The is the first episode in what we’re calling our Peace of Mind series, where we look at areas which if we tackle them now, can give us the peace of mind that we’ve dealt with an important issue and we can get on with living our best life. 

In the Autumn 2025 Budget, the then UK Chancellor of the Exchequer moved the goalposts on pensions’ tax status, making pensions money unspent on death part of an individual’s estate and so potentially liable for inheritance tax - as of April 2027.

The number of people now liable for an IHT bill has been increasing every year, and the forecasts suggest many more are likely to see their beneficiaries landed with an IHT bill in the years ahead, with the tax allowance thresholds frozen until 2031.

In this episode Rob talks to Kristian Manton, a Chartered Financial Adviser from Octopus Money.

They discuss:

The effect of the recent changes for UK tax payers whose estates are likely to be liable for IHT. 

Recent research by Octopus Investments showing the potential monetary impact of tax planning as early as we can.

The importance of getting to grips with tax planning and having discussions with family about it.

The starting point for people in their 60s wanting to tackle this issue.

Some solutions a financial adviser might cover when talking about inheritance tax.

Further areas of which to be aware.

As Kristian points out in the interview, IHT is a tax that is an individual problem which requires an individual solution for every family. It is important to know whether you have a potential IHT issue and the evidence is that dealing with it as soon as possible can be beneficial. Where gifting, it is important to ensure we don’t give away more than we can afford to, bearing in mind known and potential needs, such as long term care costs – as once that money is gifted, it is gone and out of our control. IHT planning is a key area where having the help of a professional, qualified and regulated financial planner can be money well spent - especially where more complex entities such as tax-efficient investments and trusts are being considered.  

If you enjoyed the episode please do follow us to keep up-to-date on everything we do and join us next time for more conversations around living our best lives after 60.

To find out more about Octopus Money go to: https://www.octopusmoney.com

Find out How Inheritance Tax works: thresholds, rules and allowances on the GOV UK website here: https://www.gov.uk/inheritance-tax/gifts

Important note: Inheritance tax planning is a complex area of financial planning and this podcast is for information purposes only; this is NOT nor should it be construed as financial advice. If you think IHT will become an issue for you, do seek professional financial advice so you get the right solution for your particular circumstances. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and may change.

This episode is a response to a listener’s question: “What is a Best Life?”

In the episode I proffer my thoughts on this question, covering what I mean by a Best Life, how I approached it in my own life, and what I wanted to bring to this podcast, in the hope that it would give people food for thought as to what their Best Life might look like for them.

And included is a killer question that we all should answer in our 60s.

The episodes on retirement referenced in the episode are: 

The Retirement Planning questions that really matter

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Preparing for retirement - a personal journey

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

In this episode Rob follows up on a previous episode titled 'Our changing nutritional needs and eating well after 60' to talk in more detail about protein. 

The conversation covers: 

• What protein is and why we need it

• Why we need more protein as we get older

• How much we need as we age; and 

• The best sources to get it from.

So both an insightful and practical episode this one. 

You may be surprised to learn of the range of sources we can call upon for protein to satisfy our nutritional needs.  

To discuss this topic, Rob welcomes back Registered Nutritional Therapist Martina Cowen.

If you’d like to listen to the previous conversation with Martina: Our changing nutritional needs and eating well after 60 you can do so here:

on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/live-your-best-life-after-60/id6790416088?i=1000778621625

on Spotify: 

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1aHkL6IHIzAzPxvVIapOzZ?si=zPSp9EXFTaapgQ_8RnMyjg

You can find out more about Martina here.: FreedomfromCravings.co.uk

https://freedomfromcravings.co.uk/

Click here for Martina's starter guide: 3 powerful strategies for freedom from cravings

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Please note that the content in the podcast is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition, including supplements. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast.

In this episode Rob talks to Chartered Financial Planner Rebecca Lucas about the questions she asks of her clients when planning for their retirement.

For many of us, retirement is stepping into unknown territory, so it’s important that we have our ducks in a row - the obvious one is ensuring our financial security but as Rob and Rebecca discuss, there are plenty of others too. 

The conversation ranges across 

• the importance of working out what retirement means to us 
• what to consider when calculating how much we will need in retirement
• the psychology of money and how we need to think differently in our retired years
• short and long term life planning
• spending patterns through retirement and how that affects our decisions
• Rebecca’s experience of clients a year on from retiring.

  If you enjoyed the episode please do follow us to keep up-to-date on everything we do and join us next time for more conversations around living our best lives after 60.

The ONS personal inflation rate calculator can be found here

If you are interested in preparing for your retirement years then other episodes you may want to listen to are:

Preparing for retirement - a personal journey

On Apple  

On Spotify

Pensions and better planning for our retirement

On Apple  

On Spotify

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Please note that this episode is for general information only and does NOT constitute financial advice. Retirement planning, pensions and investments depend on your individual circumstances. We cannot be held responsible for the consequences of any actions you take having listened to this information. The value of investments can fall as well as rise. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and may change. Retirement, pension and investment decisions should be based on individual circumstances and, where appropriate, regulated financial advice. 

Hosts: Rob Kingsbury

A KGR Media Services Ltd production.

In this episode Rob speaks to Jude Gardner, founder of a brand new business - WhenI’m – which helps people learn what they need to know and how to get to grips with their pensions and retirement planning, so they can make informed decisions ahead of their retirement date. 

Rob and Jude discuss:

• Why we should be getting to grips as soon as possible with our retirement planning — especially if we’ve left it until our 60s

• The barriers to taking action on retirement planning that often put us off doing something about it?

• How we can better tackle our retirement planning. Good places to start.

• The challenges of the sandwich generation. 

• The importance for couples of planning together - and the dangers if we don’t. 

• State Pension entitlement and helpful places to start getting information

• One final tip

Find out more about Jude’s new WhenI’m service here: https://www.whenim.co.uk/

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Please note that the content in the podcast and on our webpage is for general information only and does not constitute personal financial advice. Retirement planning, pensions and investments depend on your individual circumstances. The value of investments can fall as well as rise. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and may change. Retirement, pension and investment decisions should be based on individual circumstances and, where appropriate, regulated financial advice.

In this episode, Rob is joined by Registered Nutritional Therapist Martina Cowen. 

Their discussion centres around whether our nutritional needs change as we move into our 60s and beyond, if so how, and what action we can take to help ensure we are getting the best from our food. It covers, among other things:

The key element in ensuring we absorb the nutrients we need

The importance of good nutrition for muscle mass and bone health

The effects of good nutrients on our energy levels and cognitive health

Which vitamins and minerals become more critical for us in our 60s and beyond  

The make-up of a good plate of food to ensure we are getting the nutrients we need

The influence of environment on our digestion

Misconceptions around fats  

Supplementation - yes or no?

Putting on weight as we age

YOUR CHALLENGE THIS WEEK: Look at your plate of food and see if the proportions of protein, carbohydrates, fibre and fats match with what Martina suggests. 

Martina’s website: FreedomfromCravings.co.uk

Click here for Martina's Starter guide to 3 powerful strategies for freedom from cravings

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Please note that the content in the podcast and on the webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding your health or medical condition, including diet and supplementation. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on our website.

Please note that the content in the podcast and on this webpage is for general information only and does not constitute personal financial advice. Retirement planning, pensions and investments depend on your individual circumstances. The value of investments can fall as well as rise. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and may change. Retirement, pension and investment decisions should be based on individual circumstances and, where appropriate, regulated financial advice.

Before starting any form of exercise, check with your doctor or other qualified health care provider to ensure you can exercise and what you can and can’t do.

In the recent podcast with Connor Chatfield of Potential Personal Training we touched briefly on the need for consistency if we are to improve and maintain our fitness and our health goals.

In this mini/solo episode, Rob looks in more depth at the importance of consistency of exercise, in particular for building and maintaining muscle and bone mass as we age, and offers some suggestions as to how we can be consistent, even when we’re not feeling it - including four ways he uses himself to ensure he is exercising regularly.

If you want to listen to the episode with Connor you can find it here:

Click here to listen on Apple Podcasts

Click here to listen on Spotify Podcasts

Thank you for listening and please do click on the Follow button to make sure you stay up-to-date on everything we do. It really helps the podcast to get traction too. So if you’re clicking on that button, thank you, it is very much appreciated.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Please note that the content in the podcast and on this webpage is for general information only and does not constitute personal financial advice. Retirement planning, pensions and investments depend on your individual circumstances. The value of investments can fall as well as rise. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and may change. Retirement, pension and investment decisions should be based on individual circumstances and, where appropriate, regulated financial advice.

Please note that the content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding regarding your health or a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on our website.

Before starting any form of exercise, check with your doctor or other qualified health care provider to ensure you can exercise and what you can and can’t do.

A KGR Media Services Ltd production.

In this episode Rob talks to Brian, who was one month away from retiring, about how he began his journey towards retirement several years out, the challenges and issues - expected and unexpected - he discovered as part of the journey and the key ways he prepared for retirement so he was in the best position when he reached his retirement date. 

Rob and Brian discuss:

When Brian started to think about retiring and whether there was a catalyst that set things in motion.

Why it was important to understand what retirement meant for him and his family

Working out the financial side and what caught him by surprise

How he started transitioning from work into retirement

Thinking about the adjustments to life that would come with retiring

Staying physically and mentally active after work

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Please note that the content in the podcast and on the webpage is for general information only and does not constitute personal financial advice. Retirement planning, pensions and investments depend on your individual circumstances. The value of investments can fall as well as rise. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and may change. Retirement, pension and investment decisions should be based on individual circumstances and, where appropriate, regulated financial advice.

In this episode Rob is joined by Connor Chatfield, CEO of Potential Personal Training, a private training facility with gyms in Haywards Heath, Lindfield and Uckfield in Sussex, to answer the question of the day, which is: Can we start exercising in our 60s or have we left it too late? 

Rob and Connor talk about the importance and benefits of exercising in our 60s, particularly if we want to stay fit and healthy for as long as possible.

They tackle taking those first steps into the gym, the main benefit exhibited by people when they start to exercise (which isn’t what you might think it is), setting goals, how quickly you might see results, proving you can do it, the social side of exercising, and finding what works for you.

And they take all those reasons we give ourselves for not starting to exercise and show why they simply don’t hold water. No more excuses people!

Here’s a quick summary of the points they talk about:

Check with your doctor or other qualified health care provider to ensure you can exercise and what you can and can't do.

Start where you are - be realistic; don’t go into the gym and try to do what 20 year olds are doing, for example, you won't keep up!

Build slowly - it’s not a race, strength and fitness build over time and your body will need rest days (rest days are actually when muscle strength is built).

Be consistent - regular exercise is the way you will get results.

Enjoy exercising for what it is - its benefits for your health and fitness, and also the social life that can come with it.

Finally, you can exercise at home or if you can afford it at a gym, and for both of those seek guidance first on the exercises that are best for you and how to do them correctly. Or better still, use a personal trainer in a one to one, small or large group session, where you will get the guidance and accountability you need. 

Thank you for listening - if you like the episode do click that follow button to stay abreast of what we’re doing. And enjoy being in your 60s!

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Please note that the content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on our website.

Before starting any form of exercise, check with your doctor or other qualified health care provider  to ensure you can exercise and what you can and can’t do.

Welcome to the podcast.

Our 60s can often be a crossroads in our lives. There are challenges ahead but also so many opportunities to experience our best life yet.

But how do we live our Best Life after 60? In this podcast, through insightful, informative and sometimes lively discussions, we look to give you some food for thought and maybe, inspire you to think about what your best life might look like for you. 

We hope this has piqued your interest and you join us every week for a new episode.

Meanwhile thank you for listening and take care of yourselves.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Please note that the content in the podcast and on this webpage is for general information only and does not constitute personal financial advice. Retirement planning, pensions and investments depend on your individual circumstances. The value of investments can fall as well as rise. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and may change. Retirement, pension and investment decisions should be based on individual circumstances and, where appropriate, regulated financial advice.

Likewise, please note that the content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on our website.

Before starting any form of exercise, check with your doctor or other qualified health care provider  to ensure you can exercise and what you can and can’t do.