The Good Non Retirement Guide 2007

1. Looking Forward to Retirement Pre-retirement courses New focus for the retired 2. Money in General Doing the sums Possible ways of boosting your retirement income Spending now for saving later Cherished plans, if affordable Money - if you become redundant Money left unclaimed Cheques Act 1992 Covenants Charitable giving Extra income 3. Pensions State pensions Private pensions Additional voluntary contributions (AVCs) Early leavers Becoming self-employed Minimum retirement age Questions on your pension scheme What to do before retirement Other help and advice Protection for pension scheme members Personal pension schemes Stakeholder pensions Opting back into the State scheme Individual Pension Accounts (IPAs) A lump sum? Pension rights if you continue to work after retirement age Equal pension age Divorce Part-timers Pensions for women 4. Tax Income tax Tax allowances Same-sex partners Tax relief Tax credits Tax-free income Other tax-free money Income tax on savings Income tax on other investments Reclaiming tax overpaid Mistakes by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) Tax rebates Post-war credits Capital gains tax (CGT) Inheritance tax Independent taxation Value-added tax (VAT) Other expenditure taxes Corporation tax Self-assessment Retiring abroad 5. Investment Sources of investable funds General investment strategy Annuities National Savings and Investments (NS&I) Property Variable-interest accounts Fixed-interest securities Equities Individual Savings Account (ISA) Child Trust Funds Small businesses Long-term lock-ups Bonds Hedge funds Other investment points Investor protection 6. Financial Advisers Choosing an adviser Accountants Banks Insurance brokers Independent financial advisers (IFAs) Other pension advisers Solicitors Stockbrokers Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) 7. Budget Planner 1. Possible savings when you retire 2. Possible extra outgoings when you retire 3. Expected sources of income on retirement 4. Unavoidable outgoings 5. Normal additional expenditure 8. Your Home Staying put Moving to a new home Moving in with family or friends Sharing with friends Retirement housing and sheltered accommodation Other options Making your home more practical Improvement and repair Safety in the home Home security Personal safety Insurance Raising money on your home Letting rooms in your home Holiday lets Housing benefit Council tax Useful organisations 9. Leisure Activities Adult education Animals Arts Dance/keep fit For people with disabilities Games Gardens and gardening History Hobbies Museums Nature and conservation Public library service Sciences and other related subjects Sport Women's organisations Public transport 10. Starting Your Own Business Legal structure of business Business names Alternative ways of getting started Developing an invention Taxation National insurance Pensions Your responsibilities as an employer Personnel records Employment legislation Trading regulations Licences Finding suitable premises Planning permission Other permissions Working from home Insurance Marketing Competitors Exports Raising finance Advice and training Useful organisations 11. Looking for Paid Work Financial considerations Special measures to assist disabled people to work New Deal 50-plus Programme Age discrimination Assessing your abilities Job counselling Jobcentre Plus Private counselling Training opportunities Help with finding a job CV writing Interview technique Part-time openings Employment ideas Cashing in on your home interests Pubs and paying guests Agencies and other useful organisations 12. Voluntary Work Choosing the right voluntary work General Animals Bereavement Children and young people Conservation The elderly The family Health Heritage and the arts The needy Offenders and the victims of crime Politics Work after work Long-term volunteering 13. Health Keeping fit Yoga Sensible eating Food safety Drink Smoking Accident prevention Aches, pains and other abnormalities Health insurance Private patients - without insurance cover Long-term care insurance (LTCI) Permanent health insurance (PHI) Health screening Hospital care cash plans National Health Service Benefits Prescriptions Going into hospital Complaints Alternative medicine Eyes Feet Hearing Teeth Personal relationships Help for grandparents Depression Some common afflictions Disability 14. Holidays Art appreciation Arts and crafts Coach holidays Historical holidays Language courses Other people's homes Overseas travel Short breaks Timesharing Retreats Self-catering and other low-budget holidays Special interest holidays Sport Wine tasting Working holidays Holidays for singles Holidays for those needing special care Tourist boards Long-haul travel Insurance Travel and other concessions Health tips for travellers 15. Caring for Elderly Parents Ways of adapting a home Alarm systems Main local authority services Key voluntary organisations Transport Holidays Power of attorney Temporary living-in help Nursing care Permanent living-in help Flexible care arrangements Emergency care for pets Practical help for carers Holiday breaks for carers Benefits and allowances Financial assistance Special accommodation Community Care Some special problems 16. No One is Immortal Wills Provision for dependent adult children Money worries - and how to minimise them State benefits, tax and other money points Organisations that can help