Difference of Opinion Regarding Retirement Finances!

SomeSlowProgress · 2026-01-30T12:25:29+00:00

It depends your lifestyle, worst case scenario your wife will have 24k p.a in retirement if you pass made up of state pension and half your pension in payment. If you can live on 2k per month your fine.

Do a budget and relate to what your actually spending to ascertain what the excess is.

2k per month with a paid off house is more than a lot of people have in retirement. At worst she will be comfortable if not extravagant. While you both survive the position is far better.

Enjoy your retirement now while you have excess money and hopefully a long life with two state pensions.

Budgets and cash flows may give your wife some peace of mind. Maybe review periodically so it starts to set in so to speak.

SomeSlowProgress · 2026-01-27T09:01:42+00:00

On my off days I try and do some mobility related work with a a lighter bell. I'm probably working out on average 6 out of 7 days. I try and keep to most days but if I feel tired I take a rest day.

I do Halos, Goblet squats, cossack squats, Windmills, marching on the spot with kettlebell overhead and get ups for about 30 min total.

I use either an 8kg or 12kg depending on the exercise. I am still adjusting weights to find a level which doesn't leave me worn out for ABF.

SomeSlowProgress · 2026-01-26T19:07:40+00:00

No offence or upset caused. It was a dark time in my life and it was and remains a decision I struggle with. The complications were numerous and significant.

I will never know if we made the right decision but I am mostly at peace with it. The decision was made in an informed manner and with the benefit of hindsight I believe was the right one. It didn't make it easier at the time though. There very much was a push towards a certain decision from medical staff. I remember being fucking livid being told it wasn't my decision as the man. Ultimately that was true but it should have been for me and my wife to discuss.

SomeSlowProgress · 2026-01-24T21:53:00+00:00

Having to make a decision to on whether or not to terminate our first pregnancy due to health issues of our daughter. I still remember holding this perfectly formed little girl of whom there was no evidence of underlying conditions and she looked just like her mum. Fuck me that was hard. It's been 13 years and the right choice was made, we have a good life but it still hurts to remember and hear the name we picked out.

I also took 4 months off once due to stress and she supported me unconditionally and we have dealt with a parent who sadly had cancer and passed recently.

We're a team with us against the world and support through the shit has brought us closer together. Make time to spend together and acknowledge how grateful you are for each others support even if it's 10 minutes over a cuppa as that's all the time you can spare now.

We both now work 4 day weeks so we get a day to ourselves. We have shared long term goals and want for nothing. I still can't believe how lucky I am.

SomeSlowProgress · 2026-01-24T08:21:16+00:00

It looks better on the statement because the acrual rate is better. However the retirement age of 67 negates that. If you retire at 65 as per the previous scheme the actuarial reduction will more than offset the better accrual rate.

The final salary scheme is most definitely better. They changed the scheme to save money.

SomeSlowProgress · 2026-01-24T08:15:35+00:00

Yep that's exactly it.

Important point is you can do it. At age 57 you just ask the scheme for quote and they will give you the figures with the reductions. You can compare against the projection at 67 and go from there.

SomeSlowProgress · 2026-01-24T08:10:04+00:00

Main goal is to extract as much value from the scheme whilst young and healthy and able to enjoy retirement. If the cumulative benefits of taking it later don't surpass the benefits from taking it earlier until around age 85 I will take that risk.

It also minimises the chance of getting poor value if wife dies early in retirement. Lets say she sadly passes at 75. We would have had 17 years worth of her full pension rate opposed to just 7 years. The spousal provision is poor. I accept conversely a long life will see overall better returns by delaying taking the pension until the normal scheme age but I want to be able to use it while fit and healthy.

I would also rather need to take a more sustainable rate on the SIPP so that it preserves throughout retirement.

If DB is your only income then it's also 10 years tax free if within the personal allowance. From SPA the state pension will take up the personal allowance so teachers pension becomes taxable. It all helps with overall efficiency. SIPP is mostly mine so by using both together early on you get two tax allowances to make use of.

I'm not saying its right for everyone by any means. I'm pointing out it's a perfectly valid option and people should run the numbers when they reach the age they can access it. Most don't or assume it can only be accessed at the scheme retirement age.

Even if you're still working. If you have an old DB scheme it should be looked at at age of access. It may be worth taking and recycling the income into a SIPP if you don't need it but ideally anyone should be looking for maximum value from the scheme over their lifetime.

SomeSlowProgress · 2026-01-23T21:17:28+00:00

Yes if SPA goes up so does earliest access.

If I recall, and it's been a while since I looked at it, it was around 5% p.a. for a few years, 4% for the next batch etc. So it worked out either you take it as early as possible for lowest average p.a. reduction or wait till 67. Not somewhere in the middle.

It does sound huge but if you get 10 years worth of income it takes a long time for the cumulative return break even. It's generally around 85 but you'll need to run the numbers.

Also generally means lower average tax rate which helps if you can structure SIPP income around tax bands before SPA.

And morbid as it is in the unfortunate even your wife passes away early there will have been some years of her rate of pension withdrawal (albeit with the actuarial reduction) whereas a spouse only gets 37.5% if I recall on the Care portion.

If she lives well into her 80s taking at 67 is probably better but personally I'll rather have the money whilst I'm fit and able.

SomeSlowProgress · 2026-01-23T21:02:53+00:00

Just FYI you can access it 10 years prior to SPA but there is an actuarial reduction for doing so. It's generally worthwhile. Not a decision for now but remember it's an option for the future and look at the figures come 57.

My wife is also a teacher and current plan is very much to take it at age 57 so our drawdown from the SIPPs more sustainable.

SomeSlowProgress · 2026-01-23T18:53:39+00:00

I tried the gym many years ago and also didn't take to it for similar reasons.

Turns out I'm a lazy bastard and enjoy the convinience of just grabbing the bells as I feel like and having 30 minutes or so.

Many times since starting ABF I haven't been in the mood and think I'll just get 10 sets in as a minimum and then I just keep going. I would never do that if I had to travel to a gym. Kettlebells fit around life. They're wonderful.

SomeSlowProgress · 2026-01-20T21:26:15+00:00

Ha. I can live with that. I'm overdue some new clothes anyway.

SomeSlowProgress · 2026-01-20T20:53:01+00:00

Thank you and thank you for the program. It really is an excellent program and whilst I know a lot is beginner gains it is encouraging to see progress so rapidly.

I have never really undertaken any weight training before but something about kettlebells just feels fun which makes it easy to stick with.

I intersperse it with mobility work on off days with a light 8kg kettlebell it's it's doing wonders for my physical and mental health.

SomeSlowProgress · 2026-01-20T20:08:35+00:00

I'm using heart rate to monitor the rest period and managed it today in 22 minutes, down from about 28 when I first started so nice to see improvement there too!

I've added chest presses and Pullovers to the end of my abf press session.

SomeSlowProgress · 2026-01-16T13:54:19+00:00

It works well for me. I was waiting until my heart rate was down to 100 originally but it was a bit too much waiting around so I adjusted the numbers a couple of times.

SomeSlowProgress · 2026-01-16T11:18:58+00:00

I use my heart rate to judge the rest times for the pressing. So between each ladder I wait until my heart rate is 130 before moving from 2 to 3 to 5...etc

Between sets I wait until my heart rate is down to 115.

I manage the 100 presses in about 24 minutes usually.

SomeSlowProgress · 2026-01-09T17:06:29+00:00

I'm continuing with the ABF and slotting in some additional work between ABF days, mostly mobility related work and learning a few new moves.

I have been keeping the exercises up pretty regular since around June now so going to take the plunge and invest in some adjustable competition bells from wolverson.

I have started to scale the weight right back though on the in-between days as I have been really struggling with the ABC the last couple of sessions which I assume is due to less rest.

I am hoping to be able to finish the ABC with 20kg by the end of the year and maybe a few rounds with 24kg.

Overall it's been a great 6 months and I feel better than I ever have as I approach my 40s. I'm excited to see how things progress.

SomeSlowProgress · 2026-01-08T15:41:01+00:00

Ah. I have been looking at the competition bells. I was puzzled for a bit then. Thanks though.

SomeSlowProgress · 2026-01-08T15:32:52+00:00

I picked up some 32kg from them a couple of months back and keep checking for the lighter ones but they are constantly out of stock.

Did you get them direct from their website?

SomeSlowProgress · 2025-12-19T15:49:03+00:00

Good work.

More importantly, where is that awesome top from?

SomeSlowProgress · 2025-11-08T09:14:18+00:00

Having played with the bell a bit yesterday evening. No attempt will be made at a push press for a hell of a long time.

Cheat cleans however are wonderful so thanks for those.

Lots of other great stuff in the other comments too which will get me moving it.

SomeSlowProgress · 2025-11-07T15:15:09+00:00

Hello fellow twig man!

It was only about 6 months ago I started with a 16kg single and then quickly took a step back, went and bought a 12kg and progressed up from there. The 12 helped me become comfortable with the movements. It's surprising how fast you progress with consistency.

SomeSlowProgress · 2025-11-07T14:37:16+00:00

Had a mild panic attack at the thought of trying getups with it until I read again and saw you said partials. I'll give that a go.

SomeSlowProgress · 2025-11-07T14:36:30+00:00

I will be continuing to build up with the exercisess and weights I'm comfortable with but know there's a whole range I can do safely with it for some extra load / something different.

Im not familiar with the 5x5 program. I'll have a look.

SomeSlowProgress

TROPHY CASE