Hi all,

I’m 27 and would appreciate some advice on my current financial position and how best to approach FIRE.

Current net worth: £275,000

Stocks & Shares ISA: £100,000
Pension: £125,000
Premium Bonds: £30,000
Cash savings: £20,000

I earn around £65–75k a year and am currently saving/investing a reasonable proportion of my income. My long-term aim is to become financially independent and ideally have the option to stop working or move to something less demanding by around age 50.

I’m trying to work out how best to allocate my money and whether I’m making the most of my position at this stage of life.

A few things I’d particularly appreciate advice on:

Asset allocation: Is £50k in Premium Bonds and cash excessive, or is it sensible given that I may want to buy a house in the coming years?
ISA vs pension: Should I prioritise maximising my £20k annual ISA allowance, increasing pension contributions, or a combination of both?
FIRE target: Is retiring or becoming work-optional at 50 realistic, assuming continued contributions and reasonable investment returns?
Anything I’m overlooking: If you were in my position at 27, what would you prioritise over the next five years?

I’m conscious that having a strong net worth at this age is a great position to be in, but I want to make sensible decisions rather than just accumulate money without a clear plan.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

Hi,

I'm 47 (m) , have £11,500 in a pension ( sipp ) and £4500 in an isa.

Putting in around £550 into each every other month. Would love to try £1k a month I to my ISA lol

I sometimes feel like I may have left it too late,

F39 two young kids, work in FS employer contribution 12% (10 non contributory) i currently pay in 2% £150k salary on 0.8 hours ( currently don’t sacrifice my bonus but intend on soon -£60k
My pension is standing 173k
I am in a balanced portfolio, which Has done 50% over past 5 years. If moving to global Equity cs8 its 90% over same time frame, so I would have sat c. 230k
If I move to cs8 and adventurous portfolio is this the safest bet to maximise my pension investment. I’m also concerned on weapons manufacturing investments and also not investing in certain states, is there a way to maximise without breaching values

28m, currently unemployed, living with parents, only 17k to my name.

I left college at 19 with a Btec level 3 in IT. Applied for a load of jobs afterwards but couldn't find anything so I worked construction with my dad for several years.

The pay was crap, the hours were crap and I bearly learned a thing because I was only the labourer. Starting my own business in my particular trade isn't an option.

The job was cash in hand and I've only got a whopping 2p in my pension. Getting on the property ladder is more of a pipe dream at this point.

I can't even get a call back for an apprenticeship, something that's meant to be for 16 year olds.

Seriously, how the hell do all of you have so much money?

I’m a bit wood for the trees, as well as a lot of moving parts, and would welcome thoughts/advice.
I (48) and wife (49) have two children (17 and 15) who are likely to attend university.

House value: £800k with 140k mortgage left over 12 years. Overpaying 10% as well as potential lump sum (see below). I’m for downsizing when we know the kids have left (approx 7 years when we are 55/56) and release 300k in equity and use this to help kids with property and for us to FIRE.

Salaries: £125k (me), wife £70k (wife - see below).

Wife taking voluntary redundancy from 1 March next year. Gets £120k VR payment (gross). Looking for work which would guess at 60k Pa going forward. She is keen to put against the mortgage with some ‘fun money’. I think mix of pension and isa and plan for mortgage to be paid off on FIRE date - to be resolved.

Joint figures
DC - 450k SIPP (available from 57)
DB Pension of 15k PA (wife - from 65 yo) and 11k PA (me - 8k at 60, 3k at 65).
100k in ISAs and workplace shares (that I am moving into ISA with CGT in mind).

Currently putting 40k into SIPP and 10k into ISA.

Spend
Aiming at 60k Pa for the go-go years.

Would like to FIRE at 55/56 with reduced days/hours in current job if ISA bridge doesn’t get us there before DC pensions kick in.

A vague ask of - any thoughts? Anything I’m missing?
Thanks in advance.

I've spent the last few months building a retirement cashflow planner for the UK. It started as a tool for financial advisers, and I've now made a free version anyone can use.

You enter your pensions, ISAs, savings, income and spending, and it runs 100 simulated futures. It shows how often your money lasts to the age you choose, and you can change the assumptions (growth, inflation, retirement age, spending) and see the effect straight away. It covers UK tax, the State Pension, mortgages, partners and Junior ISAs.

It's free, with no ads and no card needed. It's an illustration, not financial advice, and it doesn't recommend anything.

I'd really value feedback on:

• What's confusing or unclear?
• Do the numbers look sensible against your own spreadsheet or other tools?
• What's missing that you'd want?

compasscashflow.co.uk/personal

Full disclosure: I'm the founder. There's a feedback button in the app, or just reply here. Thanks!