A Helping Hand: Your Pension and Retirement Plans

Whatever stage of life you’re in, achieving your pension goals can be made simple – with a little bit of help from experts.

Seeking professional financial advice really can pay dividends. According to research carried out by the International Longevity Centre, people who received professional financial advice saw their assets increase by an average of almost £48,000 compared to those who did not receive any advice*.

Regardless of whether you have been retired for a while, are looking to retire or have several years of employment ahead of you, you will no doubt want to make sure all your hard work pays off. For instance, you may want to travel the world or help your family get their foot on the property ladder. Or perhaps you want peace of mind that you can afford to live comfortably once the financial security blanket of earning a regular wage has gone.

Transforming people’s lives

All of this, and more, is achievable with the right lifestyle financial planning advice, and who best to explain this than Chartered Financial Planner, Katy Allen from Attivo. She has helped countless clients identify, work towards and ultimately achieve their financial goals.

“Lifestyle financial planning is capable of transforming people’s lives. While there may be some DIY investment products out there that people can set up on their own, they’re just products at the end of the day,” she explains. “There’s none of the reassurance or holistic and analytical insight that comes with receiving robust lifestyle financial planning advice. With the right support, you can maximise your pensions, savings and wider investments from every possible angle and create the life you truly want.”

Read more: Why A Cruise Is An Affordable Way To See The World

It is good value for money

"It is good value for money. No fly cruising & inclusive for the over 50s. Staff are very friendly & helpful, not only on the ship but in Head Office as well. We have been on 2 cruises, so far and have thoroughly enjoyed both of them. We are on another of your cruises later on this year. The Shows in the Theatre are absolutely West End standard. Of course, everything is not perfect but hopefully will improve over time."

– Verified Guest Review, Trustpilot

Human-centric focus

Contrary to popular belief, lifestyle financial planning does not just simply involve setting up an ISA or a private pension. Like all professions, financial planning has evolved, with the latest and most effective support extending beyond offering product-led advice.

“Successful lifestyle planning is just that, planning your finances to create the lifestyle you want for you and your loved ones. It’s about helping people visualise what their life plan looks like, identifying their financial goals and providing them with the pathway to get there, even if they encounter some unexpected changes along the way,” Katy explains. “It’s what we refer to as being human-centric. We take the time to get to know each and every one of our clients and provide them with independent, tailored solutions based on their specific circumstances. For example, I’ve had clients who are about to retire and believe their pension is the only way they can generate an income once they have retired. In some circumstances, it can actually be more tax efficient for people to use their wider investments and leave their pension where it is". This award-winning human centric outlook, coupled with Attivo’s holistic lifestyle planning approach, has resulted in the company helping thousands of clients realise their dreams since 2005.

“One of our clients wanted to gift their daughter a deposit contribution for her first property. They had a figure they thought they could afford, but after analysing their income and expenditure and producing various financial simulations, they discovered they could actually gift eight times more than they had originally planned. This catapulted their daughter much further up the property ladder than she had dreamed was possible,” Katy explains.

“Another client, who wasn’t due to retire any time soon, suffered a sudden and serious medical event. He wanted to return to work, but would have had to take a demotion. After examining his cash flow and conducting wider analysis, he discovered he could retire on medical retirement grounds at 55 rather than 65. He’s been enjoying retired life with his wife for several years now.”If you would like to find out more about how Attivo can help you live out your dreams, email Katy at kathryn.allen@attivo.co.uk

Read more: How To Save Up And Pay For Your Next Cruise Holiday

Charges apply for our financial planning services and for any products we recommend. Full details of our fees and charges will be provided before you proceed. Attivo (a trading name of Attivo Financial Limited) is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Details of our regulatory status including how to complain can be found on our website. Your investments may be covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). Eligibility criteria apply. Investment values may fall as well as rise and you might get back less than you originally invested.

Why Cruise with Ambassador?

Whether you’re approaching retirement or already enjoying it, having a clear plan in place can give you the confidence to make the most of your time, your savings, and the experiences that matter most. For many, that means having the freedom to travel more, relax, and explore at your own pace. On board, our mid-sized ships offer a friendly, comfortable base to return to after a day ashore, something guests often highlight in their reviews. From a wide range of destinations across Europe and beyond, our itineraries are designed to balance discovery with ease. Explore our ships, see where we sail, and start planning the experiences your future allows you to enjoy.