Highlights In This Section
Are you saving enough?
Find out how much your lifestyle could cost when you retire and how to work out if your savings are on track.
Try it nowPension Resolutions
As we embark on another new year, it’s the perfect time to take control of your pension and set yourself up for the future. Here’s a few tips on how to start:
1. See how your pension is doing
- Use our Lifestyle Calculator to make a list of the things you want in retirement and work out what they will cost
- Check your latest pension estimate from the Scheme to see if you’re on track to meet these costs when you retire
2. Consider paying more
- Check how much you pay into your pension every month
- Work out your monthly outgoings to see if you could afford to pay in more
- Consider making, or increasing, Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVCs)
3. Think about your loved ones
- Decide who you would like to receive any death benefits from your pension
- Make sure your wishes are recorded with us by using the form here
4. Review how your money is invested
- If you have Additional Voluntary Contributions, check whether the funds you’ve chosen to invest in are on track to provide you with the level of income you’ll need in retirement (see point 1 to understand what you’ll need)
- You can change your fund choices if you wish
5. Check your details
- Think about whether you’ve changed your address, telephone number or bank account
- If you have then please let us know as soon as possible by using the contact details here
6. Seek advice
- If you’re thinking about making any changes to your pension, speak to an Independent Financial Adviser (IFA) with experience in pensions. You can find IFAs in your area by visiting unbiased.co.uk
Matt Riley
Manager
Matt joined Zedra Governance Limited (formerly PTL) in January 2008 having previously worked for Mercer Limited, Hazell Carr and Prudential.
As a Manager for the company's Birmingham Office, Matt’s responsibilities include working closely with Client Directors and individually liaising with Employers, Trustees and Members to ensure the smooth running of their pension schemes. Matt’s current portfolio of clients covers ongoing, paid-up and winding-up schemes. In addition, Matt has experience of schemes that have transferred or are in the process of transferring to the Pension Protection Fund and Financial Assistance Scheme. Matt also works closely with clients in relation to risk registers and internal controls.
Matt particularly enjoys resolving issues in a fair and pragmatic way ensuring that the right result is reached for the member or employer.
Sam Burden
Client Director
Sam Burden joined Zedra Governance (formerly PTL) in 2022. He is an Accredited Professional Pension Trustee (AMAPPT) and an Associate of the Pensions Management Institute (APMI)
Sam has more than 25 years’ experience in the pensions industry gained with WTW, KPMG, and Standard Life working with a wide range of pension schemes and sponsoring employers. His trustee appointments include DB, DC and hybrid pension schemes and he has experience of handling a broad range of projects relating to the management of pension schemes.
Beyond his pensions experience Sam is a former Birmingham City Councillor where he chaired the audit committee and a current charity trustee.
Payam Kazemian
Client Director
Payam Kazemian joined Zedra Governance Limited (formerly PTL Governance Limited) in 2021. He is an Accredited Professional Pension Trustee (AMAPPT) and an Associate of the Pensions Management Institute (APMI).
Payam has more than 17 years of experience in the pensions industry. Through his current role as a professional trustee, as well as previously as a pension’s de-risking and investment structuring expert at financial institutions including Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank, he has had overall responsibility for creating investment, de-risking, journey planning, and governance solutions for a wide range of UK DB pension schemes. He currently holds a number of board positions (as Chair of Trustees) and sole trustee in his professional trustee capacity. Payam has been involved with a number of pensions projects including pensions buy-in, pensions buy-out, GMP equalisation, investment strategy reviews, and dialogue with the pensions regulator. Payam looks to create and believes in a collaborative relationship between the sponsor, the trustee, and all other parties involved as this results in best member outcomes and helps deliver pragmatic solutions for scheme. Aside from his pensions experience, Payam holds a Ph.D. in Materials Science from the University of Cambridge.
