Unveiling the UK edition of How to Have an Epic Retirement
Drumroll please… here it is! My brand new book is now available for pre-order – and I’m landing in London today to give it a jolly good preview.
This week I’m writing this newsletter on the plane to London — very excited to see you all! It’s my first visit to the UK in quite a few years, and I’ve got something special to share.
Yes, I can finally reveal the cover of the UK edition of How to Have an Epic Retirement!
This is the new hardcover edition and it is now available for pre-order. It will hit bookstores across the UK on 11 December –- right in the middle of the Christmas rush (a notoriously tricky time to keep books in stock!).
And - the UK edition has a new tagline - “Your ultimate guide to living well, loving life and retiring with financial confidence.”
What do you think?
Nevertheless, we wanted to get it to you before Christmas, knowing so many people are either retiring or thinking about retiring as the year winds down. So get your pre-order in and start dreaming about your own epic retirement – it’s coming.
👉🏻 You can pre-order your copy here
— Be careful not to mix it up with the Aussie edition— it has a very different cover.
I’ve written this book specifically for people thinking about and traversing retirement in the UK. It dives deep into UK life expectancy and retirement ages, pensions, tax and retirement systems, and lifestyle options. Writing it was a big job — but such an important one – and I’ve spent much of 2025 working on it. It’s thrilling to finally see it coming to life.
How to Have an Epic Retirement is the modern pre-retirement and retirement guidebook, written to be easy to read and easy to understand. But more than that, it’s a book about seeing the enormous breadth of choices you have as you approach retirement – choices that go far beyond money.
Yes, money matters. That’s why about a quarter of the book is devoted to helping you understand how the UK retirement system works and how you can put it to good use to help you retire with financial confidence - no matter what your pot size is. But I also want you to see your money in perspective – as a tool to create the life you want to live over the next 25 to 35 years. And importantly, you don’t have to be wealthy to have an epic retirement. It’s something available to anyone who’s willing to be proactive and intentional.
So, what do I cover in the book?
I’ve broken it into six pillars, because retirement is so much more than your bank balance:
Time
The first pillar is time — or understanding how long you might live. In the UK, anyone born after 1971 has around a 50% chance of reaching 100. That’s a big shift from a generation ago. Knowing you’ll likely live longer changes how you plan everything — money, health, work, and relationships. It’s not just about lifespan, though; it’s also about healthspan — how long you’ll stay healthy and independent. When you see your time clearly, you start focusing on who you want to spend it with and what really matters to you.
Money
You don’t need to be wealthy to have an epic retirement — but you do need confidence in how your money works. That means understanding your layers of income: the State Pension, your workplace and personal pensions, investments, and any work income. Match these against your lifestyle and living costs, review your investments and debt, and aim to own your home outright before retiring. Financial confidence is about feeling in control — not about chasing riches.
Happiness and fulfilment
With 25–35 years ahead of you, you’ll want to make them meaningful. Work doesn’t have to stop — it can simply evolve into something you enjoy or do on your own terms. Build in pursuits that energise you and give you a sense of progress. Stay connected with communities that bring you purpose and belonging — social connection is one of the biggest factors in living longer and living well.
Health
You can’t have an epic retirement without your health. Learn the science of modern ageing and take proactive steps — from regular NHS health checks to strength training, good nutrition, and monitoring your key health markers. The goal isn’t just to live longer, but to stay active, strong, and capable for as long as possible.
Travel
Travel is one of the great joys of retirement — whether that’s exploring Europe, road trips across Britain, or short breaks closer to home. Prioritise your trips, plan your budget, and space out bigger adventures early while you’re fit and able. Experiences age beautifully — they’re worth planning for.
Your home as you age
Your home will shape how well you live later on. Early retirement might be your time for lifestyle choices — a seaside move or a cottage in the country — but by your seventies it’s wise to think practically. Look for low-maintenance homes without stairs, close to shops, transport, and healthcare. In the UK, most people want to stay at home as they age, so it’s worth understanding how home-based care and support work long before you need them.
It is a massive book - packed to the brim with information to help you!
From Bec’s Desk
As I mentioned, I’m halfway to London as I write this, and a good handful of people have expressed an interest in catching up/meeting while I’m in your beautiful city over the next week. So I figured, why don’t we get a corner at a nice pub and make an early-evening of it this Thursday night on the 9th October from 6pm.
No speeches or formality, just the opportunity to meet up as a few people curious and passionate about having epic retirements. So, to make it easy to organise a table/tables please can you quickly register here. Just complete this form and I’ll send a proper confirm once I lock in some tables.
👉🏻 Register to meet in London in a casual gathering here
I’m aiming to book a table or two in a lovely pub, one that has been suggested by my publisher is The Jugged Hare in Victoria (172 Vauxhall Bridge Road, Victoria, London, SW1V 1DX).
It’s going to be a big week ahead — pension fund meetings, media chats, catch-ups with my publisher, and plenty of cups of tea (and maybe a pint or two). If you’re in London, I’d love to meet you on Thursday night. And wherever you are, I can’t wait to share more about the UK edition of How to Have an Epic Retirement as it makes its way into stores. And just to make a few friends on this side of the world!
Until next week,
Bec ✈️💫
Bec Wilson
Retirement Educator, author and more!
Learn more about what I do at becwilson.net