I will have a full basic uk state pension,as I continued paying my contributions @ class 2 when I moved to France 20 years ago. I will also have 22 years of French pension. Which won't be much but will help.

In the uk I had private pensions etc but along with good equity in my home I would have been well provided for in retirement. Unfortunately divorce came along and it all got broke up.
I still came out of it owning a home in France,some pension which I took cash lump sums when allowed and I recieve a couple of cheques every year on my birthday.
They alone have already given more than I ever invested.
I invested in property and land so I didn't spunk money on Italien cars etc!!! They will be sold to bolster old age,hopefully.

Gill will get the same uk state pension as me and also a French pension of about 30 years input.

Not too bad.
My outgoing's are covered by my uk state pension when it kicks in.
I've been lucky to have salvaged something from a messy divorce and the bonus was meeting Gill here.

Pension planning is classically a thing you get interested at a point it is too late to rectify serious shortfalls! I didn't start looking into it until I was over 50 and then it became a very important and interesting topic. I have also had enough of the job I do and yearn to do something I enjoy and that has no stress overheads.


I've been lucky to work for an organisation that had a final salary scheme but not long enough to be comfortable, but it helps and I'm busy topping up with a contributory scheme. One worry/dilemma is whether to remove my money from the final salary scheme. This was always considered a big no, however when the Pension commitments of that company are now 3 times the value of that company it seems prudent to consider!