Retirement Lounge Podcast

Finding a care home for a parent or loved one can feel overwhelming.

You may have only a few weeks to understand the system, work out what type of care is needed, compare different homes and make a decision at a time when emotions are already running high.

In this episode of The Retirement Lounge, Nick is joined by Debbie Harris, founder of Autumna, to talk through how families can approach one of the most difficult decisions they may ever have to make.

Debbie shares her own experience of finding care for a family member and explains why she created Autumna to help families make more informed choices.

If you think you may need to help a parent, partner or family member find care in the future, this episode is well worth listening to before you need it.

With the Autumn Budget set for 28th October 2026, speculation is already beginning about what could be announced.

But how much attention should you really pay to the headlines?

In this episode of The Retirement Lounge, Nick looks at 10 big themes he has seen trending in the press and considers what they could mean for people approaching or already in retirement.

From capital gains tax and pensions to inheritance tax, the State Pension, property and dividend taxation, Nick separates speculation from fact and explains why making major financial decisions based on newspaper headlines can be dangerous.

Most importantly, Nick explains why a good retirement plan should be flexible enough to cope when tax rules inevitably change, without reacting emotionally every time a new Budget rumour appears.

Retirement planning is often dominated by one question:

Will I have enough money?

But what happens once the finances are in place?

In this episode of The Retirement Lounge, Nick is joined by Clare Lyons-Collins from We-Pivot, an occupational therapist specialising in retirement and major life transitions.

Together, they explore why retirement is about far more than pensions, investments and income. It is a significant life transition that can affect your routine, identity, relationships, health and sense of purpose.

Nick and Clare discuss why some people can be financially prepared for retirement and still struggle once they get there, and why it is so important to think about what you are retiring to, rather than only what you are retiring from.

If you are approaching retirement and have spent most of your time thinking about the financial side, this episode may encourage you to look at the bigger picture.

Do you need private healthcare in retirement — or is relying on the NHS and paying privately when needed enough?

In this episode of The Retirement Lounge, Nick is joined by Laura Ashforth, CEO and Co-Founder of Lateral, a health insurer designed specifically for active over-60s.

They explore why healthcare is becoming an increasingly important part of retirement planning, particularly for people who may have had private medical insurance through work and suddenly find themselves needing to arrange — and fund — it themselves.

Nick and Laura discuss the relationship between health and wealth in retirement, the different ways people can approach healthcare costs, and why planning ahead can be just as important for your health as it is for your finances.

They also cover:

• Why losing corporate healthcare benefits can be a shock when you retire
• The different options available, from traditional private medical insurance to self-funding
• Why healthcare costs need to be considered as part of your wider retirement plan
• The importance of preventative health and regular health checks
• Why staying active and socially connected matters in later life
• How healthcare navigation and continuity of care can become increasingly important as we get older

If you're approaching retirement and wondering how healthcare fits into your plans, this episode offers plenty of practical food for thought.

For many people, retirement is seen as the finish line, a time to stop working and finally relax.

But is that really what retirement is?

In this episode of The Retirement Lounge, Nick explores why retirement means something different for everyone and why the happiest retirees aren't always the wealthiest. Instead, they're often the people who've found purpose, freedom and fulfilment beyond their career.

Nick discusses the emotional side of retirement, the importance of relationships, health and identity, and why retirement should be viewed as the start of a new chapter rather than the end of one.

In this episode you'll discover:

• Why retirement is a transition, not a destination
• The importance of purpose alongside financial security
• Why more people are choosing phased retirement and flexible working
• How relationships, health and identity shape retirement happiness
• Three powerful questions to ask yourself before you retire

If you're approaching retirement—or simply want to make the most of the years ahead—this episode will give you plenty to think about.

Financial planning isn't just about investments, pensions or achieving the highest possible returns.

In this episode, Nick explores why the best financial advice is often about something much deeper: helping people make better decisions.

Drawing on an award-winning approach to retirement planning and a fascinating behavioural science research paper, Nick explains why emotions, habits and psychology play such a significant role in retirement success.

You'll discover:

• Why behaviour often matters more than investment performance
• The COM-B model and how it influences financial decisions
• Why people delay retirement—even when they can afford it
• The importance of trust, coaching and accountability
• Why great financial planners help people optimise decisions, not just portfolios

If you've ever wondered what real value a financial planner should bring, this episode offers a fresh perspective.

The pension inheritance tax changes coming in April 2027 are some of the biggest changes to retirement planning in years—but many people still aren't sure what they actually mean.

In this episode, Nick explains the new rules in plain English, looks back at how pension freedoms changed retirement planning in 2015, and explores why these latest changes matter for anyone with a pension.

You'll learn:

• What will change from April 2027
• Why pensions are being brought into inheritance tax
• Who could be affected (and who won't)
• The role of executors and beneficiaries
• Practical steps you can take now to prepare

If you've been hearing about the pension inheritance tax changes but aren't sure how they apply to you, this episode provides a clear, practical overview.

Following their appearance together on the Martin Lewis Money Show Pensions Special, Nick is joined by Charlene Young, Senior Pensions and Savings Expert at AJ Bell and the Telegraph's "Pensions Doctor".

With major changes to the inheritance tax treatment of pensions due from April 2027, many people are questioning whether their retirement plans still make sense.

In this episode, Nick and Charlene discuss who could be affected by the proposed changes, why pensions have become a key inheritance tax planning tool in recent years, and what retirees may want to consider before making any decisions.

They explore gifting, pension death benefits, tax-efficient withdrawals, common misconceptions and the importance of looking beyond headlines when planning for retirement.

If you've built up pension savings and are wondering how these changes could affect you or your family, this episode will help you understand the key issues and the questions worth asking.

The latest Retirement Living Standards report suggests millions of people across the UK could be under-saving for retirement.

In this episode, Nick breaks down the latest findings, explores what a minimum, moderate and comfortable retirement actually costs in 2025, and discusses why so many people may be underestimating both how much they need and how long their money needs to last.

Nick also shares his thoughts on auto-enrolment, the challenges facing self-employed savers, why pensions can feel like "just another tax" when you're younger, and the milestone that can completely change how you view retirement saving.

If you've ever wondered whether you're saving enough, or what retirement might realistically cost, this episode provides a practical starting point.

Following on from last week's episode, Pension Truths I Couldn't Explain On The Martin Lewis Show, Nick returns to answer some of the biggest pension and retirement questions submitted after the broadcast.

With thousands of questions sent into the Martin Lewis Money Show Live, there simply wasn't enough time to cover everything properly on air.

In this follow-up episode, Nick explores:

• How much should you really pay into your pension?
• Should you consolidate old pension pots?
• Can you boost your State Pension?
• When can you realistically retire?
• Workplace pension vs SIPP explained simply
• What happens to your pension when you die?

Nick also discusses the emotional side of retirement planning, including fear of running out of money, avoiding irreversible mistakes, and the confusion caused by financial jargon.

A practical continuation of last week's Martin Lewis special designed to help listeners make clearer, more confident retirement decisions.