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- The Campervan Confidence: From “are we on track?” to “let’s retire”
When David 61 and Julia 56 asked if they were ready for retirement, they were expecting a "maybe." Instead, our financial planning showed they could not only both retire now but could spend more… six months later, they both traded the office for a campervan!
David and Julia, aged 61 and 56, came to us with a question many couples ask themselves: were they really on track for retirement?
Julia had a final salary pension due to pay and was hoping to stop work sooner, while David had built up a number of workplace pensions over his working life. They had a clear idea of the retirement they wanted but weren’t sure how all the pieces fitted together or whether they could afford to make it happen.
They wanted the confidence to know when they could retire and importantly, how much they could comfortably spend once they did.
Initially, they were being cautious about their plans. But through financial planning and cashflow modelling, we were able to show them that Julia could retire on her next birthday and David from whenever he was ready. Not only that, but they could afford to spend more than they had originally anticipated.
That gave them a very different perspective on what retirement could look like.
The clarity of the plan gave David the confidence to reconsider his own plans. Just six months later, he decided he didn’t want to wait any longer and joined Julia in retirement.
Because we had already stress-tested their financial plan, David could make that decision knowing it was affordable and sustainable.
We also put a decumulation strategy in place, allowing them to draw a higher level of income while maintaining a regular surplus. This means they can enjoy their money today, while also having the flexibility to help their adult children when they need it.
Today, David and Julia are enjoying the freedom they had hoped for exploring the UK and beyond in their campervan, with the financial confidence to make the most of their time together.
For them, financial planning wasn’t simply about working out whether they had enough money to retire. It showed them what was possible.
Financial planning isn’t just about making sure you don’t run out of money. It’s about having the freedom to stop work sooner than you imagined and the confidence to enjoy the wealth you’ve spent a lifetime building. Real financial planning doesn't just tell you if you're "okay" it reveals the opportunities you didn't know you had.
Client names have been changed to protect their identity.
This case study is intended as illustrative purposes only, it does not constitute individual advice and should not be used to inform financial decisions.
They are based upon our understanding (at the time of advice) of current law, HM Revenue and Custom's practice, tax rates and exemptions, which are subject to change.
A pension is a long-term investment not normally accessible until age 55 (57 from April 2028 unless the plan has a protected pension age). 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.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) does not regulate cash flow planning, estate planning, tax or trust advice.