Providing for your retirement has never been so urgent a topic as it is now. At the time of writing this book, there has barely been a week go by without some item in the newspapers relating to pensions in some form or another. Yet most people are turned off by the subject.

I hope that this book will serve as a wake-up call to those who are tempted to put off providing for their retirement. Although it is specifically aimed at people running small businesses, the methods of contributing to your pension can be used by anybody. I have tried to set out the possibilities in plain, non-technical language. Inevitably, however, certain technical terms are used. I have tried to explain these, and there is a glossary of terms at the end of the book. There is also, following this preface, a list of the abbreviations used in writing about pensions. Put a bookmark in that page so that you can refer to it when you come across the abbreviations.

Throughout this book there are tips to help you make provision for your retirement in the most tax-effective way. Look for them highlighted in boxes in the text.

I place on record my thanks to the people who have helped me compile this book. First, my publisher who suggested this book, and encouraged me to write it. Certain technical information has been supplied by the James Hay Pensions Consultancy. Ian Avery, the pensions consultant of City Wall Financial Management Ltd. has been more than generous with his time in reviewing the content and suggesting areas that needed to be covered. Last, but by no means least, thanks to my wife, who has put up with my obsessions while writing this book.

I have tried to keep technical jargon to a minimum, and explain the subject in plain English. However, a certain number of abbreviations are unavoidable in this subject, and the list below explains what they mean. Keep a bookmark in this page to refer to it when you come across one of these abbreviations.