This article first appeared in The Scotsman on 7 October 2021.

Is your retirement plan packed with travel and grandkids or good books and a glass of wine in a down-sized garden? Whatever age you are, you can start planning now.

People reaching retirement age may think they’ve left it too late to do any financial planning. But even on the first day of the rest of your life, there’s still time to make a plan for your post-work years, then work your finances around it.

“Starting with the end in mind is a good place,” says Chartered Financial Planner, Ross Leckridge.

Retire Better, the theme of our Wealth team's video series, means something different for every individual; a happy retirement could mean a calendar packed with hobbies and friends, or a cottage in Brittany, or anything in between.

“Imagining what you want your life to look like is key,” says Ross, who then suggests a degree of planning, even if your retirement is just days or weeks away.

It starts with deciding not only your life goals but your financial aspirations … how much money you want to have available and how to make your pension pot help you achieve those goals, whatever kind of pension or pension funds you have. Guaranteed income, regular income and other assets – for example property, savings, shares and premium bonds, should all be factored in before making any decisions for your financial planning ahead.

Only with all that information to hand, can you start making a plan and a timeline and some decisions for your future.

Take just a few minutes of your time to watch the video below, and then read more about our Wealth team and how we can guide you through this important discussion, and set you up for the future you want to have.