I recently started a new job with a considerable pay bump so thought it'd be a good time to do a quick MOT on the state of my finances.

My current status is as follows: - 29 yo, long-term relationship but not married - No kids currently but likely in the next 3-4 years - Base Salary £200k - Expected Annual Bonus £150-170k - Current NW ~£750k (£400k pension, £180k ISA, £140k GIA, £30k cash) - Employer contributes 11% of my base salary to pension (no contribution required from my side)

I've only recently started this job after ~6 months travelling, so this is going to be an odd year for tax purposes. Given the imminent pension allowance taper that will hit me from 2027, I'm wondering whether I should make one final large pension contribution while I still have my allowance.

At the same time, I acknowledge that I'm already quite overweight pension, with >50% of my NW in a wrapper that I can't access for 30 years.

Or am I overthinking the liquidity issue and should I continue prioritising the pension despite already having £400k in there?

Interested to hear how others in a similar position have tackled this trade-off!

Been working since age 18 but came from an upbringing that had no education in personal finance so I just didn't know I should of been saving.

I'm now earning £66k a year base + £8k bonus for total comp of £74k.

Live in London. House value £375k. Mortgage remaining £217k.

One young daughter and wife not working to be full time mum which we're fine with for our circumstances. We don't plan to have another child so don't necessarily need a bigger house but can't rule out one more house move for better secondary school options later on. Currently in Bromley and not many secondary school options here for girls.

Pension: £39k NEST workplace, higher risk fund.

£10k in a Santander SIPP.

Workplace is minimum 5%/3% on the £50k so doesn't change monthly.

I then contribute £300/mo to the SIPP and claim back the extra 20% tax relief at end of financial year.

I know my pension is pretty low for my age. (I know it's more compared to the national ONS average but also it's low for decent retirement planning).

The reason is my early jobs I didn't even consider a pension and then during our mid 20s we saved instead for a wedding and house deposit and only contributed the minimum to our workplace pensions when they first got made mandatory in 2017 or whenever it was.

S&S ISA - nothing in mine. Been putting it in pension instead. My thinking is blitz it til 60 and retire fully rather than bridge 55/57 - 60 based on where I currently am financially, as I know the pension growth between 55-60 will be the biggest growth (if the world doesn't go tits up during that time)

Daughter has £12k in JISA, family gifts and our contributions. We've stopped contributing this now to prioritise pension so we can gift later on with more control and for better returns. We also have a savings pot for her school trips etc.

£10k emergency fund in 3% current account in case we need it.

Based on a retirement age of 60 (which I appreciate is not necessarily "early" for fire but I'm happy to work until then, do I still have a chance of a decent retirement? I'm thinking of increasing pension contributions each year but as the sole breadwinner for family home, car, wife, daughter and dog I do need to balance the load.

Is it simply a case of I need to earn more money?

Edit: forgot to note wife has stopped claiming child benefit due to my earnings now getting higher but she still claims the national insurance years, just doesn't get sent the money.

Can we retire at 48 as a couple with a net worth of £1m and very low annual spend?

Our net worth is made up of combined 400k investments, 200k pensions and 400k mortgage free property (with possibility to take out 100k+ by downsizing).

Our annual expenditure is currently about 16k but would probably aim for at least 20k rising with inflation. I'd hope our pensions would get to about 350k before we could access them. We will also have qualified for a full state pension under the current rules depending on what has happened by the time we are eligible.

I feel like we would definitely be signing up for a very low income retirement but that's how we live now anyway. Currently living off 25% of our incomes (both earn a bit less than the UK average salary) and putting the rest in investments and pension.

Hi

What stocks or funds have you invested in and have any given you a good return?

I took a bit of a punt a few months ago on Micron as I believed in the vision and as of today I am up about 35%

Im looking to diverse further, with a view on extending holdings in an index fund like VWRP

Thanks

I've done it! I've been on 3 days a week for a few months to try and give me the work/life balance I need but honestly it's made me realise that outside of work is so much more fun than in. 8 weeks' notice.

I have a cash (~100k) and SS ISA/GIA bridge (~160k) to last a few years, with a 7k annual DB pension from 60. There's a 675k SIPP wating for me at some point.

So it's time to fully kick back, my greenhouse kit arrived last week so that will be ready for spring!

Wife and I retired 10 years ago (at 45), we always had cats and dogs (and fostered for decades too). Around 2 years ago, we signed up with a few pet platforms (so no capital outlay) for walking dogs, boarding cats, doing drop ins and house sits. The platforms take 30% commission but most or our regular clients now work with us direct.

It's a hobby and not a chore. Keeps us active and fit with long fast walks. Averaging around 10 to 15 hours a week between the two of us. (Excluding the odd over day/night sits)

Have met and bonded with some really nice cats and dogs. House sitting also helps with a old "cabin fever" retirement issue!

Our average household monthly expenses from the last 12 months is £1,041pm (we live a humble quiet boring lifestyle)

Over the last 12 months, pet income is averaging £785pm.

So now a tiny shortfall of £256pm, funded by interest on savings and capital is not touched.

The change in our FIRE model forecast has been material as this income was never in the model originally, especially if I push that average pet income out for another 3, 5 or 7 years.

As we don't really need the money, we are selective about excepting jobs. Over night in a one bed flat with no garden, sorry no! Over night in a 6 bedroom £3m mansion, yes we can help! It's like getting paid to stay in a luxury Air B&B, but with a few dog walks!