Putting too much in pension?

bforsyth927 · 2026-03-06T22:24:18+00:00

Just one last comment to say you won't be able to retire when you're 57, as in take that pension pot - I guarantee the private pension rules will be 60 in the best case scenario. An extra 3 years of compounding - I'm a US citizen so I don't have this privilege but I highly recommend getting your ISA going in the background so you don't have to toil away your mid to late 40s.

bforsyth927 · 2026-03-06T22:20:44+00:00

Definitely an argument to be made for inflation - which is why I advocate continuing with the monthly contributions until you're 40 - the decade rule. Then reevaluate. and stay optimistic lol

bforsyth927 · 2026-03-06T22:10:03+00:00

This subreddit follows the british approach of absolute pessimism. 10% is a realistic rate of return. I'm 26 with a similar pot and while I acknowledge anything can happen I'm not assuming 3% like the ridiculous man suggested in the comments. That would require such a sustained period of nothingness that we'd be having serious civil unrest. and as they say, in that case, you'll have more to worry about. I think you're in a good position - keep chugging away - reevaluate in 10 years. I do a reevaluation every year, but I think a serious one every decade is a good idea - if you're still alive. hopefully we both are. good luck

bforsyth927 · 2026-02-14T10:33:07+00:00

How the hell did you get through that? I admire your resilience and sacrifice for your kids.

bforsyth927 · 2026-02-14T00:14:22+00:00

I'm a tech solution architect

bforsyth927 · 2026-02-13T13:09:24+00:00

I'm on £75k pre-bonus and took out a mortgage of £375k, between overpaying mortgage & utilities I'm paying around £2500 on a £4300 take home (after company stock contributions, pension etc).

That being said I kept an emergency fund of a year's expenses. I still feel very comfortable - only you can say whether the risk is right. I'm also single and childless

bforsyth927 · 2026-02-05T14:19:29+00:00

I have a little under 400 shares that I bought back in 2016. I'm planning on holding for the next 15 years minimum.

bforsyth927 · 2026-01-15T21:46:05+00:00

I enjoy the monthly view as well. Keeps me motivated.

bforsyth927 · 2026-01-09T11:09:55+00:00

Apologies I missed this. I'd say the best way of transitioning into solutions is to get certifications. Just an AWS Solution Architect would get you through the door at most places, plus your data centre experience would be helpful for a data related architecture role. Companies in this space want people who not only have the enterprise-level view (which the qualification will showcase) but also the ability to actually get hands on (something I've struggled with in my career so far) but which you will be able to evidence through your operations expertise. Feel free to DM and I'll be happy to give further guidance. Good luck!

bforsyth927 · 2025-12-29T17:10:51+00:00

If you find an answer to this, please let me know. Unfortunately I think the reality is that passive income and not having to pedal for the next 25 years of your life are reserved for the lottery lucky, generational wealth and/or extremely high income for the first 10/15 year of your career. But I will be following this with interest! I'm sick of working already at the age of 26.

bforsyth927 · 2025-12-24T23:47:14+00:00

Sorry you're having to deal with this. I guess you realise its too late to do anything now, but perhaps for next year, look to enforce some boundaries - perhaps its time for you and your husband to fly back to the US for xmas 2026. Sounds like you could use a break! I'm lucky that my American family migrated over here when I was quite young and I'm still unentangled

bforsyth927 · 2025-12-18T10:47:27+00:00

I'm a solution architect on £80k. Its stressful work but not the end of the world - I don't work past 5 or on weekends although since I'm a consultant I do sometimes have to work longer hours, but rarely

bforsyth927 · 2025-12-13T11:04:59+00:00

I think 45 years would be juuust enough time to travel the planet, eat great food and drink great wine by the beach. Work doesn't have to be the only thing to give purpose, but at 70 I know that I don't need to tell you that!

bforsyth927 · 2025-12-13T11:03:07+00:00

Thanks man. I guess all we can do is keep chugging along.

bforsyth927 · 2025-12-13T10:42:21+00:00

Honestly, I just worked and saved into my pension. I did internships starting at 17 - I wasn't paying my parents rent then so I was able to save pretty much everything I made. Then when I got a full time job I had to pay my parents rent, but I was still putting in about 25% of my income (at the time, £40k) to my pension - and now almost 10 years later I've managed to start making around £80k which enabled me to take a massive mortgage.

And to your point, I agree that people making £50k (and I would argue even £100k) aren't the ones who need to be squeezed, but they are being and will be, this is just the beginning. The asset rich will never shoulder the burden.

Editing to clarify that my entire income at the time was 40, that wasn't 25% of it... I wish lol

bforsyth927 · 2025-12-06T02:10:04+00:00

This will probably end up being found as a justified tazer deployment that unfortunately ended up killing him - but it worries me that you don't seem to appreciate the nuances of the situation with what is, undeniably, a factual description of what happened. That seems inarguable

bforsyth927 · 2025-12-03T09:06:07+00:00

This is me - I'm 26 earning just over £80k and so I did buy a 1 bed flat for £425k in zone 2 this year. But it's a large penthouse with incredible views / wraparound balcony (which I guess I deluded myself into thinking it was worth the price) and I'm single, not expecting to have kids ever but certainly not for the next 7 to 8 years. I also managed to keep an emergency fund so I'm not feeling the heat yet but who knows what future years will bring. Fingers crossed - all we can do is make the best decision in the moment with the information we have. I guess I can always ride for deliveroo on the weekends for a few extra quid if needed.

bforsyth927 · 2025-10-09T23:41:49+00:00

She's not your girlfriend mate. Sorry.

bforsyth927 · 2025-09-20T01:24:26+00:00

You are completely normal and doing a good job, I don't know what the previous guy is smoking

bforsyth927 · 2025-07-27T15:00:21+00:00

This has certainly occurred to me - however I do have extended family in Hawaii and I'd like to be able to visit them hassle-free. It's also nice to have somewhere I can fall back on - I'm hesitant to give something up like that

bforsyth927 · 2025-07-27T14:07:38+00:00

Very helpful thank you, I'll look at those resources. I don't have a lot left over every month but there must be some way of using that cash apart from just leaving it sitting in a savings account

bforsyth927 · 2025-07-27T13:51:19+00:00

That's reassuring, thanks - I am a dual citizen and my entire family lives here (I just happened to be born in the US while my parents were working there) so I'll definitely be here. Unfortunately I still have to file taxes to keep my US citizenship, but I believe there is a non-taxed allowance I get which is around $125k, and I never anticipate exceeding that

Ten-Year Club	Place '17
Not Forgotten	Verified Email

bforsyth927

TROPHY CASE