What’s more, a quarter of savers who accessed money from a defined contribution pension over the last two years were unable to explain how they did so. And of the respondents nearing retirement with a defined contribution pension, over a quarter could not say how much money was in their pot.
Overall, the report shows a general lack of consumer knowledge and confidence when dealing with money, making them ill-equipped to make important financial decisions without assistance.
expats and pension transfers
To be able to know how best to manage your pension pot, you should have a basic understanding of how it works. Talking to a professional financial adviser can help you discover new opportunities for your money.
Take the process of pension transfers for expats, for example. Completing a pension transfer (under the guidance of the right financial adviser who has experience in making pension transfers for expats, of course) to a QROPS, QNUPS, or SIPPs is one of the most beneficial ways for an expat to make more of their retirement savings. But, if this new survey is any indication, it’s likely that many expats are completely unaware of how much this could benefit them.
And other research has shown how important it is for savers to know what they could be doing to allow their retirement fund to grow. Another report, this time from the Swiss bank UBS, has highlighted the importance of having a private pension because, unfortunately, many basic state pensions, in various countries, will not be enough to cover basic cost of living.
UBS’s International Pension Gap Index has highlighted that many governments do not provide a system that adequately supports citizens in their later years. The main takeaway from the report is this: basic state pensions are not enough to see people comfortably through their retirement, and they found this to be true no matter where in the world they researched.
The bank’s study included several different countries, looking at the difference between the retirement income citizens will receive from the state and the amount they’ll realistically need to comfortably fund their retirement.
In all of the countries analysed, there was found to be a significant gap between state pension payments and cost of living. In Britain, for example, the £159.55 per week that the UK Department for Work and Pensions provides to eligible retired citizens is much lower than the amount spent by many Britons per week. The UBS report shows that an “average UK Jane” earning a median wage for a full time job would receive just 41% of her final income if she relied on the state pension alone. Meaning she would need to save around 47% of her income per month to maintain her lifestyle after retirement.
With state pensions unsuccessfully covering the cost of living in retirement, it’s very risky to rely solely on a state pension as your only form of income. It is therefore quite worrying to know that, according to the FCA’s Financial Lives Survey, there are around 15 million people with no pension savings and 40 percent with savings less than £5,000. The UBS report concludes that there are ways for individuals to make things easier on themselves, but also noted that improvements to the current pension systems were necessary: “While it should be clear that individual private savings and an early enough planning will be key to maintain a certain lifestyle in retirement, challenges on a systemic level need to be addressed as well.”
If you currently have a UK pension and are hoping to enjoy a fulfilling retirement that isn’t hampered by any financial concerns, then a Blacktower financial adviser could help you make the most suitable retirement investment plans.
Assisting with pension transfers for expats is just one effective method of wealth management that helps our clients to make their money go further.
Equipped with years of experience, our advisers can help you protect and grow your wealth effectively, helping your maximise your pension pot and seeking to ensure that tax liability is no larger than it needs to be.
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.
How is the outcome of the Brexit process likely to affect your purchasing power as a British citizen living as an expat in Europe?
The importance of putting money into a pension cannot be understated, and the British government has a regulation in place – the pension tax relief scheme – to encourage people to save. But many experts are predicting significant changes to the scheme. If you’re planning to retire overseas as an expat and take advantage of international