Standard Life says 5-year pension pause after shift to self-employment cuts retirement pot by £31,000

By Public Technologies
  • Standard Life analysis flagged pension under-saving risk for workers shifting into skilled trades, particularly when moving into self-employment.
  • Modeling showed a £30,000 salary saver at minimum auto-enrolment could reach £252,000 by age 68.
  • A five-year contribution pause at ages 25-30 cut the modeled pot to £221,000, a £31,000 reduction.
  • Raising contributions to 12% from age 30 lifted the modeled pot to £353,000, a £101,000 gain versus minimum saving.
  • Separate survey results showed 33% reduced, paused, or stopped contributions after becoming self-employed; 18% increased them.


Disclaimer: This news brief was created by Public Technologies (PUBT) using generative artificial intelligence. While PUBT strives to provide accurate and timely information, this AI-generated content is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial, investment, or legal advice. Standard Life plc published the original content used to generate this news brief on September 23, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained therein.

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