State Pension age to rise to 68? I’m buying UK shares to try to protect myself!
I can’t imagine having to get by on £179.60 a week. But that’s the reality for millions of pensioners who only have the State Pension to rely on. That’s assuming they have made enough contributions during their working life to claim the full amount.
I don’t expect things to get any better by the time I come to retire. Britain’s population is rapidly ageing and the financial burden of this is having a direct impact on the State Pension. The economic consequences of Covid-19 is causing lawmakers to consider scaling back support for elderly citizens even further as well.
Fresh State Pension danger?
The age at which people can claim the State Pension rose to 66 last year. And, under current laws, extra increases are planned for the next couple of decades. The age at which people can claim will increase to 67 between 2026 and 2028, and again to 68 between 2044 and 2046.
However, a recently-launched government review could bring forward that target retirement age of 68 by several years. A recommendation on raising the age between 2037 and 2039 will be released in May 2023.
Why I buy UK shares
It may not happen, of course. But even if it doesn’t, my retirement date has already been pushed back. Yet I want to take control over when I’ll be able to hang up my proverbial work gloves. And I want to know that I’ll have the financial means to live comfortably when I do eventually retire.
This is why I’ve chosen to invest in UK shares to build a nest egg for retirement. According to the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association, an individual would need £33,600 a year to live comfortably once they finish work. At current levels, the State Pension pays less that a third of that (£9,339.20, to be precise).
Retiring in comfort
That leaves a big shortfall to make up. But I’m confident that my investment strategy will enable me to enjoy a comfortable retirement. Long-term investors like me tend to receive an annual average return of 8%. Those that buy UK shares with a view to holding them for, say, a decade or more have a good chance of making a good stack of cash.
History shows us that I don’t have to spend a massive amount of cash to safeguard my retirement plans either. Let’s say I was to start investing £300 a month when I’m 30. By the time I reach 65, I could realistically expect to have built a cash pot of £642,770 with which to fund my post-work lifestyle.
This is why I’ll continue to buy UK shares in spite of the uncertain economic outlook for 2022. Sure, more stock market volatility could be in store this year. But over the long term, investing in stocks is a great way to try and make a decent pile of cash. And this is more important than ever as pressures on the State Pension only increase.
The post State Pension age to rise to 68? I’m buying UK shares to try to protect myself! appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.
5 Stocks For Trying To Build Wealth After 50
Markets around the world are reeling from the coronavirus pandemic…
And with so many great companies still trading at what look to be ‘discount-bin’ prices, now could be the time for savvy investors to snap up some potential bargains.
But whether you’re a newbie investor or a seasoned pro, deciding which stocks to add to your shopping list can be a daunting prospect during such unprecedented times.
Fortunately, The Motley Fool is here to help: our UK Chief Investment Officer and his analyst team have short-listed five companies that they believe STILL boast significant long-term growth prospects despite the global lock-down…
You see, here at The Motley Fool we don’t believe “over-trading” is the right path to financial freedom in retirement; instead, we advocate buying and holding (for AT LEAST three to five years) 15 or more quality companies, with shareholder-focused management teams at the helm.
That’s why we’re sharing the names of all five of these companies in a special investing report that you can download today for FREE. If you’re 50 or over, we believe these stocks could be a great fit for any well-diversified portfolio, and that you can consider building a position in all five right away.
Click here to claim your free copy of this special investing report now!
More reading
- My top 5 stocks as we start 2022
- 3 stocks to buy for passive income in 2022
- My plan to turn £5 a day into a passive income in 2022
- Here’s where I’ll be investing my money in 2022
- 3 ‘nearly’ penny stocks to buy in 2022
Royston Wild has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.
