{"type":"document","data":{"contentType":"onecms:productPage","flexPageMetadata":{"afmBanner":false,"description":"Discover what a realistic monthly contribution could look like, calculate your annual pension allowance, and adjust your contributions whenever your financial situation changes.","robotInstruction":{"noFollow":false,"noIndex":false}},"flexZone":{"flexComponents":[{"componentType":"sectionTitle"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"<p>Sofia owns and runs a boutique. Depending on the season, her annual business income varies between approximately €35,000 and €55,000. She invests a significant amount of time and money into her business, which means planning for retirement has often taken a back seat. Now, she wants to build more financial security for the future without committing to a fixed contribution that could put pressure on her business.</p><blockquote><p>I want financial peace of mind later in life, but my contributions need to reflect what my business can realistically afford at any given time<span lang=\"NL\" dir=\"ltr\"><span><span>.</span></span></span></p></blockquote>"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"Sofia determines what she can comfortably set aside"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"<p>Sofia reviews her expected state pension (AOW), any pension benefits she may have built up previously, and her personal financial reserves. For example, she keeps around €15,000 aside as a personal emergency fund, separate from the working capital she needs to run her boutique. In a quieter year, she may contribute €150 per month. After a successful season, she wants the flexibility to increase her contributions or make an additional lump-sum payment of €2,500 at the end of the year, provided this fits within her available tax-efficient pension allowance.</p><p>When planning her pension, Sofia considers:</p><ul><li>Her expected state pension and any pension savings built up previously</li><li>A personal emergency fund of approximately €15,000, separate from business funds</li><li>Her available annual contribution allowance, which changes with her income</li><li>A regular contribution of around €150 per month</li><li>The flexibility to contribute an extra €2,500 after a successful year or temporarily pause contributions when needed</li></ul>"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"Sofia chooses flexibility and control"},{"alignedImage":{"position":"right","extension":"svg","original":"https://assets.ing.com/asset/3fb33201-ccf7-4f49-a055-3a539539c50c/Business-Investing-spot.svg","transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/3fb33201-ccf7-4f49-a055-3a539539c50c/Business-Investing-spot"},"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"<p>Sofia is looking for a straightforward solution that doesn&apos;t require much time or effort. She starts with an amount that remains affordable even during slower months. When business is doing well, she can increase her contributions. This allows her to grow her pension in line with the financial performance of her boutique. She selects an investment profile that matches her preference for stability and values being able to track her progress easily.</p>"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"Why is Pension Investing a good fit for Sofia?"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"<ul><li>As a business owner, she doesn&apos;t automatically build up a pension through an employer</li><li>She wants a simple way to build wealth for the future</li><li>She values the flexibility to adjust contributions as her income changes</li><li>She can start small, contribute more after a strong season, or pause contributions if necessary</li><li>She can choose from five ING Select Index Funds, ranging from very defensive to very growth-oriented, depending on the level of investment risk she is comfortable with. If her circumstances change, she can adjust her investment profile accordingly</li></ul>"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"Ready to start building your pension, even with a variable income?"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"<p>Discover what a realistic monthly contribution could look like, calculate your annual pension allowance, and adjust your contributions whenever your financial situation changes.</p><p>Please note: Investing involves risks. You may lose some or all of the money you invest.</p>"}},{"cards":[{"cardSize":"small","cardType":"product","componentType":"productCard","image":{"extension":"svg","original":"https://assets.ing.com/asset/6da2e7ec-5fef-450b-a729-f98fb2fea0a8/Pension-Consultation_Product_Cards_Retail.svg","publishedAt":"2026-09-22T12:44:32Z","transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/6da2e7ec-5fef-450b-a729-f98fb2fea0a8/Pension-Consultation_Product_Cards_Retail","type":"image","updatedAt":"2026-09-22T12:46:33Z","width":64},"link":{"url":"/en/business/pension/tax-benefit-annual-allowance"},"title":"Calculate annual allowance"},{"cardSize":"small","cardType":"product","componentType":"productCard","image":{"extension":"svg","original":"https://assets.ing.com/asset/744733d9-a369-4e41-a276-80fc79dfee8c/Pension-spot.svg","publishedAt":"2026-06-25T09:02:42Z","transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/744733d9-a369-4e41-a276-80fc79dfee8c/Pension-spot","type":"image","updatedAt":"2026-06-25T09:06:45Z","width":160},"link":{"url":"/en/business/investments/pension-investing"},"title":"More about pension"}],"componentType":"cards"}]},"hasMacro":false,"id":"e2d9111a-eada-4fb3-a70e-8b9db358f0a4","localeString":"en-GB","mainHeaderZone":{"backLink":{"textLink":{"text":"Pension","url":"/en/business/pension"}},"componentType":"productHeader","coreHeader":{"headerImage":{"altTextNL":"retourpinnen in kledingwinkel","extension":"jpg","original":"https://assets.ing.com/asset/ff74512f-afde-45a3-8216-13e565ac1165/Woman-shops-for-clothing-in-street-market.jpg","publishedAt":"2021-12-21T00:00:00Z","transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/ff74512f-afde-45a3-8216-13e565ac1165/Woman-shops-for-clothing-in-street-market","type":"image","updatedAt":"2023-12-21T21:10:08Z","width":4096},"subtitle":"How does Sofia build up a pension with an income that changes throughout the year?","title":"Sofia (40) | Boutique owner"}},"publishDate":"2026-10-01T14:37:02.540+02:00"}}