Pensions & Retirement
Build a retirement pot that will actually support the life you want — and know how to access it. Understand workplace pensions and auto-enrolment, make the most of tax relief and the £60,000 Annual Allowance, decide whether salary sacrifice beats normal contributions, and plan for retiring before State Pension age.
Start with a calculator
Put your own numbers in first — the guides below explain what the results mean and what to do next.
Planning how much I need to retire
Start with the end — the income you want — and work back to the contributions that get you there.
Making the most of contributions and tax relief
Tax relief is free money from the government. Get the contribution level and wrapper right.
Salary sacrifice vs normal contributions
How you pay in changes both your take-home pay and your pot — and the difference is not always obvious.
Retiring before State Pension age
Accessing your pot early means bridging the gap until the State Pension kicks in.
Choose the right guide
Several pages in this area cover related questions. Use this to pick the one that matches what you are actually trying to do.
- “How much do I need to save for retirement?”
- The pension planning guide helps you set the target. Pension planning & retirement target
- “How much can I contribute and get tax relief?”
- The contributions guide covers the Annual Allowance and taper. Optimising pension contributions
- “Should I use salary sacrifice?”
- The salary-sacrifice guide compares the two contribution methods. Salary sacrifice vs normal pension
- “How does a pension change my payslip?”
- The pension-tax-and-take-home guide shows the month-to-month effect. Pension contributions & take-home pay
Related topic hubs
Every guide in this hub is written and maintained by Shaun da Silva, Finance Consultant. SmartMoneyTools provides educational estimates only — not financial advice. Read our financial disclaimer and editorial policy.