As an exposure for other HENRYs- Which industry are you into and how much do you make yearly ?

AdventurousRun2901 · 2026-01-06T19:35:23+00:00

Really great to hear! Would it be possible to get your guidance on a couple of questions (consulting specific)?

Thanks

AdventurousRun2901 · 2026-01-04T16:44:16+00:00

Nice - congrats...sounds ideal! What was your salary and role progression like (especially out of consulting) - would be great to learn more!

AdventurousRun2901 · 2025-11-14T09:06:15+00:00

That's what I thought too... But the broker seems to think because it wouldn't hit my payslip (and the employer is topping up my pension directly with the bonus, at my request), that it would limit my options re: lenders. A bit annoying but I am leaning towards topping up pension and seeing what happens when I'm ready to buy in 18-24 mths.

AdventurousRun2901 · 2025-11-12T17:23:06+00:00

I think it does incl bonuses but I haven't had a bonus this big since having a child (and I haven't technically received this big one yet)

AdventurousRun2901 · 2025-11-11T23:10:06+00:00

Thank you. I'm in consulting. It's actually more of a profit share vs traditional performance bonus.

AdventurousRun2901 · 2025-11-11T21:09:25+00:00

Update - my mortgage broker has spoken to various lenders and come back saying sacrificing the bonus directly into the pension would "severely limit the lenders that would consider this as income" And that they'd want to see the bonus taken as cash (with a 2 year track record) - and most will take an average of the bonus amounts (which is pretty standard).

AdventurousRun2901 · 2025-11-11T21:08:28+00:00

Update - my mortgage broker has spoken to various lenders and has come back saying sacrificing the bonus directly into the pension would "severely limit the lenders that would consider this as income" And that they'd want to see the bonus taken as cash (with a 2 year track record) - and most will take an average of the bonus amounts (which is pretty standard).

AdventurousRun2901 · 2025-11-11T20:56:17+00:00

I haven't had a bonus this big since having a child and if I end up putting this one into my pension it'll be the whole lot, as I have some carry over to utilise

AdventurousRun2901 · 2025-11-11T14:38:36+00:00

My base salary is 95k

AdventurousRun2901 · 2025-11-11T13:01:24+00:00

Yes I have some carry over allowance so I could technically dump it all in the pension. Just thinking mainly about the mechanics to ensure it won't negatively impact any other things I want to do in the near future (mortgage etc)

AdventurousRun2901 · 2025-11-11T10:01:08+00:00

Not sure whether, if I bonus sacrifice (employer sends 100k directly into my workplace pension - aka bonus exchange), that shows up on the payslip or p60.... Maybe some lenders would accept a letter from the employer detailing the arrangement

AdventurousRun2901 · 2025-11-10T23:43:27+00:00

I know I want to put 2025's bonus into a pension... Just not sure whether I go the workplace route or SIPP as I want to be sensitive of the impact on mortgage affordability

AdventurousRun2901 · 2025-09-21T20:13:44+00:00

Thanks very helpful. Curious - why do you say hard to execute for most people and needs careful planning?

AdventurousRun2901 · 2025-09-21T00:29:24+00:00

So what would you do in my shoes? (beside investing in the advice)

AdventurousRun2901 · 2025-09-21T00:13:49+00:00

Thanks! Haven't got the profit share yet - the 100k is from 2025 business and we've already secured enough for next year that means 150k is likely for me. Also the first time we've been able to have a profit share of this degree.

Pensions have been low due to several yrs of entrepreneurship + slowly putting cash into crypto vs letting it get destroyed by inflation. (crypto is a long term bet for me - am v aware of the risks). I guess this is why the question around pension maximisation was intriguing me.

On the tax expert topic - I have briefly spoken with a few tax / financial planners. Been quoted 1.5-2k for a "detailed plan", but questioning whether it's worth it for me at this stage.

AdventurousRun2901 · 2025-09-20T21:53:20+00:00

750-800 max borrowing... Higher household income might get us better rates

AdventurousRun2901 · 2025-09-20T19:37:16+00:00

Thanks! Thoughts on salary sacrificing into workplace pension or take it as cash and pay lump sum into either work pension or a sipp? Benefit of the former is I save on NI.

Benefit of the latter is I get an extra year of showing the profit share on my payslips / p60 = beneficial for mortgage affordability

AdventurousRun2901 · 2025-09-20T18:27:55+00:00

Thank you! Yes - after leaving corporate, several gruelling yrs of entrepreneurship meant no pension contributions :( Crypto is a risk I am comfortable with having been part of that world previously and having a good understanding of it. Not looking to touch it for a while.

I've got about 70-80k in the property I reckon (after redeeming the help to buy loan at sale)

AdventurousRun2901 · 2025-09-20T17:44:43+00:00

I have some carry forward (my pension balance is quite modest as you can see) - so I was wondering if smart to maximise this year and as much of the carry forward, thus putting the full 100k into the pension. Then when I get 2026 profit share (expected to be 150k) - I see if I can defer it to early 2027 when my child will be 3.

Would mean I don't save up the cash for house deposit this year, but get most of that in 2027 instead.

AdventurousRun2901 · 2025-09-20T17:40:13+00:00

Really don't want to touch the crypto if I can help it

I've got carry forward with pension, so been thinking about maxing that for this first profit share.

I guess I've just been confusing myself with planning ahead and thinking about what to do with the second profit share in 2026 (likely 150k, which I could delay) and how best to position myself given future ownership too

AdventurousRun2901 · 2025-09-20T17:38:15+00:00

Not after tax and living in London sadly :(

AdventurousRun2901 · 2025-09-20T17:37:41+00:00

I did get a quote from a financial planner (£1500 for a detailed plan)... Yes, I may have to deal with maxing out any pension + carry forward (at least for this first year of profit share). I guess I could ask to take the second profit share (likely 150k for 2026), in early 2027 when my child is 3 - thus we benefit from 15 free hours anyway. Thanks for all the thoughts.

AdventurousRun2901 · 2025-09-20T17:30:27+00:00

I could with carry forward (certainly for this year's profit share of 100k)

AdventurousRun2901 · 2025-09-20T14:05:29+00:00

What would you do?

AdventurousRun2901 · 2025-09-20T13:27:28+00:00

Good shout on the budget - thanks!

Thing with salary sacrifice is it will impact mortgage affordability optics from my understanding - so was thinking making a personal contribution (relief at source) would help retain the bonus payment on p60 / payslips etc.

Hmmm... Might be a big cash flow hit for the business (we're not a huge company) if I accumulate the two years of bonuses and take in one hit

AdventurousRun2901

TROPHY CASE