How to get a larger income in retirement

Choosing the Escalation Option will give you a larger income in retirement than if you choose to pay the same fixed contribution when you retire. The tables below show how the Escalation Option can potentially boost the value of your pension, shows a number of different monthly contributions and years to go into retirement and assumes 7% growth each year:

Male – Escalation at 3% - Retirement age of 60
Contribution at outset Escalation Option? Annual pension
after 10 years’ contribution
Annual pension
after 20 years’ contribution
Annual pension
after 30 years’ contribution
£100 per month With Escalation Option £585 £1427 £2614
Without Escalation Option £517 £1120 £1861
£150 per month With Escalation Option £878 £2140 £3922
Without Escalation Option £776 £1681 £2792
Male – Escalation at 5% - Retirement age of 60
Contribution at outset Escalation Option? Annual pension
after 10 years’ contribution
Annual pension
after 20 years’ contribution
Annual pension
after 30 years’ contribution
£100 per month With Escalation Option £637 £1696 £3372
Without Escalation Option £517 £1120 £1861
£150 per month With Escalation Option £955 £2543 £5058
Without Escalation Option £776 £1681 £2792
Female – Escalation at 3% - Retirement age of 60
Contribution at outset Escalation Option? Annual pension
after 10 years’ contribution
Annual pension
after 20 years’ contribution
Annual pension
after 30 years’ contribution
£100 per month With Escalation Option £586 £1430 £2621
Without Escalation Option £518 £1123 £1866
£150 per month With Escalation Option £879 £2145 £3931
Without Escalation Option £777 £1684 £2798
Female – Escalation at 5% - Retirement age of 60
Contribution at outset Escalation Option? Annual pension
after 10 years’ contribution
Annual pension
after 20 years’ contribution
Annual pension
after 30 years’ contribution
£100 per month With Escalation Option £638 £1699 £3380
Without Escalation Option £518 £1123 £1866
£150 per month With Escalation Option £957 £2549 £5070
Without Escalation Option £777 £1684 £2798

Notes to the Projections Tables

  • We have assumed that in future the value of our investments will grow at 7% every year.
  • We have assumed that you will buy a pension that increases each year in line with inflation.
  • We have assumed that inflation (based on the Retail Prices Index) will be 2.5% each year.
  • In calculating the cost of buying a pension, we have assumed an investment return after retirement of 0.6% every year in excess of inflation.
  • We have assumed that you will buy a pension that provides for a spouse’s pension of half of your pension when you die and that, at retirement, you will be married to someone three years younger than yourself.
  • We have assumed that you will choose to be paid monthly from the date of retirement.
  • Tables show escalation options of 3% or 5%. However, you can choose a fixed percentage of between 1% and 10% or in line with Retail Prices Index (RPI).
  • We have assumed that you do not take a lump sum at retirement. If you take a lump sum then your pension would be reduced.

Please note
What actually happens may vary considerably from these assumptions and so your future pension may be significantly different from the amounts shown.

How to apply

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