The retirement age we want vs. the one we’ll probably get
You have to act on your own contributions as early as you can if you want to have more money to fund your epic retirement.
In this weeks newsletter:
Feature: The retirement age we want vs. the one we’ll probably get
Lesson: What are the UK Retirement Ages to note?
From Bec’s Desk: The UK book release countdown begins and so does my column in The Times
The retirement age we want vs. the one we’ll probably get
If you’re planning to stop work around 62, you’re not alone – that’s the age most Brits still hope to retire. But new data out last month shows that despite their plans, the average person now thinks they’ll actually have to keep working until about 67.
That five-year difference between dream and reality is what researchers are now calling the Retirement Expectation Gap – and it’s getting wider. For some people, that gap stretches beyond six years, which is a long time to ‘hang in there’ when you’re tired or don’t like your job.
And in some corners of the UK, things are even more grim. If you’re renting or don’t have any pension savings, your dream of clocking off at 62 could easily slide to 68 or 69 before it’s financially possible. In the North East, the average person hopes to finish at 62 but expects to retire closer to 68, while Londoners, who are helped by higher wages and home ownership, think they’ll be done with working by around the age of 65 or 66. And for those earning under £30,000 a year, the reality is that they’ll probably face another six years of work compared with just two for the highest earners.
Why is the gap getting wider
Most people know the reasons at their core - rising living costs, uncertainty about the economy and a wave of pessimism about pensions are all to blame for the problem with retirement confidence. In fact, half of working-age adults now say they’re not sure the State Pension will even exist by the time they retire.
According to the survey, less than one in five can name the current State Pension age (it’s 66, by the way). And a third of people approaching retirement believe their standard of living will actually fall once they stop working.
Meanwhile, many over-50s are leaving the workforce earlier than planned — not because they want to, but because of health issues, caring responsibilities, redundancy or age bias. So while we’re planning to work longer, not everyone will be able to.
All of this data comes from Standard Life’s 2025 Retirement Voice report, which was released in October 2025 and surveyed more than 6,000 people across the UK. The big takeaway? The gap between when people want to retire and when they think they’ll actually be able to is widening across every region, income level and housing type.
But the research also found something really hopeful and optimistic: people who plan, close the gap.
Among lower-income households who’ve done a lot of retirement planning, the gap shrinks from eight years to under five. For higher earners, planning cuts it to less than a year.
And even small financial tweaks make a difference, both to your confidence and your real situation. Standard Life’s modelling shows that if someone started work at 22 on £25,000 a year, contributing the minimum auto-enrolment rate (5% employee, 3% employer), they’d retire at 67 with about £201,000 in their pension pot.
If they increased their own contributions by just 2%, they could still retire at 62 – their dream age (not their delayed age) – with a similar pot of £204,000.
Keep that higher contribution going until the age of 67, and their fund grows to £252,000. That’s an extra £51,000 in lifetime savings.
It’s not a miracle fix, but it’s a meaningful one and it shows how small, consistent changes over time really do move the needle.
What to take from this
For those of us in our 50s and 60s, this research is a reminder that retirement isn’t an age anymore. It’s a long phase of life that we should be aiming to enjoy. And the more you plan, the more choice you’ll have over when and how you move into it.
So this week, take ten minutes to check your own “retirement gap”:
What age do you hope to stop working – and what age do you expect to?
How much could you shift that expectation with a small contribution tweak, or a clearer plan? Is there something you can do to put yourself on the path to your goal age now?
And if you don’t actually want to stop at all – maybe that’s your answer right there.
But remember - this gap isn’t just about money. It’s about the ability to choose, having greater flexibility, and control. And those are things you can start building long before you hit 67.
What are the UK Retirement Ages to note?
Given so many people are unaware in the report of when they can access the State Pension - let’s start with what the ages are for retirement income in the UK. (A simple lesson never hurts - if it’s too simple keep scrolling 😉)
State Pension age – 66 rising to 67
This is the current age at which both men and women can claim the State Pension. You don’t have to stop working at 66. It’s simply when you become eligible to receive it.
The State Pension age will gradually rise from 66 to 67, depending on your date of birth. Broadly speaking, anyone born after April 1960 will have a State Pension age somewhere between 66 and 67.
Workplace and private pension access age – 55 (rising to 57)
The Normal Minimum Pension Age (NMPA) or the earliest you can access most private or workplace pensions without penalty is currently 55, but it rises to 57 from April 2028. Some schemes have a “protected pension age” that allows earlier access, but these are the exception.
Average retirement ages (real life vs. intention)
The average actual retirement age in the UK is roughly 64 for men and 63 for women, though many work part-time or self-employed beyond that.
The UK book release countdown begins
The countdown is officially on. How to Have an Epic Retirement (UK Edition) is almost here! It will land in stores on the 11th December - so 33 days to go.
I’d love it if you pre-ordered - it makes a huge difference when retailers can see early demand for the book - they then get actively behind it. And - frankly - it will be a hard time to get stock replenished if it sells out in retail fast. So online is the way to go.
🔷 Order it on Amazon here. 🔷 The book is a hardcover only in the UK so please don’t order the paperback - (the paperback is linking to the aussie/nz export version).
After months of editing, rewriting and fine-tuning every chapter, I couldn’t be prouder of how it’s turned out. It’s not a copy-and-paste of the Aussie version in any way – it’s a complete rethink and rebuild for a UK audience, using the six-pillar framework but with completely UK oriented information, fresh stories, new money examples, and all the really easy-to-understand and practical lessons built purely for the British system: State Pension, workplace pensions, ISAs, housing, and healthcare all get the proper treatment.
If you’ve ever wondered what your own epic retirement could look like, this book is for you.
And yes – I’m still holed up in the audiobook studio this week, powering through hour after hour of recording. I’ve been reading the new Australia/New Zealand and then UK and editions back-to-back in 6-hour studio sessions at night and on weekends (with Manuka honey tea breaks to save my voice), and I’m 200 pages from the finish line of the UK book. I can’t wait for you to hear it — I’ve read every word in my most energetic voice, even at 10.30pm at night.
There’s more good news too — I’m starting a column in The Times! Seriously I have to say that again - The Times!! The paper I’ve respected all my life with awe. My new fortnightly column launches in just over week - and I’ve already lodged it in preparation. I’ll be writing about modern retirement and pre-retirement, money, and the choices that shape the second half of life for their new consumer money section. It’s such a privilege to be a part of the conversations on modern retirement in the UK, and I can’t wait for you to read it. I’ll share it when it’s out.
So yes, it’s a busy season – but a very exciting one. The UK launch is just around the corner, the audiobook’s almost wrapped, and the conversations we’ve been having here about living and ageing well from midlife and into retirement really are about to reach even more people.
Thank you, as always, for being part of this journey – you’re the reason these projects exist. If you didn’t want an epic retirement - I couldn’t help you learn how to have one. 😉
Now – if you wouldn’t mind ordering a copy of the book — I’ll be grateful, happy, and probably doing a little dance in the kitchen when I get told of pre-orders coming through.
And lastly - I want you to start telling me what you want me to write about - what worries you, what you read about, what you’d like more information on. You can always reply to this email or email me at bec@epicretirement.net
Now, get out there and make your week epic!
Bec x
i am still teaching at 76 and love it.