{"id":1014338,"date":"2026-06-09T01:48:17","date_gmt":"2026-06-09T01:48:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1014338\/"},"modified":"2026-06-09T01:48:17","modified_gmt":"2026-06-09T01:48:17","slug":"is-it-a-bad-idea-to-move-my-final-salary-pension-to-give-me-more-retirement-flexibility","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1014338\/","title":{"rendered":"Is it a bad idea to move my final salary pension to give me more retirement flexibility?"},"content":{"rendered":"

In our weekly series, readers can email in with any questions about retirement and pension<\/a> savings to be answered by our expert, Rachel Vahey, head of public policy at investment platform AJ Bell. There is nothing she does not know about pensions. If you have a question for her, email us at money@theipaper.com.<\/a><\/p>\n

Question: <\/strong>I am thinking of transferring my defined benefit pension to a defined contribution pension<\/a> where I can draw money down as and when I want. What do I need to think about? What are the pros and cons?<\/p>\n

Answer:<\/strong> Often referred to as gold-plated pension schemes, defined benefit pensions were once the standard workplace pension. But rising costs mean very few private sector schemes are still open, while public sector workers are more likely to still have access to them.<\/p>\n

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The foods the experts always have in the cupboard<\/p>\n

\nFoods to keep in the cupboard\n<\/p>\n

\"JohnCaption: John West tuna chunks in brine, ??1.50\/125g
Copyright: John West<\/p>\n

Tinned fish<\/p>\n

These are a great way to get Omega-3 fats and fish with soft bones are a great source of calcium, says dietician Emma Shafqat. <\/p>\n

Ready whole grains<\/p>\n

Dietitian Lucy Upton recommends brown rice, quinoa and barley which are low in salt.<\/p>\n

\"RiceRice cooked \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

\"\"Photographer: HakanEliacik \/ 500px
Provider: Getty Images\/500px Prime
Source: 500px Prime
Copyright: Hakan Eliacik \u2013 05062142485<\/p>\n

Olive oil<\/p>\n

Cold-pressed extra\u00a0virgin olive oil\u00a0has polyphenols and antioxidants, says Dr Frankie Phillips. <\/p>\n

\nFoods to keep in the cupboard\n<\/p>\n

Nuts and seeds<\/strong><\/p>\n

They boast unsaturated fats,\u00a0fibre, plant\u00a0protein, vitamins and minerals. Raw or dry roasted\u00a0should have no additives, like salt. Dr Shafqat recommends brands like Meridian, Pip & Nut and Whole Earth. <\/p>\n

\"ADried fruit
(Photo: Wirestock\/Getty\/iStockphoto\/Juergen Wiesler)<\/p>\n

\"Various <\/p>\n

Dried fruit <\/strong><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re mindful of the addd sugar, they can be great for fibre as part of a meal. Dr Phillips recommends dried apricots as they\u2019re verstaile and add iron to the diet.<\/p>\n

\"dark-chocolate\" <\/p>\n

Dark chocolate<\/p>\n

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It surprises many people that dark chocolate contains fibre.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

It counts as a health food thanks to\u00a0its high polyphenol count.\u00a0<\/p>\n

To really optimise the health benefits, choose chocolate\u00a0that is 70 per cent cocoa as it has fewer ingredients and a higher polyphenol content. <\/p>\n

Lindt 70 to 85 per cent, Green & Black\u2019s, Divine Fairtrade, Aldi\u2019s Moser Roth (70 per cent) and Lidl\u2019s own brand\u00a0(85 per cent) are great, accessible options.<\/p>\n

\nFoods to keep in the cupboard\n<\/p>\n

Oats<\/p>\n

Plain oats are a cheap, accessible and nutritious food that provide beta-glucan, a type of soluble fibre which helps to manage cholesterol levels.<\/p>\n

\"\"Packing out your curry with pulses (Photo: Michelle Garrett\/Getty)<\/p>\n

\"CloseCaption: Close up of a woman preparing a wholesome breakfast by pouring oats into a bowl from a plastic free jar with fresh berries.
Photographer: Dougal Waters
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Digital Vision
Copyright: Dougal Waters Photography Ltd<\/p>\n

Pulses<\/p>\n

Dr Phillips keeps canned cannellini beans, kidney beans, chickpeas and red lentils in the cupboard, and adds them to soups, stews and savoury mince dishes. <\/p>\n

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The UK\u2019s mild climate may be destroyed<\/p>\n

While much of the world is set to grow hotter as a result of the\u00a0climate crisis, the UK could soon face a different fate. <\/p>\n

Climate scientists fear a \u2018cold blob\u2019 in the Atlantic Ocean may bring Arctic conditions instead of a tropical future. <\/p>\n

Bill McGuire, a professor of geophysical and climate hazards at University College London (UCL), is one of them. <\/p>\n

Here he shares why cold temperatures could be our reality in a few decades.<\/p>\n

Why this could happen<\/p>\n

At the moment, global heating is making the UK hotter. This warmth is thanks to the presence of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), a system of currents over the Atlantic.\u00a0<\/p>\n