We interviewed colleague and pension advisor Daniëlle. In this interview, Daniëlle talks about the need to accrue a pension, changes around retirement and what we can do for you. Read the entire interview with Daniëlle below.
Do you receive a lot of questions from customers about pensions?
Daniëlle: “That's right, and that's not surprising — retirement is a complicated matter. I often hear these questions: can I retire earlier or when can I retire; what can I invest myself to receive a good income even after retirement (for both independent entrepreneurs and employees); what can I do with my expiring annuity, Golden Handshake or pension policy; what is my catch-up space (the amount you can deposit each year with a tax benefit) over the past 10 years; what happens financially if one of the two partners drops out; and what happens if I become incapacitated for work? These are the most frequently asked questions but of course we help everyone with every question — no question is too crazy for us.”
How does DGA work and what solutions can DGA offer?
Daniëlle: “DGA takes a financial photo for each customer. This can be done via the DigiD app, making it even easier for the customer. Everything is uploaded to our system in just a few clicks so that we can get started right away. We then contact the customer and go through everything. If the customer opts for an investment solution, we contact them every year to see if adjustments need to be made. The pension is fully monitored so that the customer is not surprised by the end date. In addition, we not only look at the pension but also immediately take into account the situation in the event of death and disability. And if the customer has a partner, the partner also gets immediate insight into their pension situation. We are independent, so we can get the best product out of the market for the customer from a large number of parties.”
What does it mean if a customer hires DGA?
“Pension advice provides insight into what pensions are available, what the options are and what may still need to be built up. It gives you peace of mind if you know where you stand financially. If you accrue pension via an annuity account, you receive part of this deposit back via income tax, so this provides financial benefits,” says Daniëlle.
Why do you have to start your retirement planning on time?
If you start planning for retirement on time, your investment can pay off longer and you have to invest relatively less yourself than if you start saving or investing at a later date.
Much has changed with regard to pensions — can you tell us about it?
Since 2023, the space that can be invested in an annuity has been increased (and thus the amount that can be deducted from income for tax purposes). In addition, you were previously only allowed to count back 7 years for your catch-up space, which has now become 10 years. Especially for people who had an income above €73,032 in 2023, this is fiscally interesting. It has also been possible for a number of years to have pensions accrued with the employer commence a maximum of 10 years earlier, so that many people can retire earlier.
Why do people choose DGA?
Daniëlle explains: “Over the years, a lot has changed in the pension and annuity rules, making it impossible for most people to see what is and isn't possible now. It often appears in a conversation that more is possible than most people initially thought. With us, the customer gets full insight into the situation in a face-to-face conversation and afterwards in a report. This report simply states what the net income is after retirement date and what it consists of.” Are you curious about your pension and would you like an informal conversation with Daniëlle or one of our other advisors? Get in touch with us!
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