The Scotsman Money Moves September 2010

There is always some new news about pensions; the crucial question for individuals is: "How do I at least try to make sure I am best placed to optimise whatever I can after retirement?"

Under-provision is often exacerbated by having had a working life affected to varying degrees by career breaks for child-rearing, part-time work for reasons of dependent care (whether children, the elderly or the infirm) or perhaps the hotly debated gender pay gap.  Whatever the reason, women are often severely under-provisioned and they really do have to do something about that. Some things are boring but true, and the fact that it's never too early to start planning for a pension, or that you can never put too much aside for the future, are just those kinds of irritating things.

"Pensions planning is one of the most complex, time-consuming, unpleasant to think about and absolutely essential aspects of every one's long term plan. The whole situation often sounds and looks like shifting sands, but you have to draw a line in those sands somewhere and just get on with it." - Clare Logie, Director, Independent Women