Guide collection
Pensions and Retirement
Pensions and Retirement reviews, comparisons and buying guides from Rational GB.
No. 01
UK Pensions Explained: State, Workplace and Private Pensions
UK pensions explained in plain English: how the state, workplace and private pensions work, tax relief, allowances and access ages for 2026/27.
Read guide
No. 02
SIPP vs Workplace Pension vs ISA: Where Should Your Money Go First
SIPP vs ISA vs workplace pension: the right order to fund them, how tax relief and employer matching compare, and a simple UK framework for 2026/27.
Read guideSIPP Fees Compared: What a Self-Invested Pension Costs
SIPP fees compared by structure, percentage vs flat platform charges, dealing costs and caps, and how small differences compound over decades.
Read guide
No. 04
How to Transfer a Pension to a SIPP and Combine Old Pots
How to transfer a pension to a SIPP step by step, when it saves money, and the guaranteed benefits you must check before you move a single pot.
Read guideHow Much Do I Need to Retire UK? £45,400 for Comfortable
How much do I need to retire in the UK: the current PLSA figures, what the state pension covers, and why the 4% rule needs adjusting for British investors.
Read guidePension Tax Relief: The 60% Band Most People Miss
How pension tax relief works in 2026/27: the two scheme types, why higher-rate payers must claim, and the income bands where relief quietly hits 60%.
Read guideDrawdown vs Annuity: 7.96% at 65, and the 2027 Catch
Drawdown vs annuity in 2026: the best rate at 65 is 7.96%, and from April 2027 unused drawdown pots fall into inheritance tax. How to weigh the two.
Read guideState Pension Explained: £241.30 a Week, and the 35 Years
State pension explained for 2026/27: the full new rate is £241.30 a week, you need 35 qualifying years, and the pension age started rising to 67 in May 2026.
Read guideBest Funds for a SIPP: 4 Global Trackers, 0.12% to 0.24%
Best funds for a SIPP compared: HSBC All-World at 0.13%, Fidelity Index World at 0.12%, Vanguard Global All Cap at 0.23% and LifeStrategy 80 at 0.20%.
Read guideBest SIPP Providers in the UK: Self-Invested Pensions Compared
The best SIPP providers in the UK compared: flat-fee vs percentage charges, who suits small and large pots, and how to pick a low-cost self-invested pension.
Read guide