Wealth Check: 'We want to save for our kids and for retirement'

With a 19-year age gap between them, Wendy and John Harbutt from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, find their financial goals differ somewhat.

Wendy, 37, runs her own company and is the director of a second company, while John, 56, an operations manager, is just eight years away from retirement. They have two children, aged five and two.

"John would like to have paid off the mortgage by the time he retires, and to have achieved an adequate pension by that time," says Wendy. "I want to provide for the children and their higher education."

The couple have a £100,000 offset mortgage at a rate of 6.35 per cent. "We have enough money to pay off the mortgage in full, but we haven't done that as it would leave us illiquid. We keep thinking of buying a second property to use the cash capital."

In the meantime, they are trying to overpay their mortgage by as much as they can each month. John has £8,000 in an ISA. The couple also have an endowment with Standard Life.

Both John and Wendy have several pension pots, but are concerned about their current pension provision. "We would like to get our pension saving in order, and to consider other means of providing an income for retirement – such as rental property," she says.

John has life insurance through his employer, but the couple have no other protection policies in place.

We asked three financial advisers for their suggestions: Keith Churchouse from Churchouse Financial Planning, Anna Sofat from AJS Wealth Management and Adrian Kidd from Mint Financial Services.

Case Notes: Wendy and John Harbutt, from Cheltenham

Income: £80,000 a year
Pension: Wendy has a personal pension with GE Life; John contributes 7 per cent to his company scheme
Savings: £90,000 in accounts with Barclays – offset against their mortgage
Investments: £8,000 in a stocks and shares ISA

SAVINGS

"The Harbutts are in a good position in that they have enough savings to cover their mortgage – and no other debts," says Sofat.

She recommends they open cash ISAs to maximise their tax-free allowances, and urges them to start saving for their children.

Sofat says that while the couple have an endowment policy maturing in 2021, they should review whether it's worth keeping it in its current form. " They might want to consider selling it or encashing it," she says.

But Churchouse says that when this policy matures in 14 years' time, it could be put towards university funding for their children.

Kidd adds that the couple should have received some Standard Life shares last year after the float of the company, and says this money could be used to pay off the rest of the mortgage.

PROPERTY

An offset mortgage is a "good way to keep your money liquid and in a tax-efficient manner," says Churchouse, adding that it is a "good strategy" to pay it off before John retires.

Kidd says the couple should look at the pros and cons of property investment, but that "many foreign property markets have low entry deposits, which could pay huge dividends over a 10-year time-frame".

Sofat says that if they sink all they have into buying another property, they are exposed to that one asset. She recommends instead that they build up a balanced investment portfolio that will have exposure to a number of assets, including equities.

PENSION

With so many pensions from previous employers, Churchouse recommends the couple make use of the Pension Tracing Service.

Sofat says that as John is approaching retirement, it is important for him to do a full review of what he has – and the income he expects them to provide.

He should order statements from the pensions providers, and also request information about his state pension by completing a BR19 form.

PROTECTION

As Wendy has her own business, and the couple have two young children, income protection is essential, as a loss of income could seriously scupper their plans in the future, warns Sofat.

"It is important for John to investigate what benefits he is entitled to at work," she says. "Check what would happen to John's income if he became too ill to work."

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