Transcript

Planning for a 100-Year Life – 10 Things You Need to Think About

Date: 09/07/2026

Presenters: Scott Gallacher, Chartered Financial Planner, and Martin Stanley, Chartered Financial Planner, of Rowley Turton

Overview

This webinar explored the growing reality of longer lives and what that means for retirement planning. With more people than ever living into their 90s and beyond, the session was designed to help clients and prospective clients understand the key financial and lifestyle considerations involved in planning for a retirement that could last 30, 40 or even 50 years. The session was educational in nature, with no product recommendations, and covered ten important themes from cash flow modelling to legacy planning.

Key topics covered

• Longer lives becoming the norm: 16,600 people in the UK celebrated their 100th birthday in 2024 — double the figure from 2004 — with statistical evidence suggesting that a significant proportion of people aged 60 today may live well into their 90s or beyond
• The changing shape of retirement: Retirement is not one uniform period but moves through distinct stages — pre-retirement, active “golden years”, a quieter middle phase, and a later legacy stage — each requiring different planning approaches
• The “enough” number: Rather than relying on generic government guidelines (such as the £43,900 figure cited for a comfortable single-person retirement), clients are encouraged to define the lifestyle they want across each stage of retirement and plan from there
• Non-financial aspects of retirement: The importance of staying active, maintaining social connections and having purposeful activities was emphasised, with the “21 boxes” concept (morning, afternoon and evening across seven days) introduced as a practical planning tool. The “5 Cs” of successful ageing — connectivity, curiosity, challenge, creativity and charity — were also referenced
• Cash flow modelling: Rowley Turton uses detailed cash flow modelling software to project a client’s financial position through to age 100, helping identify whether they are on track, at risk of running short, or in a position to spend more or give more to family
• Protecting the first years of retirement: For many people, the gap between stopping work and reaching state pension age creates a heavier initial draw on savings. Understanding how this compares to later years — when state pension or defined benefit income may cover much of the spending need — is an important part of early retirement planning
• Planning for possible care costs: Around one in four people will need residential care, with an average stay of roughly four years. Whilst care costs are real and should be factored in, the presenters cautioned against allowing this concern to dominate planning to the detriment of enjoying retirement. Reviewing wills and ensuring lasting powers of attorney are in place were highlighted as practical first steps
• Inflation: Inflation can quietly erode the purchasing power of savings over a long retirement. Someone needing £35,000 a year in 2005 would need almost £63,000 today to maintain the same standard of living. Cash held on deposit, particularly during periods of low interest rates, may not keep pace with inflation over time
• Investment positioning: The traditional approach of reducing investment risk as retirement approaches does not always suit those drawing income over a long period via drawdown. Maintaining some growth potential may be appropriate, depending on individual circumstances, though investment risk tolerance may reasonably reduce with age
• Legacy planning and regular reviews: The presenters discussed the balance between spending on oneself and preserving wealth for the next generation, a “10 to 1” rule of thumb around intergenerational wealth transfer, and the importance of treating financial planning as an ongoing process rather than a one-off exercise

Key takeaways

• Plan for a longer retirement than you might expect — statistics suggest a meaningful chance of living into your 90s or beyond, and planning to age 100 provides a much more comfortable safety margin
• Retirement has distinct stages with different spending needs and priorities — a single, static plan is unlikely to serve you well across a 30 or 40-year retirement
• Start with the life you want, not a generic income figure — defining your lifestyle goals first leads to far more meaningful and personalised planning
• Cash flow modelling removes the guesswork — understanding your financial position projected over time gives clarity and peace of mind
• Do not allow concern about future care costs to overshadow the retirement you could be enjoying today — plan for it, but keep it in proportion
• Inflation is a long-term risk that cash savings alone may not adequately address over a multi-decade retirement
• Consider what your money is ultimately for — if you have more than enough, spending more, gifting earlier or reducing investment risk may all be appropriate
• Financial planning works best as a regular, ongoing process — the world changes, and your plan should change with it

Important information

This webinar is provided for general information purposes only and does not constitute personal financial advice. The content reflects general commentary at the time of the webinar and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional advice tailored to your individual circumstances.

Rowley Turton is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. If you would like to discuss any of the topics covered in this webinar in relation to your own financial position, please contact us to arrange a consultation.

The value of investments and the income from them can fall as well as rise. You may get back less than you invest. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and may be subject to change.

Free resources

• How to Plan for a 100-Year Life — a free guide covering the key themes discussed in this session, available to download or on request
• 50 Today, 100 Tomorrow — Scott Gallacher’s book on planning for a longer retirement, available on Amazon or as a complimentary copy on request. Please contact us with your postal address to receive a free copy

Speak to us

If you would like to discuss your own circumstances, we would be delighted to arrange a no-obligation telephone call, video meeting or face-to-face conversation with Scott or Martin.