“How can I make my transition to retirement run smoothly?”

From the age of 55, most people in the Netherlands start thinking about their retirement. That's quite late. You’d be more pension aware if you asked yourself some questions ahead of time. How does pension work? Will I have enough to live comfortably? How will I spend my time when I’m retired?

People are working longer. In 2018, half of the Dutch workforce continued working until they turned 65, according to Statistics Netherlands (CBS). In 2006, 90% had retired long before that. Working when retired is also attractive – it keeps pensioners active. Jobs in coaching, van driving, the cultural sector and nature are popular among pensioners.

Customise your pension
Part-time pension is also becoming increasingly popular. It helps make the transition from work to retirement smooth. Over the next ten years, your pension might starting paying out from different dates, which you can coordinate to match your wishes. What pension choices do you want to make? Have you ever checked the Pension Planner? It'll give you an indication of your retirement income and the financial implications of your pension options. You could take early retirement or part-time retirement, convert partner pension into extra pension for yourself or vice versa, or vary the amounts of your pension payments

A website for inspiration
There's no uniform action plan for retirement. Everyone has a different approach. Many people are inspired by stories they hear from their friends and family. However, your personal situation could be a reason for a completely different approach. Visit the website leefjepensioen.nl for interesting articles by experts and pensioners that could help you make your retirement a success.

Prepare yourself
You know it's wise to prepare for a new job, but it's equally important to prepare for retirement. However, research by leefjepensioen.nl shows that only a third of those approaching their retirement are well prepared. Tools like the Pension Planner give people insight into the financial side of retirement, but the social side is often neglected. Consider what it would be like not going to an office anymore. You wouldn't have to meet targets, but you might miss having colleagues. That could feel strange. At the same time, you’d have scope for new choices: travel, hobbies, grandchildren, sports, culture… So start preparing for your retirement now!

This article provides an outline of trends in society as well as some general information. Would you like to read articles relevant to other age groups? Select the age group at the upper right corner of the screen.

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Pension accrual 2020