Financial Advisers in Enfield

Time out of work to raise children or care for someone, a few years part-time, a change of career: all of these are normal, and all of them can leave a quiet gap in your pension. This page looks at that gap, and what can be done about it, for households across the London Borough of Enfield.

Enfield in brief

Enfield is the most northerly London borough, bordering Hertfordshire. The M25 runs along its northern edge and the A10 runs through it towards Cheshunt. Enfield Town station is one of the northern ends of London Overground’s Weaver line, while Enfield Chase is on the Hertford Loop line, and the River Lea and the Lee Valley run along the borough’s eastern side. Forty Hall, a Grade I listed manor house run as a museum by the council, stands at Forty Hill to the north of the town, and the New River winds through the area.

Our office is in Roydon, in Essex, up the Lee Valley. Booking online sets up a free Google Meet video call, and you are welcome to meet us at the office if you prefer: call 0333 011 5550.

Where pension gaps come from

Workplace pensions are built from contributions, and contributions stop or shrink when earnings do. Someone who works part-time for several years, or steps away from paid work altogether, can end up with a much smaller pension than a partner whose career carried on unbroken, even when the household’s finances feel shared. Separation or divorce can bring the difference into sharp focus.

None of this is a reason to feel bad about the choices you made. It is simply worth knowing where you stand, so you can decide what, if anything, to do.

Four things you can check

1. Your State Pension record. You can get a forecast on GOV.UK, which shows whether there are gaps in your National Insurance record. Some periods of caring or claiming certain benefits may give you credits; others may leave gaps you can choose to fill.
2. Old workplace pensions. If you worked for several employers before a career break, you may have small pots you have lost track of. We can help trace them.
3. Your current contributions. If you are back at work, check whether your employer would pay in more if you increased your own contribution.
4. The household picture. Couples often plan as if pensions are shared, but legally they belong to the individual. Looking at both together makes the gap visible.

Ways to narrow the gap

Depending on your circumstances, options might include increasing workplace contributions, making personal pension contributions, or a partner paying into a pension for you. Each has its own rules and tax treatment, which depends on your individual circumstances and may change. We explain these in a first conversation and only recommend what suits you. Our pensions page has more detail, and we have a separate page on financial planning for women, who are more likely to have taken career breaks.

If you are separating, our guide to pensions and divorce explains why pensions should be part of the conversation.

Protecting the household while children are young

The years when one partner is at home are often when a family is most financially exposed. If the earning partner fell ill or died, how would the bills be paid? And if the partner at home could no longer look after the children, what would childcare cost? Family income benefit and other protection can be designed around both roles, not just the salary.

Mortgages on one income, or one and a half

Going down to one income can make a remortgage or a move feel daunting. Kealy can look across a wide range of lenders and explain how they are likely to view part-time or returning earnings. See our mortgages page and our guide to remortgages.

Nearby pages

Frequently asked questions

Important: This page is general information about the areas we serve and the services we offer. It is not personal financial advice. For advice on your specific circumstances, please get in touch.