Johan, 46 years old, IT-specialist
“If I plan things well now, I’ll be able to enjoy life later.”
How are you planning your life? Do you have a good work-life balance? Are you in control of your financial situation? Can you keep a clear picture of your mortgage, loans, insurance, salary, taxes, allowances, pension, investments, telephone subscriptions, energy bills and savings? Setting up an integrated financial plan will help you, because all those loose ends are more interconnected than you might think.
Clear picture
The home you own is not only a safe place to live, but also a financial buffer for your retirement. What are the implications of a change in your salary? Can you use your Dutch tax-exempt amount for supplemental private pension savings to purchase annuities, for example? Having a clear picture of your finances will enable you to make well-informed decisions, now and in the future. Do you have enough spendable income? Will you have enough ten years from now and when you retire?
Prepared for the future
Take ownership of your financial situation, make a plan and prepare for the future. The days that employees were pampered are over. Neither the government nor your employer will take care of you. You need to search actively for information that is relevant to you. Digitalisation will help you get there. User-friendly tools integrate multiple sources of income and expenses to produce a realistic indication of your financial situation. You can also call in the help of an external consultant, for example a financial advisor. The cost of consulting a financial advisor is a problem for almost 50% of the Dutch, according to a survey by Dutch National Institute for Family Finance Information (Nibud). They don't have a clear picture of what a financial advisor can do to help them. People working for a bank have a better understanding of a consultant's added value and are more inclined to hire one. Visit the Pension Planner of ING CDC Pensioenfonds to get an indication and to help you prepare for a meeting about your financial situation.
I didn’t think I’d have to start saving for my pension from the age of 25 years!
Change your life?
Pension should be an integrated part of your overall financial plan, and you should keep a close eye on your pension accrual . Make sure you check your Uniform Pension Overview (UPO), which is provided by ING CDC Pensioenfonds once a year. And if there are any changes in your situation privately or work-wise, you should check how this will affect your pension. You might be considering taking a sabbatical or parental leave. Make sure you check how these things will affect your pension. Are you thinking of a career move and how this will impact your pension? What is the tax-exempt amount for supplemental private pension savings in the Netherlands? What will happen to your pension if you become occupationally disabled and what financial arrangements have been made for your partner, former partner and/or children? Check the life events that will affect your pension and check your personal situation in the Pension Planner. There's no way around it: being able to enjoy life when you retire will take some planning and maintenance!