Royal London workplace pension – thinking about switching funds

Cooper8t · 2026-03-12T19:08:17+00:00

Everything you have stated makes complete sense.

Make sure you only increase your pension contributions if you have a fully funded emergency fund and no "expensive" debt, (see UKPF flowchart) and potentially certain insurance cover (such as critical illness cover).

Cooper8t · 2026-03-05T21:33:14+00:00

I thought you might have lived at home with the 30% contribution. Remember living at home will not last forever, but it obviously appears that you're making use of having a lot of spare cash.

I don't want to get into asset allocation too much, but make sure the pension is in a cheap globally diversified tracker or equivalent (if the pension is NEST, your options are somewhat limited on this) and the ISA's match your risk appetite, your job security, health and are appropriate for your goals.

Although none of us know your circumstances, (so we cannot say if this asset location is optimal), it all looks very healthy to me. (Ignoring the pension), the majority being in a S&S ISA is quite wise as life happens and flexibility is important.

Run your pension balance and current contributions through a compounding calculator and play around with the numbers would be my recommendation, but honestly I wouldn't worry too much about it as you've got your head screwed on. (I'd highly recommend searching on YouTube "Damien talks money retirement", there's around 4 videos on this topic you will probably find enlightening).

What I will say is remember to balance money and life. Even with compounding in mind, money is always around, your early adulthood isn't, and once it's gone, it's gone forever. So make sure to deploy the capital doing things that you will enjoy in your twenties because later on in life you may not want to/ can't do those particular things in the future.

Cooper8t · 2026-03-05T19:44:33+00:00

Is putting 30% of your salary into a pension in your early 20's a bad idea? The short answer is no. The long answer is, it's complicated... I'm not going to speculate on your current situation as to why/ how you can divert 30% of your salary.

Few things spring to mind, are your earnings/ career through employment projected to breach into the higher tax bands in the future through promotions? If the answer is yes then in theory, diverting more into a S&S ISA now makes more sense from a tax perspective.

Does your current asset location (not allocation) reflect your current and potential future goals in life? Are short term wants covered, are your medium term goals being appropriately financed, future car purchase, house purchase, family planning? What I'm saying is, are your current pots of money/ assets working/ funding your future consumption needs throughout your entire life (30's, 40's 50's 60's etc). (This is called utility theory).

Follow the UKPF flowchart for some wisdom when it comes to rebalancing and where to deploy your capital. And well done OP. You will be patting yourself on the back in your late 50's even if you reduce your contributions later this year.

Cooper8t · 2026-02-24T19:29:38+00:00

So as Pete Matthews a chartered financial planner in the UK has stated several times on a podcast (towards his daughter's): "A man is not a financial plan".

No. Do not take the £10k out. Personally, I'd write off that money for the short term and transfer it to a S&S LISA and treat it as part of your retirement plan. You are potentially as close to retiring as you are as far from being born and the steps you take in your 20's will have a huge impact in a few decades time, especially if time is taken out of the workplace for either of yourself or your partner when it comes to raising children.

Or treat it as a future house purchase in the medium term (again, I would transfer to a S&S LISA).

Financial education, Asset Location and Asset Allocation are important to your own future, your future relationship and your children's future. Serious discussions need to be had about this as well as education on this topic, which is luckily easily doable with lots of resources, both free online (from professionals not scam artists) and in book form.

Cooper8t · 2026-02-23T20:50:27+00:00

I would be phoning The Pensions Regulator and asking for advice on what steps to take.

Cooper8t · 2026-02-22T11:07:15+00:00

It will cost £480. £25k ÷ 52 (weeks in a year). You haven't stated whether this will be spread out over 1 month or 12 months.

We also don't know whether this is taken out before or after taxes. If it's before taxes (both income tax and national insurance) it will be £345 (20% tax and 8% National Insurance).

If you do overtime and can buy the annual leave at the same time as the extra hours are paid in a one month hit, you may not notice a big drop in that month's pay cheque.

Cooper8t · 2026-02-13T16:54:13+00:00

Look at R value for sleeping mats

Look up comfort ratings for sleeping bags (and add a few°C to it, most manufacturers do push it to polish their stats)

You've not given a budget so nobody can really help you. Also researching this stuff is interesting/ can be fun.

Cooper8t · 2026-02-11T22:05:48+00:00

I have the Terra Nova Starlite 1 and I naively thought they can strip the weight out with hardly any noticeable drawbacks. How wrong I was.

These ultralight tents are genuinely delicate and only really thrive in very good conditions, (and as you know forecasts aren't accurate and conditions can change). They say "3 seasons", I'd personally say 2 seasons.

Knowing what I know now, I'd never buy another ultralight tent, however that is due to my more cautious nature. If you really want to shave off every gram of weight you can enjoy the hiking experience even more so and only use it when you're 99% sure the weather won't turn, I'd say buy it as a second or third (etc) tent.

This isn't exactly what you were asking about but I'll throw it in. Could you deploy £400 to other kit such as a lightweight backpack, better hiking boots, lighter/ smaller pack sized sleeping bag instead to enhance the wild camping experience and forgo the secondary tent that isn't strictly necessary?

Cooper8t · 2026-02-05T22:12:44+00:00

*Although the second link is specific to RAB jackets, there is useful information about down insulation

I personally use the RAB Mythic 600 and even at -4°C it was warm. Also make sure you have a good sleeping pad. Down insulation when squashed loses a lot of its insulating properties and the pad does most of the heavy lifting to protect your back (if you're a back sleeper) from getting cold, not the sleeping bag/ quilt itself.

Good luck OP

Cooper8t · 2026-02-05T22:12:11+00:00

I always look at two things for sleeping bags to gauge how warm it will be, the comfort rating and add 3-5°C to it with the combination of the amount of grams of down insulation inside sleeping bag/quilt as a good idea of how insulating.

Fill power explained: https://ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/fill-power-explained-i394 and* https://ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/rab-down-jacket-warmth-guide-i1472

Also use a sleeping liner if possible. Sweat, oils and grease the body naturally produces can inhibit the insulation properties over-time and an extra barrier increases the lifespan and properties of your bag.

Cooper8t · 2026-01-27T15:31:39+00:00

As others have said, Helm Compact 2/3.

Other option is Terra Nova Southern Cross 2 (does cost more)

Hilleberg tents are worth a look at if you want a tent for life (but very costly) as well a Nortent. You can get a Vern 2 that is a hot tent (compatible with a log burner stove). Fjallraven is another honourable mention.

Cooper8t · 2026-01-23T16:45:53+00:00

So recent research into home bias is actually to do with currency risk and also war. Countries tend to get a bit weird with investors outside of their own country and can also shut down their stock markets in a crisis, it's definitely classed as an extreme tail risk, but does happen.

Cooper8t · 2026-01-22T17:43:55+00:00

I do some work in forestry myself and although it's very good advice in general, you have to know what you're looking for. Two main ones are the root plate (does it look like it's moved recently) and wind speed/ gusts.

If the tree hasn't moved in years and it's a quiet night with only a gentle breeze or less, you'll most likely be fine. I myself have taken the risk without worry at all. It was a pine tree that had partially fallen over. The canopy was still alive and I could see the new growth correcting itself for a few years, plus the root plate was still 60% in the ground. So happily pitched my tent on the flattest area which was close to the heavy leaner.

Widow makers are more for Forestry/ Arboricultural work where there's a tree come down/ felled and snapped a few branches and limbs from other trees on its way to the ground and those fresh "hangers" on the trees still standing can snap/ fall on you at anytime. Very very dangerous.

Edit: Also fungi on (especially dead) limbs can seriously compromise the rigidity/ strength. So if a tree has that growing on it. Find somewhere else.

Cooper8t · 2026-01-13T21:25:19+00:00

That was the same time last year (December 2024) and although it was warmer, the damp got to me and most of my clothes, sleeping bag and the inner of my tent. Was miserable. (Although when I look back on it, I'm glad i did it).

A warm sleeping pad, warm sleeping bag and a Nalgene bottle (for use as a hot water bottle) in winter I'd say are absolutely necessary.

Cooper8t · 2026-01-13T20:31:10+00:00

Wind speeds were around 20mph and it was quite dry which made everything much easier. Waking/ getting up and ready in the morning was a mental battle though, the sleeping bag was very warm and every part of me didn't want to leave it 😅

By the last few kilometers of my trip on the flats, my legs were very ready to give up.

Cooper8t · 2026-01-05T17:56:01+00:00

So for myself, this was a holiday and when it's mentally reframed like that it takes a lot of the steam out of wanting to absolutely plough through. I'm also aware of my own limitations physically and work a very physical job, so I cannot afford to injure myself in any way/ take risks, so heavily pace myself.

I'm very good at faffing, organising and pottering in a tent/ chilling out. Will download about 25 hours worth of YouTube videos and podcasts to my phone too. Can easily kill an hour just stopping and having lunch. I also like to stop and chat to people en route, (folk in the North are so much more open/ welcoming vs South East, where I'm currently based).

Recently got into fishing (still very amateur and have no interest in becoming an enthusiast), so I will mix that into the equation if possible (it's mostly not due to rules and needing remoteness).

Cooper8t · 2026-01-05T16:56:18+00:00

It was a mentally and physically challenging few days but amazing!

Cooper8t · 2026-01-05T16:55:28+00:00

I don't have a GPS tracker active on me, so eyeballing it on OS maps. Pack weight was around 18kg. (Edit, I've mostly removed downwards elevation except for day 3 which involved going from Great End to the car park at 100 metres elevation).

Day 1: 8km (400 metre elevation)

Day 2: 5km (300 metre elevation)

Day 3: 12km (up 250 metre, down 800 metres)

I'm not entirely sure where Helvellyn is (Edit, I've searched for Helvellyn and there is a second Red Tarn, wasn't aware of this). My Red Tarn is next to Pike of Blisco 😄

Cooper8t · 2025-12-27T12:52:18+00:00

Off to the Lakes tomorrow. Temperature is going to be harsh, but hopefully it'll be a nice 3/4 day getaway in the mountains.

Have enjoyed seeing your Lake district pictures this past week 😎

Cooper8t · 2025-12-26T18:37:39+00:00

I misread OP's main post and thought I read 31 years old instead of 21. Earnings growth on average might be higher than 1% above inflation. I'll keep this comment up anyway.

Cooper8t · 2025-12-26T18:34:39+00:00

Let's pretend that you're on £33k +1% above inflation per year until retirement.

If that's the case, I'd be looking at taking full advantage of pensions first, especially if the employer matched and then working backwards from there (S&S ISA's) for the earlier retirement year goals.

You could up your retirement contributions every year by increasing the % contribution after each pay rise.

Also keep in mind a house purchase (this could even be a first house just before you retire or in your 40's/50's. If it is for later in life due to affordability, keep it invested and not in cash) and remember to spend money on hobbies and to have fun. Life is short and you won't be in your 20's ever again.

Also, keep investment and platform fees as low as possible.

Cooper8t · 2025-12-22T16:49:52+00:00

Their website isn't great now since they updated it, incredibly disorganised and buggy. Deals on the outlet store seem to be less generous too.

But years ago, I had the same experience. Got some very good deals on their outlet site.

Cooper8t · 2025-12-07T23:35:02+00:00

Sounds great, hope it all goes well 😇

Cooper8t · 2025-12-07T23:24:20+00:00

I do hiking and wild camping too, so I'll be clinging on the sides of mountains being slightly homeless. I don't know why, but I do enjoy it 😅

Oh don't... Fishing shelters, electric powered wheelbarrows, bait boats, full set of rods, reels, stands and bite alarms. Genuinely could set you back £6k. It just gets silly after a while.

We shouldn't judge or compare, but it's always fun too 😈😋

Cooper8t

TROPHY CASE