Helping you to determine your provision for retirement is one of the fundamental roles of a financial planner.

Some of the things they will be able to discuss with you include:

- Pension arrangements
- Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVCs). This is where you choose to make additional regular payments to top up your standard pension
- Savings and investment plans that will help to grow your capital and hopefully provide an ongoing source of income (i.e. interest or share dividends)that will help you in retirement.
- Wills. You may wish to make a will to determine how your assets would be distributed in the event of your death
- Inheritance tax implications. If you have significant assets, you may be concerned about paying inheritance tax when passing your assets to dependents. A financial planner will be able to offer you advice on how you can limit your inheritance tax burden (whilst remaining within the law)

It is worthwhile speaking to a financial planner to understand the options open to you, and to make sure that you are going to fully maximise the income that will be available to you in your retirement. Remember, however, that you are not bound to accept their advice. You will need to take a decision on what's best for you, based on the information that you have gathered.

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