£600/month Pension from Age 42
Retirement at 65 · 23 years · UK pension projection
Projected pension pot at 65 — £600/month from Age 42
| Growth assumption | Pot at age 65 | Annual income (4% drawdown) | Monthly income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative (4%/yr) | £270,982 | £10,839 | £903 |
| Moderate (6%/yr) | £355,351 | £14,214 | £1,185 |
| Optimistic (8%/yr) | £473,239 | £18,930 | £1,578 |
| Total you contribute | £165,600 | over 23 years | |
How your pot grows — £600/month at 6% annual growth
| Age | Years saving | Projected pot (6%) | Contributed so far |
|---|---|---|---|
| 47 | 5 | £41,862 | £36,000 |
| 52 | 10 | £98,328 | £72,000 |
| 57 | 15 | £174,491 | £108,000 |
| 62 | 20 | £277,225 | £144,000 |
Figures are future nominal values. Assumes £600/month contributed consistently with monthly compounding at 6% annual growth. Does not include employer contributions or inflation adjustment.
State Pension supplement
The full new State Pension in 2025-26 is £11,502/year (£958/month) for those with 35 qualifying NI years. Add this to your private pension income to estimate total retirement income. At 6% growth, your private pension adds £1,185/month — giving a combined £2,143/month if you qualify for the full State Pension.
Frequently asked questions
How much will I have in my pension if I save £600/month from age 42?
If you save £600/month from age 42 to age 65 (23 years), your projected pension pot is £270,982 at 4% annual growth, £355,351 at 6%, or £473,239 at 8%. You will have contributed £165,600 in total; the rest is investment growth.
What income will £355,351 in a pension provide?
Using the 4% sustainable withdrawal rate — a common rule of thumb — £355,351 provides approximately £14,214/year (£1,185/month) in retirement income. This does not include the State Pension (currently £11,502/year full new State Pension in 2025-26), which would supplement your private pension income.
Is £600/month enough for a pension?
The Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association defines a 'moderate' retirement standard as around £31,300/year for a single person. To assess whether £600/month is enough, compare your projected income of £1,185/month to your expected retirement expenses, factoring in the State Pension and any other income sources.
How does employer matching affect my pension at £600/month?
The projections above show personal contributions only. If your employer matches contributions — typically 3–6% of salary — your total monthly pension saving could be significantly higher. For auto-enrolment, the minimum total is 8% of qualifying earnings (3% employer + 5% employee). Adding your employer contribution to £600/month will increase your final pot proportionally.