Retirement Planning Advice: Independent Financial Advice in Sussex

Retirement planning advice from an independent financial adviser helps you work out how much income you will need, when you can afford to stop work and how to make your money last. Coastline Financial advises clients across the UK by phone and video, bringing pensions, the State Pension, savings and investments together in one cashflow plan.

Retirement is one of the biggest financial transitions most of us make. After years of saving, the questions change: when can I afford to stop work, how much income will I need, and how do I make sure the money lasts? The answers depend on your plans, your health, your family and the mix of pensions, savings and property you have built up.

Coastline Financial is an independent financial adviser offering retirement planning advice to clients across the UK. We work by phone and secure video meeting, so you can get joined-up advice wherever you live, and we meet clients in East Sussex in person by appointment.

Call 01323 335099 or email info@coastlinefinancial.co.uk for a free, no-obligation initial conversation.

What Is Retirement Planning?

Retirement planning means working out the life you want after work and arranging your finances to pay for it. It covers how much income you will need, where that income will come from, when you can afford to retire and how to keep your plan on track for the rest of your life.

It is broader than choosing a pension product. Our pension advice page explains decisions about individual pensions in detail. Retirement planning brings those pensions together with your State Pension, savings, investments, property and family wishes.

How Much Do I Need to Retire?

There is no single figure that suits everyone. A useful starting point is to look at what you spend now and how that might change. Some costs, such as commuting or a mortgage, may stop; others, such as travel, hobbies or help for family, may rise. Many people spend more in the early years of retirement and less later on, although care costs can increase spending in later life.

Once we understand the income you want, we compare it with the income you are likely to have, and show whether there is a gap and how it might be closed, for example by saving more, working a little longer or adjusting your plans.

Our Retirement Planning Advice Services

Cashflow Planning

Cashflow planning gives a year-by-year picture of your income, spending, savings and investments through retirement. We use it to test different scenarios, such as retiring earlier, taking a lump sum, helping children with a house deposit, or a fall in investment markets. It makes the trade-offs easier to see. Projections are based on assumptions about growth, inflation and life expectancy, so they are a guide rather than a guarantee, and we update them at each review.

Your State Pension

The State Pension is paid from State Pension age, which is currently 66 and rising to 67. To receive the full new State Pension you usually need 35 qualifying years of National Insurance contributions, and at least 10 years to receive any. You can check your State Pension forecast on GOV.UK, and we build it into your plan, including whether filling gaps in your record could be worthwhile.

Turning Pensions Into Income

When you retire, you can usually take up to 25% of a defined contribution pension tax free, and then use drawdown, an annuity or a combination to provide income. Each option has different levels of flexibility, security and risk. We explain these choices on our pension advice in East Sussex page and recommend the mix that suits your plan.

Making Income Tax-Efficient

Retirement income can come from several sources: the State Pension, workplace and personal pensions, ISAs, investment accounts and sometimes property or a business. The order in which you draw on them, and how much you take each year, can affect how much tax you pay and how long your money lasts. We plan withdrawals to use your allowances sensibly, with our wealth management service looking after investments outside your pension.

Planning for Later Life and Your Family

Good retirement planning also considers what happens later: the possibility of care costs, keeping a lasting power of attorney in place, and what you would like to pass on. Most unused pensions are due to be included in estates for inheritance tax from 6 April 2027, which may change the order in which you use your savings. Our inheritance tax planning page explains more. For homeowners who want to release money from their property, we can also explain equity release and its alternatives.

Retirement planning advice – smiling older couple enjoying retirement

Retirement Planning Advice Wherever You Live

You do not need to live near us to get advice. Most of our process can be completed remotely:

  • Initial conversation and review meetings by phone or secure video call
  • Documents shared securely online, with electronic signing where available
  • The same adviser for each meeting, so you do not have to repeat your story
  • In-person meetings in East Sussex by appointment, if you prefer

Who We Help With Retirement Planning Advice

We provide retirement planning advice to people across the UK, including:

  • People in their 50s and 60s who want to know when they can afford to retire
  • Couples who want to plan their combined retirement income
  • Self-employed people and company directors without a workplace scheme to rely on
  • People who have already retired and want to check their income is sustainable
  • People with several pensions, savings and property to bring together
  • People thinking about how to help family now and what they will pass on

How Our Retirement Planning Advice Process Works

  1. Initial conversation: a free, no-obligation discussion about your plans for retirement
  2. Fact-find: a detailed review of your income, spending, pensions, savings, property and family circumstances
  3. Cashflow plan: a projection showing whether your plans are on track, with different scenarios tested
  4. Recommendation: a written report explaining our advice, the costs, the risks and the alternatives considered
  5. Implementation: arranging any agreed changes to pensions, investments or protection
  6. Ongoing review: where agreed, regular reviews to update your plan as your life and the rules change

Why Choose Coastline Financial?

We work with you as a long-term partner for your retirement, offering:

  • A unique combination of independent financial advice and specialist mortgage and commercial finance expertise. As a result, one firm can look after your retirement plan and your wider finances.
  • Whole-of-market advice, not restricted to any provider. Therefore, your retirement income options can come from across the market.
  • A lifelong, personalised financial planning service across pensions, investments, protection, equity release and estate planning. In addition, ongoing reviews help keep your retirement income on track.
  • A specialist suite of commercial property finance services, including commercial mortgages, bridging and development finance, as members of the NACFB. This also helps landlords and property owners who are planning their retirement.
  • Real-world experience: Adam is also a property investor and developer. As a result, he understands the challenges landlords face when they plan to step back.
  • Highly qualified advice: Adam Robinson, MD, is a financial adviser accredited by the London Institute of Banking & Finance (LIBF). He also holds the highest level of mortgage advice qualification awarded by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII).
  • A dedicated team across administration, paraplanning and compliance. Meanwhile, you deal directly with Adam throughout.
  • Rated 5.0 on Google reviews.

Retirement Planning Advice Across Sussex and the UK

Coastline Financial is based in Eastbourne, East Sussex. Many of our clients are in Sussex and Kent, and personal recommendations mean we also advise clients across the UK, from London to further afield, by phone and video meeting.

For an overview of all our pension and investment services, visit our pensions and investments page.

Registered Office: 18 Hyde Gardens, Eastbourne, East Sussex BN21 4PT. Registered in England No. 13168210

Fees and Important Considerations

Your initial conversation is free and does not commit you to proceeding. If we can help, we will explain the work involved and confirm our advice fee before you decide whether to continue. Any ongoing review service and its cost will be discussed and agreed clearly.

Before taking a pension, you can also get free, impartial guidance from Pension Wise, a service from MoneyHelper.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do I need to retire?

It depends on the lifestyle you want, when you plan to stop work and what other income you will have, such as the State Pension. A good starting point is to work out what you spend now and what will change. Cashflow planning then shows whether your savings and pensions are likely to support that income.

When should I start planning for retirement?

The earlier the better, because time gives contributions longer to grow and leaves more options open. Many people seek advice in the ten years or so before they plan to retire, when decisions about pensions, savings and timing become more pressing.

How does the State Pension fit into my retirement plan?

The State Pension provides a regular income from State Pension age, which is currently 66 and rising to 67. You usually need 35 qualifying years of National Insurance for the full new State Pension. You can check your forecast on GOV.UK, and we include it in your plan.

What is cashflow planning?

Cashflow planning is a year-by-year projection of your income, spending, savings and investments through retirement. It helps show whether your money is likely to last, and how different choices, such as retiring earlier or spending more in the early years, could change the picture. Projections are not guaranteed.

Can I get retirement planning advice remotely?

Yes. We advise clients across the UK by phone and secure video meeting, with documents shared and signed securely online. You can also meet us in person in East Sussex by appointment.

Do I need an independent financial adviser for retirement planning?

You do not have to use one, and free guidance is available from MoneyHelper. An independent adviser can recommend what suits you from across the whole market and bring your pensions, savings, tax and estate plans together in one plan.

Speak to Us About Retirement Planning Advice

Wherever you are in the UK, if you would like a clear plan for your retirement, speak to Coastline Financial about what you want to achieve.

Call 01323 335099 or email info@coastlinefinancial.co.uk to arrange a free initial conversation by phone or video, or visit our contact page.

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