‘Intrinsic bias’ in DC pension system drives wedge into savings disparity
An “intrinsically biased” pension system, the gender pay gap, and the disadvantage caused to women’s savings by career breaks is continuing to cause “stark gender disparity” in retirement wealth,...
View ArticleJessica List: Early woes for investment pathways
After months of consultation and Covid-19 related delays, the regulator’s ‘investment pathways’ requirements finally went live on 1 February 2021. The new rules arose from the Financial Conduct...
View ArticleHard-hit NHS staff: Advisers discuss new tax year challenges
NHS staff and other public sector works are likely to be some of the hardest-hit taxpayers this year, according to advisers looking ahead to potential fallout from Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s recent...
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Chris Jones: No investor is an island
If you lived and worked on an isolated island community and were able to source everything you needed from your fellow islanders, retirement would be a relatively simple thing to plan. You would earn...
View ArticleRP case studies: Transfers in drawdown explained
Pension freedom and choice has had a huge impact on the income drawdown market, which continues to grow and evolve to meet client demands. However, despite the amount of product development in this...
View ArticleLV’s capital uncertainty and ‘inconsistent statements’ targeted by MPs
The management of LV= has been heavily criticised by MPs for failing to provide a clear and reliable picture of its capital position in light of its proposed sale to Bain Capital. The firm’s...
View ArticleDitch complex rise in normal minimum pension age – Quilter
Plans to increase the normal minimum pension age (NMPA) to 57 should be annulled, or transitional protections removed, amid “scant evidence” to support the decision, says Quilter. Coupled with...
View ArticleNominations open for Women in Financial Advice Awards 2021
Retirement Planner and Professional Adviser are pleased to announce that nominations for the 2021 Women in Financial Advice Awards are now open. There are a some new categories in the awards this...
View ArticlePensions dashboard issues digital design tender in ‘significant milestone’
The Pensions Dashboards Programme has issued a call for tender applications from digital designers to come up with options on how the portal will look to end-users. The long-running project, being...
View ArticleOne of the youngest British Steel victims: 24-year-old tells transfer tale
Having come through the British Steel apprentice scheme in 2010, the youthful steelworker, who preferred not to be named, says he was like any other young person and was not hugely concerned about his...
View ArticleRachel Vahey: Four key takeaways from WPC Scams Report
The Work and Pensions Committee (WPC) has recently published its report into pension scams. I had a special interest in reading this as I gave evidence to the committee on what AJ Bell’s experience...
View ArticleAviva names Rob Barker retirement business managing director
Rob Barker has been named Aviva’s UK savings and retirement managing director after the departure of Lindsey Rix. Barker was previously managing director of the insurer’s health and protection business...
View ArticlePension transfer values recover after February dip – XPS
Defined benefit (DB) pension transfer values recovered by about a third last month after February’s sharp fall, according to figures from consultant XPS. The firm’s monthly transfer commentary said...
View ArticleThree in court in connection with £14m pension fraud
Three people have appeared in court in connection with an investigation into pension fraud totalling nearly £14m. Alan Barratt, Susan Dalton, and Julian Hanson appeared before Westminster Magistrates’...
View ArticleRP case studies: Business expansion through SSAS employer loan
Sisters, Kerry and Jessica, run their property consultancy business as a limited company, of which they are the only shareholders and directors. It has been trading successfully for over a decade and...
View ArticleChris Read: What will pensions look like 99 years from now?
Prince Philip the Duke of Edinburgh had a long and colourful life. Much has been said about the man and the service he gave to the country and Commonwealth. He was of course a man well-travelled. Born...
View ArticleIFA denies responsibility after affiliate cold call leads to unsuitable...
The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) has ordered a corporate finance firm, Alexander David Securities, to pay compensation to a client over a £14,000 loss arising from a pension transfer. The unnamed...
View ArticleCaroline Holley: Safeguarding clients’ finances during a lockdown divorce
It has now been more than a year since Boris Johnson first announced that we were to “stay at home” and we are finally seeing the gradual lifting of restrictions. Those restrictions imposed over the...
View ArticleTwo-thirds of retirees risk running pension pots dry – Standard Life Aberdeen
Two-thirds of people set to retire this year run the risk of not having enough pension savings to sustain their desired level of income, according to a report from Standard Life Aberdeen. The...
View ArticleFSCS declares two British Steel adviser firms in default
The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) has declared nine financial advice firms in default in March, two of which advised on British Steel transfers. Between 1 and 31 March, the lifeboat...
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