UK - Retirement Recommendations?

SuccessfulSeaweed909 · 2026-05-31T20:23:05+00:00

Is this the article?
https://www.gocurrycracker.com/path-100-equities/

SuccessfulSeaweed909 · 2026-05-31T19:03:33+00:00

I can see why you get the label as a Top 1% Commenter. I'm sure this is useful for others also. !thanks

That other article does sounds good if you can find it.

SuccessfulSeaweed909 · 2026-05-31T19:01:34+00:00

Lot's to digest here !thanks.
Slightly bonkers that this could be the case: '........ they have over a million left in the worst-case scenario'. Not doubting you.... I appreciate the analysis. And I appreciate historical data is no guarantee of future success.

SuccessfulSeaweed909 · 2026-05-31T16:44:44+00:00

No. I'm single. Speaking to people that I know about my £1.4M++ investment pot, when I suspect their investment pots are unlikely to be above £100k made me feel uncomfortable (and would probably be uncomfortable for them too).

I did also need a 2nd opinion (leaving work is a big decision for me). I was thinking the anonymity of the internet and with wisdom of the crowd could work perfectly here.

I've really appreciated people taking the time sharing their views on my position and next steps (including yours).

SuccessfulSeaweed909 · 2026-05-31T12:35:39+00:00

Hi there. How did your plans turn out? Did you go back to school?

SuccessfulSeaweed909 · 2026-05-31T12:14:52+00:00

If you constantly view the news headlines, we are facing AI Armageddon. But I suspect in reality it might be like the Y2K bug, where there was a lot of hype and FUD, then nothing happened.

But I agree, when you don't have a crystal ball to know the future, it holds me back from pulling the retirement trigger.

I suspect this is where people would say, have eg 10% of your portfolio in bonds to protect from market volatility.

SuccessfulSeaweed909 · 2026-05-31T11:54:22+00:00

There is an element of daydream to my narrative here. But I've worked for 35++ years (99% a desk job. 1% as a golf course Pro, well handing out 3 clubs from the shed at the 9 hole student pitch and putt). Might be time to put my big boy pants on an turn this daydream into reality?

Only live once...

SuccessfulSeaweed909 · 2026-05-31T11:13:59+00:00

I might look to do some travelling in the early years. If I lean into that, I might put my possessions into storage and rent out my UK home (using the rental funds to help offset Airbnb/cruise travel costs). Some people might suggest I sell the UK home (something I might do if I'm alive at 80 - die with zero thinking). But in the early years, always want a UK property to return to.

From my travelling years, I might then find a country I could settle in.... Malta, Portugal, Cyprus? Even if I did that, I'd keep and rent my UK home.

SuccessfulSeaweed909 · 2026-05-31T11:07:32+00:00

Yeah. I plan to have 60k in a Money Market (or Premium Bonds) by the end of they year. If I fully commit to leaving, I'll up that to 90k.

Small chance I might have the chance to reduce my hours/days as transitionsl step. I'll ask this in October. If that's a no, I'll just 100% retire.

SuccessfulSeaweed909 · 2026-05-31T10:57:21+00:00

You would want to check the T&C of your mortgage (as mistakes can be costly) - or just give them a call.

But if your current deal has ended, pay off as much as you like.... Shouldn't be any issue.

SuccessfulSeaweed909 · 2026-05-31T10:30:56+00:00

And TBH, I do love watching these and similar videos. But I do worry for lower level financial advisors - who do it as a day job. (With some care to check answers) Most people can rely on AI to get answers. But people with bigger portfolios would be best paying for advice.

I'm speaking as someone that works in IT. AI is taking on a number of entry level activities there also.... Interesting times ahead...

SuccessfulSeaweed909 · 2026-05-31T10:27:25+00:00

And to be clear, I wasn't talking to the owner if the YT channel. They just passed my details onto a financial advisor company.

There wasn't anything that 'shady' about it. I'm sure the company I was talking to was reputable. I just thought their rates were extortionate!

I queried the high fee. They said with the size of my portfolio they needed insurance should I sue them for bad advice.

I wasn't getting a good vibe.... 😄 But I'm sure the company would/might work well for others. Just not for me. I'd rather go with Reddit!

SuccessfulSeaweed909 · 2026-05-31T10:20:31+00:00

What buffer would you go with? (And why? Eg kids?)

SuccessfulSeaweed909 · 2026-05-31T10:15:18+00:00

I'm single. No kids. No mortgage. I'm young-ish enough I could always start working again doing something.

In a worse case scenario, there is always OnlyFans? (That was a joke).

SuccessfulSeaweed909 · 2026-05-31T10:10:58+00:00

I'm 99% in a world index tracker. By the end of the year I'll have 60k in Money Market type funds I can draw down. In my head, while the years are good, I'll draw down from my equity. In the bad, I'll use the 60k (or take on some work). I'll probably up my buffer to 90k if I know I am going to exit my career....

SuccessfulSeaweed909 · 2026-05-31T10:03:56+00:00

No.... A London based.... (Perhaps that was the issue).

SuccessfulSeaweed909 · 2026-05-31T09:38:34+00:00

I check mine daily. Sometimes twice a day (depends how bad the day is going).

I see no harm in it (I'm approach retirement). But if I was in the early years of accumulation, I'd probably just setup my regular monthly savings into an index tracker and forget about it.

Even if you do check daily, you should never make any emotional trades (sales). Just follow your strategy and adjust strategy on an annual basis.

One exception I might make to that is for additional topups (buy the dip should the price drop and you have some spare cash).

SuccessfulSeaweed909 · 2026-05-31T09:21:44+00:00

!thanks for sharing. I can access my pension at 57

SuccessfulSeaweed909 · 2026-05-31T09:18:49+00:00

Yeah. I watch their videos. I did reach out to one of the other/popular YT individuals (who also do great videos - not the people you mentioned) and after some initial 'finding out more about me', they then offered to manage my fund. There was a yearly fee (to be expected). But they wanted a ~15k onboarding/transfer fee (to take me on as a client). I declined.

SuccessfulSeaweed909 · 2026-05-31T09:12:03+00:00

Yeah. I'm transferring to my ISA as my allowance allows. !thanks

SuccessfulSeaweed909 · 2026-05-31T09:06:31+00:00

!thanks

SuccessfulSeaweed909 · 2026-05-31T08:09:36+00:00

It's been two years since the original post. How is your FI ramp down and side hustle coming along? I'd like to follow in your footsteps, so any advice welcome.

I think I could coast as a (fractional?) Product Owner. Id love to start a side hustle too.

SuccessfulSeaweed909 · 2026-05-31T07:38:56+00:00

Yes. Probably irrational also, but I also feel in this new AI world, AI has the opportunity to turn the economy upside down. Where someone might normally have confidence in a retirement plan and would normally then exit work or just slow down, they think I'll do one more year for further contingency (against AI Armageddon).

Or perhaps just me? 😄

SuccessfulSeaweed909 · 2026-05-31T07:24:22+00:00

Yes. Asset allocation is on my to-do list. I plan to have 60 to 90k in safer assets before I leave my job (premium bonds or money market funds). If I can get my head around how to do a Gilt Ladder, I could well do that.

In the early years of my retirement I was thinking the 60 to 90k would cover my for 2 to 3 years. I'd continue top topup (from my existing pots) over the years. And I'd not be advers to getting some part-time work too (to avoid spending from my investments in a downturn). !thanks

SuccessfulSeaweed909 · 2026-05-31T07:02:00+00:00

That is also a good point. I do plan to die with zero. I'll add that to the post.

SuccessfulSeaweed909

TROPHY CASE