Investment

Auto-enrolment will spark a surge in pension business and providers could struggle to cope with increased volumes unless they prepare now, Friends Life has said.

The average pension saver has lost £2,750 a year from their future income in retirement over the last year, research finds.

Small to micro employers will be given a "significant easement" of £1.7bn in the roll-out of auto-enrolment, under government plans to delay both staging and contribution rates.

Government plans to hike the income tax threshold to £9,205 could complicate the roll-out of auto-enrolment, experts have warned.

John Moret has taken over as Intelligent Pensions' non-executive chairman following the retirement of Maurice Paterson.

The government has come under fire for plans announced in the Budget to change tax allowances for pensioners, as stakeholders begin digesting the Chancellor's measures.

The revised auto-enrolment implementation schedule will net the government £380m in reduced tax relief on pension contributions, according to budget documents.

MEMORY LANE

Thousands of advisers will start receiving letters and emails from The Pensions Regulator (TPR) this month as part of its drive to promote auto-enrolment.

Standard Life has no "firm plans" to launch its own restricted advice package for IFAs but says the model does have a place in the market.