How Much Should You Have in Your Pension by Every Age (30–50) UK?

Worried you’re not saving “enough” for retirement while juggling a mortgage, childcare and everything else? You’re not alone. Most people I speak to have their savings and day-to-day spending roughly under control, but their pension is a complete mystery.

In this video, I walk you through exact pension pot targets for ages 30, 35, 40, 45 and 50 based on a £50,000 salary in the UK. Instead of vague rules like “x times your income”, I break it down into four clear lifestyle levels:

Elite – aiming for 80% of your current income in retirement

Good – on track for a comfortable, secure lifestyle

OK – workable but needs attention

Off track – where you may want to take action now

This is especially for busy UK professionals with a mortgage and young kids who want:

To know if they’re on track or behind

To understand how much to contribute (and why 8% is rarely enough)

To see how pensions and ISAs can work together for retirement

To learn how to catch up gradually without blowing up the family budget

We’ll cover:

Realistic pension targets at each age (30–50)

How to use 12–15% total contributions as a rule of thumb

A simple way to increase contributions 1% a year so it actually sticks

Why your late 40s and 50s are so powerful for compounding

How to think about your retirement lifestyle, not just the numbers

If you’re a couple in your 30s or 40s in the UK, earning a decent income but feeling behind, this video is designed to give you clarity, not judgment – and practical next steps you can actually take.

👉 If you found this helpful, please like the video, subscribe, and comment with your age and pension pot if you’d like me to cover more tailored examples in future videos.

This video is for education only and is not personal financial advice.