u/Jaded-Sport2483

The KIID for VWRP shows the risk rating as 6, but the KIID for FWRG shows it as 5. Why is that, when they both track the same index?

As people approach retirement (or any other time when they anticipate having to draw from their investments), why are they typically advised to start moving from 100% equities portfolios to a mixture of equities and bonds? Bonds are supposedly low risk, but global bonds lost 20% of their value between November 2021 and September 2022. That doesn't sound like low risk at all.

For example, Vanguard LifeStrategy 60% Equities Fund is typically chosen for someone looking to retire in 5 years. Looking at the chart, this still shows a lot of volatility. Over the last 10 years, it returned about 100%. But if someone invested 60% in ACWI and 40% in CSH2 (Amundi Smart Overnight Return) -- or even a high-interest building society account -- then their portfolio would have got them about 150%. And CSH2 certainly seems much less volatile to me, so I don't see why it's not chosen instead of bonds. What am I misunderstanding?

Can I just confirm with people on here who are more familiar with the rules than I am.

I'm still a few years away from state pension age, but I intend to retire in a couple of months. So my earned income will be only 2 or 3 months' worth of salary. I already pay a total of around 20% through salary sacrifice.

When I retire, I will initially take a tax-free lump sum and start a DB pension.

As well as the DB pension, I also have a SIPP, which I don't intend to draw from just yet. I am thinking of making an extra contribution to my SIPP. What's the maximum amount I can make so that HMRC can add the 25% tax rebate?

Also, can I continue making contributions to the SIPP in the following years? If so, would that be limited to £2880 (plus the £720 tax rebate)?