Retirement planning

In attending this workshop participants will:

• identify key challenges and opportunities that retirement presents

• have time to formulate ideas to aid their visualisation in making the most of their retirement time

• be better equipped to review their financial circumstances (and options) in relation to retirement planning

• consider how they will maintain their health and wellbeing in their retirement years

• produce a to-do list of actions following the workshop  

The format 

This course has moved to an online format which brings together a number of contributors from inside and outside the University facilitated by OCSLD.

Key financial planning elements of the course will be delivered by an external business finance specialists Close Brothers. 

To make the course manageable for participants it has been broken down into 3 live workshops (using Zoom) followed by access to the Close Brothers Virtual Retirement Services which will include recorded sessions which featured in our face to face edition. 

The programme is supported by our own web-based Transition into Retirement support package providing a wide range of internal and external information to aid retirement planning.

The course outline 

• Pre-session checks: email guidance on how to obtain your latest personal pension statements and government state pension entitlements. 

• Pre-session video: Adjusting to retirement, making the most of it (Close Brothers) 

• Week 1: Welcome, overviews and preparing for transition

• 2½ hour session (with break) on Zoom 

• Welcome, course overview and preparations for weeks 2 and 3  

• HR processes Q&A (with HR team) covers retirement resignation procedure, flexible working policy, requests to change hours of work and patterns of work

• Your Health & Wellbeing (OCSLD) looking at physical and mental wellbeing through the lens of transition

• Making the most of it (OCSLD) explores building your networks, considering further roles (paid and unpaid work), Leisure, hobbies and interests, how to spend your extra time.

• Week 2: The Brookes Pensions Schemes 

• 2½ hour session (with break) on Zoom. Participants are split into two groups

• Group 1: LGPS (Pension Services, Oxfordshire County Council)

• Group 2: Teachers Pension TPS (OBU Pensions manager) 

• Note:  USS pension holders will be invited to discuss their pension with the OBU Pensions Manager at an alternative time)   

• Week 3: Financial planning for retirement (Financial Consultant, Close Brothers) 

• 2½ hour session (with break) on Zoom.

• Making good pension choices

• Key financial planning principles

• The world of investments

• Understanding risk

• New pension freedoms

• Your financial plan

• General tax planning – Income tax, Capital Gains tax and Inheritance tax

• How and where to seek advice

• Follow-on units: (Close Brothers Virtual Retirement Services) Participants will have access to the Close Brothers Virtual Retirement Services which will include recorded sessions on various topics including 

• State benefits: The new state pension explained, claiming your State Pension whilst abroad, winter fuel allowance, attendance allowance and other benefits

• Will planning: The importance of making and reviewing your will, lasting powers of attorney, protection considerations. 

Joining Instructions

• Joining instructions: will be sent to you by email 2 weeks prior to the first online session. 

Online sessions via Zoom

• The synchronous online sessions will be using Zoom, please ensure that you are able to connect and utilise this function.

• We encourage participants to 

• have their videos on (if you have local bandwidth issues then OK to turn off)

• have your microphones on mute

• use the chat facility to ask questions and contribute to points  

If you have specific requirements to participate in the course  

• If you have any specific requirements to participate in this programme please advise us when completing the registration form or email us on ocsld@brookes.ac.uk

• Evaluation: your comments are valuable and you will be asked to complete a form at the end of the programme series.

Unable to attend

• Please let us know asap (email ocsld@brookes.ac.uk) if you are unable to attend as we can give your space to another participant.

• Ian Whiting 

This is a two day workshop which brings together a number of contributors from inside and outside the University facilitated by OCSLD.

• Day 1: Delivered by Financial Education Specialists firm Close Brothers and mainly centres itself around the general financial planning aspects of retirement planning.

• Day 2: Facilitated by OCSLD, hosts a variety of contributors (HR, Finance, Pension Scheme providers, Occupational Health, the Brookes Society) and examines the specifics of retirement planning at Brookes and its nominated pension schemes. It also continues to look at the broader aspects of making the most of retirement.   

Prior to the workshop the University Pension Manager will check to ensure that each participant has access to a current pension forecast from their University scheme pension provider (where possible in time for the workshop).   

The programme is supported by a web based support package providing a wide range of internal and external information to aid retirement planning.

In attending this workshop participants will:

• identify key challenges and opportunities that retirement presents

• have time to formulate ideas to aid their visualisation in making the most of their retirement time

• be better equipped to review their financial circumstances (and options) in relation to retirement planning

• consider how they will maintain their health and wellbeing in their retirement years

• produce a to-do list of actions following the workshop   

Day 1  

Delivered by Close Brothers 

Day 2

Facilitated by OCSLD with contributions from HR, Finance, Pension Scheme providers, Occupational Health, the Brookes Society for retired staff. 

Refreshments

• Tea, coffee and lunch will be available.

Joining Instructions

• Joining instructions: will be sent to you by email 10 days prior to the workshop.  

Evaluation

• Evaluation: your comments are valuable and you will be asked to complete a form at the end of the workshop.

Unable to attend

• Please let us know asap (email ocsld@brookes.ac.uk) if you are unable to attend as we can give your space to another participant.

"The course was well presented and covered a variety of topics and areas that will be useful for anyone who has already decided to retire and those who are still thinking about their future".

"Planning can never start too early and the sessions on financial planning, health and life planning are all helpful".  Alice Helps, Tax Manager.

"This workshop provides a great deal of information and helps clarify the issues surrounding retirement. A very useful and positive experience". Elaine Carey

"The course seemed to cover every aspect of retirement, certainly more than I had thought about. Explanation of pension calculation, both LGPS and State, were of great benefit and reassured me that my predictions were accurate".

"This is an excellent 2-day course and I would recommend it for anyone. Even if you think you know about retirement this course will give you valuable advice and answers questions".

• Ian Whiting