The current financial crisis has brought into sharper focus the dilemma that most people face. Namely, how to prepare for their retirement and what is the best option for them. There is no one, simple answer unfortunately, as everyone’s circumstances are different. However, it does make sense to familiarise yourself with as many options as possible.

Assuming that you have built up a pension pot, the next step is how to use it. One option is to take out an annuity using the money, and therefore guaranteeing an income for life. If taking this route, it is important to make sure that you seek out the best annuities for smokers .

This is not as straightforward as it might at first sound, because there are many different factors involved. These include where you live, your health, your marital status and much more besides.

Shopping around for advice is almost as important as shopping around for the best rates. Seeking out good, independent financial advice will help you to make the decision which is best for you and lead to a more financially comfortable retirement.

It is never too early to start thinking of your finances in terms of pensions and retirement, and with the internet at your fingertips, you can simply begin browsing today in order to broaden your knowledge base about the subject.