A surprise pension

[Plantaholic]

That is great news Zizi, amazing you did' know about he pensions, it will make a difference to your retirement

[ZIZI]

Zizi - that's great. What a lovely surprise. I think most private work pension schemes try to contact you via your National Insurance number when you are approaching pension age, but it's even better when you find gold in old tins. Enjoy. xx

Daisy the pension was taken out when my husband was running the family farm/nursery and was registered at the accountants address who has since died and his practice taken in by others. Also at that point of reaching retirement we had long moved from our house and although we did have the post redirected for quite a while and the new owners used to redirect after that but then they moved. Certainly I have nev seen anything from NI regarding them. Husband leaves the opening of letters to me especially if they look official.

I also think that possibly the pension provider would have preferred for us not to have discovered them as the financial advisor found that they were accruing at a rate that would no longer be offered EVER and even though we hadn't paid into them they have given a very nice pot. The pension provider tried to persuade our finance man to sell the policies but, he admitted to us, he did not even refer to us and refused the offer as the income even if we only live a further fifteen years beyond 2021 would be far more than they were offering. The smaller, third pension, is not quite so good and husband cannot remember why he took it out but it was after he and I knew each other so we are guessing it had something to do with that.

[ZIZI]

Plant there were a couple of points in the past (I think we have spoken about in the car enroute to Brum) where finances were pretty "hectic" let's say. We had a farm which had been in the family for years but under insuring in error meant that the bad storms of years ago meant there was not enough money to rebuild the glasshouses that blew down (and took everything with them in their wake) consequently we had to borrow or we would not have be pen able to fulfill our contracts. Then we got American Thrip in a whole glasshouse of dahlias and it was a downward spiral from there. Not helped by his ex suddenly turning up and making demands when she was the unfaithful one and she even told a judge she could not look after the children and not only that she didn't want to to!!

if it wasn't for the fact that I am afraid of what creepy crawlies are in there I would go and open every flipping box & tin to see if there is anything else hiding!

[Plantaholic]

So pleased for you both Zizi, good job they were forgotten about as ex-wife might have expected her share.

[ZIZI]

Wouldn't be surprised if she didn't come a calling if she found out I can tell you!

[Daisy]

Zizi - your financial advisor is on the ball! Only last week we heard of someone who had bought an annuity with his private pension which was offering a much poorer return than if he'd left it where it was. You certainly had more than your share of bed luck with the storm, American Thrip and the Ex and then your OH's eye problems. I really admire the way you both have rebuilt your lives after everything that happened.