---
title: "Pension and Retirement Advice | Phil Anderson Financial Services"
url: https://www.philandersonfinancial.co.uk/services/pensions/
description: "Independent pension advice: reviewing old pensions, drawdown, annuities, workplace and auto enrolment pensions, and planning when you can afford to retire."
updated: 2026-11-04
publisher: Phil Anderson Financial Services (FCA 631218)
---

# Pensions and retirement

We help you work out when you can retire, how much income you will have and the most tax-efficient way to take it. We also review old pensions to see if you could be better off, and advise employers on workplace schemes.

- **Who we help:** People approaching retirement, savers with several old pensions, and employers
- **Advice on:** Personal, workplace, stakeholder and self-invested pensions, drawdown, annuities, pension sharing
- **Minimum pension age:** 55, rising to 57 from April 2028

## What can you help with?

### For individuals

- Personal pension advice
- At-retirement advice
- Pension fund withdrawal (drawdown)
- Annuity advice
- Self-invested personal pensions (SIPPs)
- Stakeholder pension advice
- Pension sharing on divorce

### For employers

- Workplace pensions
- Auto enrolment advice*
- Group personal pensions
- Employee benefits consultancy

> “Explains things in simple terms, but gives enough details for you to understand what you’re getting into.” (Nicola, Aberdeen)

## How can I take money from my pension?

With most defined contribution pensions you can take money from age 55 (57 from April 2028). Usually up to 25% can be taken tax-free, subject to limits. The rest is taxed as income.

You can buy an annuity for a guaranteed income, keep the pot invested and draw from it as you need (drawdown), or combine the two. The right choice depends on your other income, your health, your tax position and how much risk you are comfortable with. That is what we help you decide.

## Pensions and retirement: your questions answered

### When can I retire?

It depends on how much you have saved, what income you need and when your State Pension starts. We build a plan showing what you can afford and when, and update it as your circumstances change.

### I have several old workplace pensions. Should I combine them?

Sometimes. Combining can make pensions easier to manage and can reduce charges, but some older pensions have valuable guarantees you would lose. We check each one before recommending anything.

### Is an annuity or drawdown better?

Neither is better for everyone. An annuity gives a guaranteed income for life. Drawdown is more flexible but the income is not guaranteed. Many people use a mix. We explain both using your own numbers.

### Do you advise employers on workplace pensions?

Yes. We help employers set up and review workplace pensions and meet their auto enrolment duties.

## Who will I speak to?

      [Margaret O'Brien Independent Financial Adviser](/meet-our-team/#margaret-obrien)[Phil Anderson Founder and Director](/meet-our-team/#phil-anderson)[Kevin Philip Financial Adviser, Mortgage Adviser and Equity Release Specialist](/meet-our-team/#kevin-philip)[Peter Brown Independent Financial Adviser](/meet-our-team/#peter-brown)[Emma Reid Financial Planner](/meet-our-team/#emma-reid)

> “What you did for us took all the worry away and answered all the questions.” (Katrina, Orkney)

      [Speak to an adviser](#enquiry)

Last reviewed November 2026

A pension is a long-term investment not normally accessible until 55 (57 from April 2028). The value of your investments (and any income from them) can go down as well as up, which would have an impact on the level of pension benefits available.

Auto enrolment work-based pension schemes are regulated by The Pensions Regulator.

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> “We think of you as more of a friend than a financial adviser.” (Roy and Dorothy)