Comparing the 9 to 5 Working Life Vs Investing in Property

Analysing where we are likely to end up if we work the 9 to 5 and pay into the average pension rather than taking control and investing in the property market for income.

Traditionally we are told to pay into our pensions and buy our own home and then live a happy life, but what if we actually took a moment to realise that just doing average is just not good enough when it comes to the point of retirement.

With the national average wage currently set at £27,600 a year, those who save the 8% minimum pension contribution would have to work until age 77 in order to achieve what is coined as the Gold Standard pension of two thirds of their pre-pension salary.

Even if you were to achieve the Silver Standard of half your pre-pension salary you would still have to work until you are aged 71 with no breaks.

This no doubt paints a rather bleak picture for most of you. Of course those calculations are based on today, who knows where the goal posts will be in 20 years’ time.

The idea of winding down as we get older appears for many as an unachievable ideal. If you are banking on your pension giving you a retirement of comfort it could be wise that you now, consider other alternatives to boost your savings so that you are ultimately taking control of your financial future and perhaps setting yourself up for a more ideal retirement.

Even investing in property can lead to a situation where you find yourself with the option to move away from employment altogether and become financially free and independent of relying on the need to actually go to work.

Property values are continuing to increase, bank savings rates are continuing their declines, pension pay-outs are falling but the buy-to-let residential market is booming here in the UK and perhaps now the market is primed for a stretch of growth.

An average rent is now £743 a month and with the population in the UK rising rapidly we are seeing internal migration increase along with people living longer. This means that currently an investor purchasing a property at the right price in the right area is able to see a good 9 to 10% NET from the rents whereas the return from a pension averages an abysmal 4.3%.

FJP Investment is a team of investment specialists sourcing a wide range of investment opportunities both in the UK and overseas, including buy-to-let property investments.

Alex Evans

You May Also Enjoy

AI in estate agency letting agency property
Estate Agent Talk

AI property search not yet mainstream

The latest research by GetAgent.co.uk has revealed that while artificial intelligence is increasingly being embraced across the property industry, the technology has yet to become a mainstream tool for buyers and sellers when it comes to searching for and marketing homes. GetAgent commissioned a survey* of UK estate agents to understand how widely AI-powered search…
Read More
Breaking News

70% of Britain’s housing market is in recovery with prices trending upwards

The latest research from Yopa reveals that 70% of the British housing market is now in recovery with prices trending upwards following the challenging conditions of the past two years. This is despite the broader national picture showing that average house prices have edged down over the last six months. Yopa analysed six months of…
Read More
Breaking News

Breaking Property News 12/3/26

Daily bite-sized proptech and property news in partnership with Proptech-X.   ‘The actual work, making smart procurement decisions, protecting the owner’s budget was buried under a mountain of emails and calls’ Rihards Trops CEO of TenderPro   Every property manager knows the feeling. You need to find a contractor, get three comparable quotes, coordinate site visits,…
Read More
Breaking News

Renters’ Rights Act already driving surge in tenant complaints

“Renters’ Rights effect” drives unprecedented demand dispute resolution Industry redress scheme flooded with enquiries ahead of Act going live in May   THE IMPENDING implementation of the Renters’ Rights Act has already led to unprecedented demand for The Property Ombudsman’s services, as more tenants seek support to resolve disputes fairly and independently. In the four…
Read More
Breaking News

Rights Act: Key changes renters need to know — new rules start on 1 May 2026

The Renters’ Rights Act is a major overhaul of the rules that govern renting in England, the biggest in decades. Propertymark, the UK’s leading body for property professionals, wants renters to understand what’s coming and how it will affect them. The next wave of changes under the Act will take effect on 1 May 2026.…
Read More
Breaking News

What Would Make Me Stay: How Tenants Are Redefining What Home Really Means

68% of tenants say the single biggest factor that would make them stay in their rental home long term is the relationship with their landlord or agent, above rent levels, location, or the quality of the property itself. That is the headline finding from LRG’s Winter 2025/26 Lettings Report, and it points to something the…
Read More