Since the Budget 2014 and the changes to the UK Pension Scheme, there seems to be much confusion from various angles. However the reforms are relatively simple when broken down, the significant changes will not be implemented until April 2015 after industry consultation. In the interim there will be some changes right away. Here we […]
Retirement
Worldwide retirement news and information, strategies, commentary and advice, including editorials on annuities and new products. Learn about the legislation changes affecting your future, and the planning strategies needed to secure a more comfortable retirement.
UK Pension Terms Explained
April 21, 2014
Pensions are never far from being in the financial headlines. We all know it’s something we need to be thinking about, but every time we try to read something about it, something more instantly interesting tends to crop up and we brush any thoughts of the future under the carpet for the time being. ‘It […]
Scrapping of annuities in April budget leaves experts reeling
March 26, 2014
Speculation has been rife for the future of the pension industry after Chancellor George Osborne released the April budget for 2014. Will the new freedoms bestowed to pensioners spell an increase in cruise package purchases? Sports cars? Or will people handle their pensions with care – even if they are not forced to buying into […]
As new LTA deadline looms QROPS enquiries to grow
March 17, 2014
Many UK pension holders will face hefty tax burdens when the pension lifetime allowance (LTA) drops from GBP 1.5 million to GBP 1.25 million in April. Yet future retirees are failing to take action to protect their fund across the UK, even with the threat of facing charges as high as 55%. LTA history The […]
SiPP Savers Face Tighter Investment Rules
March 12, 2014
Pensioner savers with self-invested personal pensions (SiPPs) are about to have their investment choice limited by regulators. The Financial Conduct Authority believes too many SiPP savers are putting their retirement cash into risky investments, so is moving to tighten up the rules. The FCA is also looking at altering how much cash SiPP providers should […]
U.S. public pension funding hits 75%
March 5, 2014
According to the latest annual report by Wilshire Consulting, American public pensions funding has grown after 2013’s larger investment returns. The investment analytics and consulting firm projected that 134 public retirement schemes had sufficient assets to cover almost three quarters of their obligations for the year ending on the 30th of June, 2013. This is […]
Clarity coming to UK’s pension industry
February 25, 2014
Fund managers from across the UK’s pension industry will be forced to reveal any and all hidden costs associated with their pension schemes in the face of new legislation. These costs regularly wipe thousands of pounds off a worker’s pension, and The Times states the new Government rules will ensure defined contribution workplace scheme fund […]
FCA warns UK annuities market not working: But can they rectify the market?
February 18, 2014
Each year 420,000 annuities are sold in the UK, and now UK watchdog the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has pledged to shake up the GBP 14 billion-a-year market, after finding it “disorderly.” The news comes after an extensive review by the FCA which covered the 25 most popular annuities firms covering 98% of the market. […]
Clarity needed on QROPS income pre-55 years old
February 13, 2014
Since the 6th of April 2010, the normal minimum pension age in the UK has been 55 years old. However, in many other countries across the European Union (EU) and indeed the world, pension benefits can be taken as early as 50. This has caused some confusion in the QROPS industry over whether to follow […]
Waitrose’s ‘golden pension’ under fire
February 4, 2014
With its 3.1% rise in sales over the festive period, and its consequent cementing in the key Christmas trading period, you may have been thinking all is rosy at upmarket grocer Waitrose. Yet beneath the record sales is a record pension deficit currently totalling GBP 840 million. Revealed after an investigation in March 2013, the […]
