Contact

News & Insights

City watchdog to probe pension freedom rip-offs

Clearly, shopping around for the right pension can mean the difference between a miserable and comfortable retirement.  When deciding what do with your pension, it is crucial that you receive appropriate independent advice to explain what options are available.  Many people are used to doing this for their insurance needs already, so it makes sense to do the same with the form of income that will dictate what sort of lifestyle you have on retirement.

Therefore, the review will focus on understanding the extent to which pensioners can compare the larger range of retirement options available to them since the introduction of the new pension freedoms.  The FCA was quoted as saying: ‘We want to understand whether savers can compare products, shop around, switch providers where they are not receiving what they want and make good, informed, decisions’. 

The watchdog’s remit is to look at the availability of options for people moving towards retirement.

 

This communication is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice, investment recommendations or investment research. You should seek advice from a professional adviser before embarking on any financial planning activity. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the information contained in this communication is correct, we are not responsible for any errors or omissions.

Other News

Alternatives for Savers?

Blacktower Alternative SavingsYour cash is earning nothing in the bank, in fact it’s actually losing its worth in all probability because of the corrosive effect of inflation.  Even ostriches have to raise their heads at some point, if only to breathe.

Quite frankly it’s time for people to start taking control of their money instead of letting the banks bleed them.  In the days we are in now with increased life expectancy, a longer wait for retirement and the pension freedoms that there are around, there could not be a better time for savers to act and improve their lot.  So you go to see a financial adviser, what is he going to say?

Read More

Defined Benefit Plan Deficit Raises Questions

Piggy bankA pension transfer is not for everyone and there will be many factors to weigh up before making the decision to transfer from an existing scheme into a QROPS, SIPPs or other structure.

However, a great deal of doubt remains about the long-term viability of the nation’s defined benefit plans, with the high-profile collapse of a number of such schemes leading many to question their reliability and suitability.

And these doubts have only been increased by the recent revelation from Mercer that during 2017/18 the accounting deficit for the defined benefit plans of the UK’s top 350 FTSE organisations increased by 28% to £41 billion, mainly because of a £19 billion drop in asset values (from £766 billion to £747 billion).

Read More

Select your country

Please select your country of residence so we can provide you with the most relevant information: