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ABI and FCA Highlight Pensions Advice Shortfall

More recently, the ABI revealed their research** showing only one-third of retirement savers who are utilising new pension freedoms in order to access their pension savings are taking independent financial advice before doing so. This should be a cause for significant concern as, alongside real estate property, a pension is often the most valuable asset owned by the over 55s.

In an official ABI press release, the organisation’s Director of Long-Terms Savings Policy, Yvonne Braun, commented, “Pension freedoms gave consumers many more options and flexibility in their retirement, but with greater choice comes greater risks. To see levels of advice hitting new lows is disturbing and risks leaving thousands of elderly consumers facing poverty later on in their retirement.” ***

Braun went on to say that new problems require new solutions, and the ABI sees the empowerment of consumers to make the right decisions as a priority. Hence, the ABI has published two documents focused on raising awareness: awareness of pre-retirement risk warnings at certain ages and communication techniques for employers and pension providers

Saving on financial advice likely to prove a false economy

The ABI found that around 62,000 savers withdrew cash (via drawdown) from their pensions for the first time during a six-month period in 2018; however, given that 34%** did this without taking any financial advice many of these consumers could unwittingly be jeopardising their retirement plans.

It is thought that a large proportion of pension savers forego advice because of a perception that it might prove prohibitively costly. This is likely to prove a false economy. The ABI reports that the average pension pot size reached a record high last year of £120,000**; if savers are to ensure they have sufficient cash flow in retirement, they are likely to be best-served by ensuring they have the guidance of a regulated and independent financial adviser in relation to the management of their pension fund.

Blacktower Financial Management, for Expat Retirement Transfers

Blacktower Financial Management works for its expat clients from offices right across Europe, including in Sweden, Germany and the Netherlands.

Our advisers can help with the full spectrum of cross-border wealth management concerns, including pensions. If you would like to consider the possibility of an expat retirement transfer and to evaluate whether a QROPS or SIPP is suitable for your circumstances, contact us today for more information.

 

* FCA FAMR interim consumer research report https://www.fca.org.uk/publication/research/famr-interim-consumer-research-report-2018.pdf Accessed 14-06-19

**Analysis based on ABI six-monthly retirement income data collected from members.

*** https://www.abi.org.uk/news/news-articles/2019/05/tens-of-thousands-entering-retirement-without-ever-taking-advice-each-year-abi-warns/ Accessed 14/06/19

Other News

Expats in Spain not happy with Brexit deal

EU FlagRecent Brexit negotiations have not gone down well with many expats living in Europe. And this latest move may mean that receiving financial guidance, such as pension transfer advice for expats, is more crucial than ever to ensure a smooth transition into life as an expat in a post-Brexit world.

Theresa May has reached a phase one Brexit agreement with the EU that covers citizen’s rights (as well as the divorce settlement and the UK’s EU borders), which now means talks between Britain and Brussels can progress on to trade. But instead of giving Britons living in Europe the freedom they were hoping for, the agreement has instead caused anger across several different expat communities, including a very prominent group in Spain, the country with the largest number of British expats: 296,000 in 2016, according to the Institute of National Statistics.

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