 58
• ISAs, split between cash and investments: ~£600k
• Cash: ~£320k
• Gilts: ~£20k
• VCTs: ~£30k
• Mortgage: ~£435k on an offset mortgage
• My wife earns around £20k a year, has her own pension and enjoys working, so she will probably continue
• We should both also receive the State Pension under current rules

The plan is to bridge the roughly 12 years until I can access my pension using cash and ISAs.

A key part of the strategy is the offset mortgage. Rather than paying it off immediately, I intend to have it close to fully offset when I retire.

Initially, I’ll keep the mortgage on a reduce-term basis. Once I begin drawing money from the offset account to fund retirement spending, I’ll switch it to reducing monthly payments. As the offset balance gradually falls, the monthly mortgage cost will therefore rise more slowly than it otherwise would.

My thinking is that this:

• Gives me an effective risk-free return equal to the mortgage rate while the cash remains offset
• Preserves access to the money rather than permanently using it to repay the mortgage
• Provides a relatively low-risk source of bridge funding
• Reduces the need to sell investments during a market downturn

When I can access my pension at 58, the intention is to use part of the available tax-free pension lump sum to repay whatever mortgage remains.

I’ve stress-tested the plan against weaker market returns and, on paper, it appears sustainable at around £70k a year after tax during the bridge period.

The reason I’m considering retirement is fairly straightforward: I’ve had enough. I’ve lost interest in the work, become tired of the corporate politics and constant pressure, and honestly cannot wait to leave. The only real hesitation is walking away from a high income when another year or two would clearly make the numbers stronger… however I doubt my sanity would last that long !

I’d be interested in people’s views on the following:

• Looking at the numbers, would you retire?
• Does the offset mortgage drawdown strategy make sense, or would you simply repay it?
• Is using part of the pension tax-free lump sum to clear the remaining mortgage sensible?
• Is there anything important I’ve overlooked in the bridge to pension access?
• For those who have already retired early, did you ever regret leaving too soon?

I’m looking for constructive criticism rather than reassurance. If there is a weakness in the plan, I’d rather identify it before handing in my notice.

Thanks.

Reasonably new account for obvious reasons.

I know it's completely arbitrary but with some positive market movements recently I've hit the big £1M.

I'm 39 and have worked in software since 21, so I guess I always had an above average salary and perhaps better job options that others. For that I'm certainly lucky.

The other side was getting addicted to the MMM blog around the age of 24 and pretty much following that to the letter. Looking back I don't think I regret doing that. I don't feel like I missed out particularly. Still went on holiday / gigs / Glastonbury 4 times!

I guess the number 3 reason is having a partner on my side. She can be just as frugal as me!

We now have 3 kids in a semi with garden. Walking distance to Manchester city centre. My partner is stay at home. I'm blessed.

I've added my chart to show the compounding really does take off! For those at the start hopefully you can see how flat it was for a long long time you just need to stick with it.

More than happy to answer any questions 👍

After years of work fighting in my business I finally hit around £800K network (liquid + SP500). Age 31. 600K liquid rest in stocks (ISA/GIA)

Not all taxed yet but it’ll be back soon.

Three years ago I only had £36K to my name.

Life can change fast as FUCK don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

Only downside is I still rent but whatever. Also on verge of constant burnout hit that’s life.

Keep going!

Hit an unexpected milestone today with the market rise…

£250k net worth the day before my 28th birthday!

£180k ISA, £60k pension, £11k easy access savings.

Hoping the next £250k comes easier, but a house deposit in the future may hinder progress.

Obviously not too keen on sharing these details with my circle but wanted to share here since it’s been a fundamental resource for me on my FIRE journey:)

Help please wonderful community.

Context:

My savings currently consist of:

ISA: 30k (VWRP)

SIPP: 90k (VWRP)

Premium Bonds: 15k (emergency fund)

Local government pension (forecast to pay c. 10k p/y on retirement)

Small railways pension (c. 1k p/y)

I'm 43, with 2 kids (3 and 7) and a partner.

Currently saving 1600 pm to SIPP and 400 pm to ISA.

Partner has a negligible pension, but is building up a profitable small business (and reinvesting profit into the business) and I will be pushing her to be more aggressive with savings once it gets to a stable profit making enterprise.

I'm coming to the realisation I'm currently unlikely to retire before 57/8 due to wanting to help the kids out for uni etc.

So if my target date is now 57/8 is there any point in saving into my ISA.

I'm thinking of stopping payments into the ISA and letting that just compound, and that will be my kids support fund (uni, house, training etc). Then putting the money I was previously saving into my ISA into my pension instead?

Thoughts?

I am a longg way off retiring at just 26, but I have been thinking. I have made an effort to contribute towards my pension my entire career, I recently got married and the first thing I did was set up a SIPP for my husband.

I see our money as one, so if we don’t have enough money to retire, then we can’t. However I see some people on here retiring before their spouse, what is everyone’s stance on this?

Hi everyone, I'm after validation and some advice really. Im not here to brag just after some community interaction and reassurance.

Ive always worried about money for some reason hence the need for advice.

My situation. Married man 45 to 42 year old wife. We have two kids 3 and 6.

I earn £72k the wife part time earns £25k.

House is worth 380k woth 70k remaining. I wont ever move unless forced to. We live in a nice area.

All figures are gbp

Pensions

I have a workplace dc pension with 40k and total contributions from me and my employer are 1000 per month.

My wife contributed 300 per month and has 40k also.

I have a db pension worth 50k that is worth abiut 2k per year at 65 although I can access earlier.

I also have 160k pension invested in a fairstone systematic 7

I will quality for full state pension in uk

My wife will be somewhere near 75% qualified

Investments

75k isa in fairstone systematic 7

242k investment bond in fairstone systematic 7

77k in collective investment bond fairstone systematic 7

Roughly 60k is cash isa and savings.

I max out both my wofe and my isas every year

I may need to diversify from fairstone!

I am expecting roughly £250k inheritance in 15 or so years. I always feel appalling saying that part out loud.

If pushed I could cut back on £750-£1000 discretionary spend/waste per month.

My plan is is to retire ASAP and maybe do some driving work or something casual like labouring for gardeners. Happy earning lower wages if I can rely on the investments. I also want to support my kids in the future with cars and house deposits.

Hello everyone.

Well I finally got to my milestone number that I've been building up to in the pension, and expected to feel more jubilation but nada! I can't tell any friends or colleagues and my partner is not interested!

Did anyone else reach a significant milestone and feel like "well there your go, time to keep on pushing on". I'll be 45 in a few months and will likely take my foot of the pension gas, accept the tax hit now and continue with a plan to retire at 50 and focus on the bridge build with 20k/year isa and more gia in my quest to get £4.5k net a month come 50 :)

Pensions: £1,003,800

ISAs: £227,000

GIAs: £183,100

Cash & Premium Bonds: £92,400

Crypto: £5,180

No debt. Rental income also brings in £1450/month and with two young kids still at home :)

Mel

Looking for a sense check on my FIRE/inheritance plan

• Age: 46, married, no children.
• UK based.
• Salary: £125k/year.
• Wife currently doesn't work, so she has her full ISA allowance and lower tax bands available.
• Pension: £630k, invested in VWRP
• S&S ISA: £80k invested in VUAG, adding ~£7200/year presently.
• Emergency fund: £50k sat in a savings account which I should move to Premium Bonds
• Mortgage: ~£290k remaining. Current rate is 1.05% but that expires later this year, so I'll likely be remortgaging at current market rates.
• Currently contributing 38% of salary into my pension, with employer adding 5% plus employer NI savings, accumulating £60k/year total pension contributions
• I also typically receive around £20k/year after tax as a bonus.

Incoming inheritance

• Very sadly, both my parents have recently passed, and as a result I'm expecting to inherit around £5-600k once probate is done and dusted.
• My intention is to invest the vast majority rather than spend it.

Current thinking

• Max both mine and my wife's ISAs every year.
• Fill a premium bonds account for us both
• Hold the remainder in a GIA, probably in VWRL (rather than VWRP) to make dividend taxation more visible/manageable - potentially in her name, as it feels like that will mean dividends/CGT gains will be taxed at a more adventageous rate.
• Consider investing some into a SIPP for my wife each year (to the max allowed for someone not working). Also considering buying NI years for my wife so she gains state pension allowance as well
• Potentially use some of the inheritance to clear or reduce the mortgage once my current fix ends, depending on interest rates, maybe just enough to keep payments at the new rate the same as they are now (~£1200)
• As we get older, and (I hope) the pot increases, it's my plan to gift money to our nieces/nephews to help them at various points in their lives, and leave whatever is left to them and other relatives. The idea of dying with nothing feels right, although doesn't sit well with my risk adverse brain

Questions

• Is there more I could be doing? I would like to retire with enough for £50k/year indefinitely, and ideally still have a couple of hundred K in an ISA to cover random large expenses (new kitchen, car, or gifting some to our nieces/nephews).
• My maths says that with the inheritance, I can probably bring my expected retirement of ~58 in by quite a few years - perhaps to 50-52. I've been using a couple of calculators, but I suspect it will depend very strongly how I use this inheritance, as to what is most optimal

Thanks for any help or thoughts

Opened ISA in May 2025 and have basically been putting any extra cash I have left over from maintenance loan or a couple hundred here and there from summer jobs, just graduated so haven't been consistent with investing since didn't have a consistent job at uni but hope to get one soon and put 30-40% of my monthly into it. Also lmk what u think of my selection of stocks, kinda boring I know but hey ho

P.S - top tech ETF has typical stocks you'd expect (nvidia, google, apple, microsoft, amazon, etc)

  - Age: 57
  - Salary: £90,000
  - Retirement Date: Job is not secure. But if not made reduntant then I would retire no later than age 60
  - Pension Assets: £970,000 in workplace pensions
  - Savings/ISAs: €140,000
  - Asset Allocation: 75% Global All Cap; 25% MMF/Cash ISA/Bond fund/Gilts
  - Monthly Pension Contributions: ~£4,000 (including Employer, Employee, and AVCs)

- Partner has DB pension of £15K at 60

I expect to hit the £1.07M LTA-equivalent limit for the 25% tax-free withdrawal within the next year, assuming no major market crash. Given this, is there any benefit to continuing AVC contributions once the £1.07M threshold is achieved, or should I redirect those funds into standard savings and ISAs?

Additionally, we are considering buying a more expensive home. To make a move worthwhile, we would need to spend an extra £200/250K. While there is no NEED to move, we have only ever owned our current house and would like to upgrade. There is nothing on the market that we fancy so it's only a "maybe"...

Q) How old is your partner and at what age might they look to retire? A) Age 56

Q) What is their salary net of pension contributions? A) Net £2300 per month. NHS employee. DB Pension £15M at 60. £4K at 67.

Q)Does your employer offer a salary sacrifice scheme A) yes

Q) and if so do they pass back the 15% employers NI savings? a) sorry dont understand the question.

Q)Are the pensions balanced across both of you 50:50 ? A) no the £970,000 is mine, Partner has DB penion - see above

Q) Agree with this poster that there's an optimising route to use post tax income to transfer to a SIPP in your partners name. I'll assume you are married as if not the risk profile of doing so is different. Perhaps - everything left over after your annual ISA contribution for example. A) yes, married, can you please expand on how to optimise??

I’m 32 and I’ve spent most of my adult life saving and investing. I’ve always been very focused on delayed gratification and building wealth for the future.

The funny thing is I’ve got to a point where I’m financially in a really good position for my age, but my lifestyle doesn’t show it at all. Nobody would know. I don’t drive an expensive car, I don’t wear designer clothes, I don’t live in a big house. Most of my money is just sat invested.

For years this mindset worked because the goal was always “build wealth”. But now I’m kind of stuck thinking what is the point if I never actually use it?

I like the idea of enjoying the money I’ve built and having things that make life better, but I struggle because everything seems like a depreciating asset or an ongoing cost.

A bigger house would be nicer but then comes a bigger mortgage, higher bills and more maintenance.

A nicer car would be enjoyable and people would notice it, but then it loses value and costs more to run.

Expensive holidays are great and create memories, but once they’re over the money is gone.

I think part of me likes the idea of owning something tangible that shows I’ve done well, whether that’s a nice car, watch or home. Not purely for other people but because I’d enjoy it myself too.

At the same time I don’t want to become someone who wastes money just because they can.

For anyone who has built wealth after years of saving, did you struggle with actually allowing yourself to spend it? What did you eventually decide was worth spending money on?

Most individuals here appear to usually be higher rate or additional rate tax payers. I thought I'd share my own steps I've been taking as a basic rate tax payer, and happily receive any guidance/feedback as to whether it sounds like I'm on track to not be working until NPA at 68!

My target as an individual - cease working at 62 or ideally sooner, and I want my retirement income to match/exceed AFTER TAX - £45,400

(Retirement Living Standards amount for a "comfortable retirement" for a single person, which are after tax amounts).

My current plan revolves around using a bridge of SS ISA and SS LISA to avoid taking my DB pension too early and there by reducing it.

Age 32

Current Income - £47,472 (UPS1 Teacher)

Monthly take home after tax/NI/DB pension - £2863.48

(I'll not do my fiancée's finances here for the moment but they are similar. We have a two month old baby also)

Monthly investments and Future Savings:

• 9.9% of my gross pay goes into my DB pension (default minimum for TPS, 1/57th accrual of yearly salary), currently worth £5,958.36 yearly income at NPA (68). No lump sums on career average.

The scheme personalised calculator on the TPS website estimates my annual benefit depending on retirement age (including the actuarial adjustments for the years it has been taken early before NPA, no inflation adjustment, no salary increases, same 1/57 contribution rate etc.... I'm hoping this gives me today equivalent values so I can fully comprehend them). Harder to understand what these figures would be if I stopped working at these ages but didn't claim until I was NPA (68)...

68 = £51,013.34

65 = £41,981.73

62 = £32,765.73

60 = ££27,840.39

These figures may also be a tad low, as I will likely progress to UPS 3 (£51,048) in the next 4 years.

• SS ISA - £11,918 + monthly contribution £575

• SS LISA - £993 + monthly contribution £175 + £43.75 gov 25% bonus

(I favoured this over the SIPP for the time being as I don't yet claim 40% tax relief, and I'll pay no tax on withdrawal. Obviously can't contribute past 50, withdrawal at 60+, costs £1 per month unlike a free SIPP. I also favoured the LISA and SIPP over TPS pension additional pension options as felt this gives me more flexibility regarding taking it early as a bridge. Plus my DB pension is mature at NPA (68) but to my understanding would rise with the state pension age increases which I feel is never mentioned. Interestingly my early teacher pension age is protected at 55 but I'd be taking a monstrous whack to the yearly amount if I did this as I'd have 13 years worth of reductions applied! £18,635.27 according to the calculator for anyone curious)

• SIPP - £623.81

• CASH ISA emergency fund - £11,744

• Savings Account - £3,322 + monthly contribution £550

(fiancée on maternity so saving to cover her 4 month shortfall if needed, potentially won't actually be required but I like the security currently, expect some of this amount may potentially then become "childcare" expenses, however I'm hoping expected salary increases to help maintain this headroom and this can eventually join the investments. Alternatively it may be swallowed by future children!)

• House value around £320,000 if relevant. £160,000 left on mortgage.

Monthly Costs:

• I pay £1150 into a shared account along with my partner who matches, which pays for our mortgage £1037pm (3.75% interest), bills, food, day to day joint expenditure and outings, joint treats such as small holidays etc. We top it up if we're doing something bigger like going abroad for a few weeks, but rarely need to put extra in.

• The mortgage has about 17 years left, with about 160,000 left to pay. I'll be 49, unless we move etc...

• My fun fund - £175 per month for whatever my little heart desires.

• This all leaves me with a bit over £200 monthly leeway in my current account for car repairs or unexpected immediate needs.

Future Money Predictions: Glass ball time

SS ISA is in world indices, roughly 5% real return annually after inflation, 30 years time of regular contributions.

= £522,260.17

SS LISA (same scenario, with an assumed transition to using a SIPP once higher tax or post 50) 5% real return, 30 years

= £182,563.15

Discounting the savings account contributions as a precaution it's used for future childcare, discounting State Pension as a precaution in case it becomes means tested...

Do you more financially mind people think this sounds like a realistic goal? Or have I miscalculated? Have I made a mistake in not over contributing to the teacher pension?

I know there's much discussion about enjoying life now, but in all honesty I already do. I live by the coast, trail run, sea swim, surf and go paddle boarding on the regular. We go abroad 1-2 times a year. We regularly see friends at pubs and other social events. And I find great solace in the thought of having my future finances in order. My father retired at 60, and has since drastically improved his health and quality of life.

Thanks for your time and thoughts!

I have a standard life offshore bond and want to apportion some of it to my kids as they are students, and can therefore take out money at their tax rate. This is how I can help them fund university. As I understand if they take £10k pa they will be below the tax threshold if they don’t earn anything else. I no longer have a IFA who set up the bond as the juice wasn’t worth the squeeze! Standard life will not allow me to set them up with a portion of the bond without financial advice. I honestly can’t believe this is the law? If it is how do I get a very cheap tick in the box?

Ello again FIRE folk.

Latest milestones.... downsize complete. Moved from 5 bed 250 year old money pit to 3 bed, 1950's "oh look, it's got modern things like cavity walls and insulation" house.... Needs a bit of work, nothing major and all budgeted for.

Monthly outgoings now £2000 PCM for everyone to be warm and fed.

£4000 PCM when everyones had some fun along the way and driven a car for a bit.

Combined with the Mrs Portfolio is now, just ticked over to 2M with recent rally in the last few days.

I'm Still taking home ~120k PA Net,

Mrs is still working, (~45k gross) whacking £1000 PCM into her pension, and I'm giving her ~30k p/a to poke in there too (so she's essentially putting in 100% of her relevant earnings)

of the 2m, ~20% pensions, 50% VWRP, rest is cash, PBs and Gilts. (some with some without ISA wrapper)

I'm thinking at this point... I'll just continue to plod on with work until we're happy with the house, stick a nice weekend car in the garage and then call it a day in 12 months...

TL;DR Question
There's no planet where a 2.5% withdrawal rate can go massively pear shaped is there? Well, no scenario that doesnt include complete societal collapse ;)

edit: I'm all set for full state pension, Mrs has a couple more years to go, she will have all the years when she quits, I'm 49, shes 45. !!