Oh, I agree.

It's just knowing how much money you need to pay into a scheme before you get more than a few pennies per week back once you've retired...

My Mum, for example, paid into a pension scheme with one of her employers. She gets something like £2 a week pension from it. I'm unlikely to ever actually retire, and I fully expect there not to be a state pension in its current form when/if I do (although being fully paid up as far as my NI contributions are concerned, I will be a little miffed if I get nothing back at all).

We are all living longer, thanks to medical advances, improved lifestyles and the NHS. Some of us are doing our best to not live healthy lifestyles, though, so you never know whether we've reached the apex of longevity now the Baby Boomers are retiring. It may be we're on the slippery slope back down to pre-NHS health levels and longevity.

Oh Heather, tell me you don't believe that old piece of guff about National Insurance...

Jon

Of course I don't.

I have been told I've paid my stamp. I no longer need to pay NIC - though I hope to voluntarily while I'm working. I know my taxes pay for those claiming pensions now. I take it to mean I've paid into the system sufficiently to prove I'm entitled to claim later - if there's anything left to claim.

Well my employer wasted no time - got an e-mail this morning saying I'll be enrolled on 1st November and can't opt out until at least 2nd November.

My contribution rate is 4.1% of gross monthly salary, my employer will contribute 16.7%. No idea if that's any good.

I'd say that's rather excellent. My current employer was paying about 10% to my 5%, and my previous employer's best contribution was 4%.

Bear in mind that you get your tax back on contributions too, there's a lot more money going into the kitty than out of your pocket. I doubt you'll ever see a better investment, provided you live to cash it in.

I would say that is excellent. Most employers will probably try and get away with much less. You need to put as much aside as possible considering the low returns on savings if you have any chance of getting a decent pension. Of course there are masses of unknown variables but at least pensions savings are tax deductible as well.

Another vote for excellent here. I know a lot of people who would kill for that level of employer contribution.