James Hartley
Educational, not advice. James writes general, plain-English information about the armed forces pension schemes. He is not a regulated financial adviser, so everything here is an estimate to help you understand your pension, not personal financial advice.
About James
James Hartley spent 22 years in the British Army, much of it in unit personnel and pensions administration, before specialising in armed forces pensions. He now writes the scheme guides, scenario pages and glossary on this site, and leads the research behind every figure.
Through resettlement briefings he kept meeting the same problem: people knew their leaving date and their deposit, but had no clear idea what their pension was actually worth, once commutation, EDP or the McCloud remedy came into it. The questions he answered in person are the questions this site was built to answer.
“Your pension is often the biggest number in the whole resettlement, and the one people understand least. This calculator exists so anyone can see what they will get, in plain English, before they sign anything.”
Today James cross-references every rate and factor against gov.uk, the Government Actuary's Department and Veterans UK guidance, and updates the calculators and guides whenever the rules or the annual increase change.
Service & experience
British Army, 22 years' service, including unit personnel administration and pensions and records duties, finishing as a Warrant Officer.
Resettlement information officer, briefing service leavers on pensions, EDP and transition.
Armed Forces Pension Calculator, author of the scheme guides, scenario pages and glossary, and lead researcher behind the figures.
Background & qualifications
Pensions & JPA administration
In-service unit personnel and pensions/records duties across a full Army career.
MOD resettlement (CTP) briefing
Briefed service leavers on pensions, EDP and the move to civilian life as a Resettlement IERO.
Ongoing scheme study
Tracks AFPS rule changes, the annual CPI increase and GAD factors each year.
Subject proficiency
Areas covered
Every figure on the site is cross-checked against gov.uk Armed Forces pensions guidance, the Government Actuary's Department (GAD) and Veterans UK, and updated whenever the rules or the annual increase change.
Recent articles
Work out your pension
Use the calculator James helps maintain to get an instant AFPS estimate.
Open the calculator