QA55 - Listener Questions, Episode 55

In this Meaningful Money Q&A episode, Pete Matthew and Roger Weeks answer real listener questions on UK pensions, retirement planning, tax and ISAs. They cover pension contributions for a spouse, starting a career in financial planning, reducing workplace pension fees with a SIPP, navigating the 60% tax trap, retiring abroad with UK pensions, and upcoming ISA rule changes from April 2027. A practical episode for UK savers, investors and future retirees looking to make clearer, more confident financial decisions.

Shownotes: https://meaningfulmoney.tv/QA55

01:26  Question 1

Thanks Roger and Pete for the wealth of information you share and all the time you put in to share on finance and pensions. I have listened to a lot of your podcasts on my treks to and from work and finally took the plunge to retire early at 52 to enjoy life and get away from the desk for 8-9 hours a day.

I had a DB pension which allowed me to take early whilst my wife has various pensions from previous jobs but all have the rule to take from 57 onwards.

So my question is to help 4-5 years down the line. Could I put £300 a month (or the equivalent of 300 minus government contribution) into my wife's pension to continue to take account of government contributions and take the opportunity of her being on below the £12k tax threshold after giving up work?

Is this possible or would this be classed as pension recycling as the government would presume the cash invested is from the lump sum I got from my defined benefit pension or is there a way to prove the money is from pay before I retired?

Many thanks for your advice and support giving many people greater confidence with pensions and finances.

Wayne

04:10  Question 2

Hello Pete & Roger,

Thanks for all the great content and information - you are both much better than any AI chatbots!