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 nowWrite or change your will for free in October 2023
If you’re 55 or over you may be able to have a will drafted for you, or change your existing will if you already have one, free of charge.
It’s easy to put off making a will, as it may not seem important to you right now. But if you don’t make a will, it can cause legal problems and lead to additional costs and stress for your loved ones. Taking the time to make a free
will now could really pay off later.
Free Wills Month is taking place for a second time this year. It runs from 2-31 October, and hundreds of solicitors are getting involved with the campaign, led by a group of charities.
How can I get a free will?
Simply visit freewillsmonth.org.uk and type in your postcode to find solicitors who are taking part in the campaign in your local area. You can then book an appointment with a solicitor of your choice directly through the website.
Why should I make a will?
A will is a legal document which lets you decide what happens to your money, property and possessions after your death. This is also known as your ‘estate’.
If you don’t make a will, the law will decide who inherits what from your estate, which may not match your wishes.
Keeping your will up-to-date is one of the best ways to make sure your wishes are followed. It can also give you peace of mind that your loved ones are provided for, should the worst happen to you.
You can find more information about making a will at Gov.uk.
Does my will cover my Amey OS pension?
It’s important to remember that your will does not cover any death benefits payable from your Amey OS pension.
You should separately update your Expression of Wish form to say where you’d like any lump sum death benefit payments from your pension to go if you die before you claim them. This cannot be covered in your will, as your Amey OS pension is separate to the rest of your estate.
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.
