[Misc] Retirement

[BLOCK F]

[A working years and in retirement possibly on drawdown, subject].

Anyone here reduce their exposure to equity investments this year? Aside from Berkshire Hathaway, very few repeatedly time market movements ahead of them occurring. The Magnificent 7 were over valued anyway, Trump accelerated the correction.

For me, I altered the mix in my SIPP, some of this belatedly. The only assets not getting hit are cash and precious metals.

I have a SIPP and my wife and I have fully ISA’d investment portfolios. These are mainly invested in a number of highish yielding stocks and funds. We also have a decent cash buffer and a bit of fixed interest thingies. Neither of us have significant company pensions, but at our ages of 76 and 67, we have the full state pensions.
I haven’t reduced my exposure to equities this year as we rely on the divis to top up our pensions. I was toying with the idea of purchasing a joint annuity with my SIPP after Rachel’s Budget changes, but was only at a very preliminary stage, so whilst we have mayhem in the markets, I will hold off. We may live for another 25/30 years ( perhaps not 30 in my case!) so there is time for markets to recover or for someone to give Trump a tariffed apple import, the same variety that featured with Adam and Eve and where is a serpent when you need one? In the meantime, it is horrible to see one’s investments diminish by the minute, but I am sticking with it, because if you come out of the market, you never know when is the right time to get back in. In the meantime, my most resilient stocks appear to be Tesco, SSE and NG.

 

[Eric the meek]

Looking down my SIPP holdings, it's a sea of red. Everything is down again today, except Rights and Issues IT (up 3.47%) and National Grid (up 2.33%).

Everything else - funds, individual shares, ETFs and ITs, are down across all major markets.

Edit: Earlier on this morning, I was toying with the idea of buying more Allianz Technology Trust and Scottish Mortgage Trust, but both have since fallen further. The risks of trying to time the market. I'll see how they are faring at 4pm.

 

[alanfp]

For anyone who hasn't looked at annuity rates recently, they are way better than they were 2-3 years ago. Around double what they were, I think.

 

[BLOCK F]

Looking down my SIPP holdings, it's a sea of red. Everything is down again today, except Rights and Issues IT (up 3.47%) and National Grid (up 2.33%).

Everything else - funds, individual shares, ETFs and ITs, are down across all major markets.

Edit: Earlier on this morning, I was toying with the idea of buying more Allianz Technology Trust and Scottish Mortgage Trust, but both have since fallen further. The risks of trying to time the market. I'll see how they are faring at 4pm.

Blimey, I hadn’t looked at the markets for a bit and the FTSE is now down almost 4%. That old cliche, a bloodbath

 

[Weststander]

I have a SIPP and my wife and I have fully ISA’d investment portfolios. These are mainly invested in a number of highish yielding stocks and funds. We also have a decent cash buffer and a bit of fixed interest thingies. Neither of us have significant company pensions, but at our ages of 76 and 67, we have the full state pensions.
I haven’t reduced my exposure to equities this year as we rely on the divis to top up our pensions. I was toying with the idea of purchasing a joint annuity with my SIPP after Rachel’s Budget changes, but was only at a very preliminary stage, so whilst we have mayhem in the markets, I will hold off. We may live for another 25/30 years ( perhaps not 30 in my case!) so there is time for markets to recover or for someone to give Trump a tariffed apple import, the same variety that featured with Adam and Eve and where is a serpent when you need one? In the meantime, it is horrible to see one’s investments diminish by the minute, but I am sticking with it, because if you come out of the market, you never know when is the right time to get back in. In the meantime, my most resilient stocks appear to be Tesco, SSE and NG.

Annuity rates are probably going to fall, the DT reporting central banks will repeatedly lower interest rates this year.

A lot to be said for high dividend paying blue chip stocks and dividend hero investment trusts.

 

[Weststander]

Looking down my SIPP holdings, it's a sea of red. Everything is down again today, except Rights and Issues IT (up 3.47%) and National Grid (up 2.33%).

Everything else - funds, individual shares, ETFs and ITs, are down across all major markets.

Edit: Earlier on this morning, I was toying with the idea of buying more Allianz Technology Trust and Scottish Mortgage Trust, but both have since fallen further. The risks of trying to time the market. I'll see how they are faring at 4pm.

Imho worth holding a gold ETC eg ishares. Also some fixed interest ultra low risk funds eg Royal London Short Term Money Markets.

 

[Flounce]

FTSE taking another pounding so far today

Now down over 4% today. Trump you absolute ****

 

[Eric the meek]

Imho worth holding a gold ETF eg ishares. Also some fixed interest ultra low risk funds eg Royal London Short Term Money Markets.

I do have one fund - L&G Active Global High Yield, currently yielding 6.8%. However, hedging has never been my priority. I guess that will change as time goes on. I currently hold a decent amount in cash, although I appreciate it is subject to inflation risk. But it does mean I have enough for several months income, without having to sell anything in a fire sale. And in August I draw my state pension, which will come in handy.

 

[LamieRobertson]

Looking down my SIPP holdings, it's a sea of red. Everything is down again today, except Rights and Issues IT (up 3.47%) and National Grid (up 2.33%).

Everything else - funds, individual shares, ETFs and ITs, are down across all major markets.

Edit: Earlier on this morning, I was toying with the idea of buying more Allianz Technology Trust and Scottish Mortgage Trust, but both have since fallen further. The risks of trying to time the market. I'll see how they are faring at 4pm.

Took a nibble on ATT just now

 

[LamieRobertson]

Imho worth holding a gold ETC eg ishares. Also some fixed interest ultra low risk funds eg Royal London Short Term Money Markets.

Maybe a bit late to join the gold rush

As an aside new tax year Sunday and a fresh ISA allowance

 

[Ding Dong !]

I regularly check how my pension fund is performing, but scared to look at the moment. Half my pots in a North American fund which has seen an impressive return over the last 1/2 years, though i'm scared to look at moment. !!

 

[Beach Hut]

Thanks Donald for putting a wrecking ball to my portfolio

 

[Weststander]

Maybe a bit late to join the gold rush

As an aside new tax year Sunday and a fresh ISA allowance

I was already in. But other than cash, it's a safer haven just now as Trump destroys equities and adversely affects bonds.

 

[LamieRobertson]

I was already in. But other than cash, it's a safer haven just now as Trump destroys equities and adversely affects bonds.

It’s a moment in time ....I guess it’s down to time horizons….how spread your risk is etc

well done on your gold holding

 

[Flounce]

Now down over 4% today. Trump you absolute ****

Currently 5.25% down

I need to stop looking……

 

[dazzer6666]

Blimey, I hadn’t looked at the markets for a bit and the FTSE is now down almost 4%. That old cliche, a bloodbath

It’s still higher than it was a year ago

 

[Weststander]

At the start of 2025 the market capitalisation of US equities was $62t, the LSE $4.9t. Because of years of LSE and European borse doldrums, global investors were drawn to largely American based funds. Even if it wasn’t apparent from the fund name.

The NASDAQ is now lower than a year ago, the S&P500 is getting close.

 

[attila]

Got my pension last year and working harder than ever, because I've spent my life earning my living from my favourite hobby. And yes, I know how lucky I am (though I've worked bloody hard at it!)

 

[Billy Seagull]

The newsagent registered me at 13 and I got my NI number. That's all I know.

I've looked at my NI records and have a full 52 weeks for 1984/85 when I was doing a paper round when I was mainly 15 but turned 16 at the end of March 1985.

 

[essbee1]

Got my pension last year and working harder than ever, because I've spent my life earning my living from my favourite hobby. And yes, I know how lucky I am (though I've worked bloody hard at it!)

Attila - you naughty man - I saw you climb over the barriers of the tube at Victoria station about 15 years ago. You
had a guitar in your hand. I shouted after you 'come back and pay the fare you ******r'.