I have a large (but not large relative to price of house) interest only mortgage.
Most likely when my ultra low rate runs out in Feb 26 I will keep trying to max my pension and ISA and take out another IO mortgage.
Even at 4% i think it still makes sense to get the tax relief on the pension contributions, plus my company top up any pension sacrifice by the NI they save too, around 13% i think. Adds up.
700k is already tied up in the house, i dont really want more by paying off the principal

My mortgage is about 80k now at 55. It's at 1.3% for another 2.5 years. Household income 150k but drive both incomes down to £50k via pension contributions. I'm hopeful the cycle would have turned by Sept 26 and interest rates will be really low again. I suspect we'll pay it down then if not just to get it out of the way unless we are struggling to exhaust our higher rate bands in which case I'd remortgage just to up our pension contributions.

Outstanding Mortgage - £1.2m against £2.5m property at last valuation
£500k taken out in 2020 to put in markets (took out £1m in 2009 - then repaid some and took out more in 2014)
Have ability to repay mortgage from investment portfolio without touching UK BTL or UK pensions.
Want to max out ISA's and pensions for children - (Not particularly happy with the level of taxes paid by myself let alone whole family and still struggle to get my bins collected, an appointment to see a GP or the streets repaired)

Paid off my mortgage just before Covid for reasons of simplifying a Visa application...

No regrets, avoided some losses in 2020 by having sold investments to do it....

Definitely not masters of the universe though my annual tax bill is approx six figures - (will breach this year and this after putting the max in pensions - hence why made comment about maxing out for children)

Mortgage not a major worry - as pointed out portfolio will more than cover it.

Have options maturing on add to this. Then there is the BTL. On top is the the EBT and other pensions.

If markets sink then will obviously hurt but more worrying is loss of income and annual bonuses which will impede lifestyle. Just need to ensure that if markets sink then have enough cash or assets on call so as not to call upon portfolio. The exception is the share options which have to be realised - but can use losses to offset future gains but only if still in role.

Try and keep approx £250k in cash/like holdings (though down to £200k now as topped up children's pensions and ISA's) - should cover a couple of years expenses. Can also access pensions including 25% TFC.

BTL is not an investment strategy for me but an investment strategy for my future generations as are some of the pensions. Labour coming after them will hurt people who rely on income or are heavily geared through necessity - for ourselves it is by choice and bought for long term growth. The BTL's (and main residence to an extent) are there to help get access to finances at competitive rates whilst still earning and making use of available tax breaks. (FWIW We have paid off our mortgage in full 4 times already and then drawn monies out again for opportunities - in the last 20 years)

Our BTL portfolio are generally 3 bed semi-detached houses so can easily move into one if we hit s**ts creek.

The three biggest worries for me are
- Loss of income though unlikely to put me in the streets just yet unless
- family separation ie divorce and any settlement - be it myself or family members
- HMRC - As above my annual tax bill has started breaching six figures.

Wife has her own P/T Income and finances (though still a HRT payer) and puts all she earns into Gold and property and for children. As for normal expenditure (including replacing the car and its associated costs), she tends to misplace her debit or credit cards for her own accounts and raids the joint account. It is one of the reasons why I have shares in the likes of Amazon, M&S. If John Lewis had shares I would buy them also.

For home repairs and upkeep that apparently is a gentleman's duty even if the gentleman has no say as to what is being done, all on the basis that it is a lady that makes it a home for a gentleman to live in.