Saving an extra 1% of salary into pension can increase your pension pot by 25%.

12th April 2021

Examples from WEALTH at work for someone in their 20s earning £20,000, £40,000 and £55,000 p.a.

Many people are already paying 5% of their salary into their workplace pension through auto-enrolment, with their employer contributing an additional 3%. However, they may not be aware that many employers are willing to match additional contributions up to certain limits, so they don’t take advantage of it.

WEALTH at work, a specialist provider of financial education, guidance and advice, has created some examples to show that if you are in your 20s, by saving an extra 1% a year with your employer matching this, it is possible to increase your pension pot in retirement by 25%. Two of the examples are for basic rate tax payers earning either £20,000 or £40,000, and there is an example for the lucky few earning £55,000 in their 20s to demonstrate how it would work for a higher rate tax payer.

Example 1: Paul – Basic rate tax payer, aged 25, earning £20,000 per year

Paul plans to retire at his State Pension age of 68. At the moment he pays 5% of his salary into a pension, and his employer pays 3% through auto enrolment. It is estimated that his pension pot value at age 68 will be £99,341*.

If he and his employer were to increase their contributions by 1% (£200) each, an extra £400 per year would be going into the pension. However, his outlay is only £136 due to the pension contribution being taken before tax and National Insurance are deducted.

The total pension contribution is now 10%, and the pension pot value is estimated to increase to £124,177 – an increase of £24,836.  This is a 25% increase of the original pot.

Example 2: Trisha – Basic rate tax payer, aged 25, earning £40,000 per year

Trisha plans to retire at 68, and pays 5% of her salary into a pension, and her employer pays 3%. It is estimated that her pension pot value at age 68 will be £198,683*.

If she and her employer pay an extra 1% (£400) each, an extra £800 per year would be going into her pension. However, her outlay is only £272 due to the pension contribution being taken before tax and National Insurance are deducted.

The total pension contribution is now 10%, and the pension pot value is estimated to increase to £248,353 – an increase of £49,670. Again this is an increase of 25% on the original pot.

Example 3: Kate – Higher rate tax payer, aged 25, earning £55,000 per year

Kate plans to retire at 68, and pays 5% of her salary into a pension, and her employer pays 3%. It is estimated that her pension pot value at age 68 will be £273,189*.

If she and her employer pay an extra 1% (£550) each, an extra £1,100 per year would be going into her pension. However, Kate’s outlay is only £319 due to the pension contribution being taken before tax and National Insurance are deducted.

The total pension contribution is now 10%, and the pension pot value is estimated to increase to £341,486 – an increase of £68,297. Again this is an increase of 25% on the original pot.

Jonathan Watts-Lay, Director, WEALTH at work, comments; “We speak to many young people at our financial education seminars and of course, a pension is not something they feel they need to worry about at their age.

However, when we point out the difference saving more in their 20s can make, compared to starting in their 30s or 40s, especially if their employer will match any additional contributions, suddenly saving an extra 1% seems like a really good idea.

He continues; “As these examples show, it is possible, if your employer is willing to match extra pension contributions, to turn an additional saving of £136 into £400. Most people of all ages would benefit from saving more for their retirement. Many companies offer their employees’ financial education to help them understand their finances and saving options, so individuals should speak to them to ask what’s available.”

*Assumptions: The employee is a member of a DC workplace pension scheme, the percentage contributions shown are paid with immediate effect and do not change in the future, pension contributions are paid by salary sacrifice by an employee based in England or Wales and are within HMRC limits, any pension savings already held by the employee are ignored, the member is exactly 25 years of age (their birthday is today), annual salary increases by 2.5% each year, pension charges of 0.75% apply, investment growth is 5% each year, the pension value is adjusted for inflation at 2.5% each year.