Investment

The imminence of A-Day and 'pensions simplification' will herald changes to the amount of tax-free cash at retirement individuals can 'lock' in under an occupational pension scheme, before April 2006.

Companies are only contributing the level minimum required by the minimum funding requirement (MFR) when it comes to paying off pension schemes in deficit.

The cost of sustaining a living for retired people has increased 45% over the past decade and is nearly double the average pensioners income, research indicates.

Shadow chancellor Oliver Letwin MP has published a consultation paper on savings taxation which suggests re-establishing the dividend tax credit for pension funds along with tax credits for offering financial advice could restore confidence in savings....

Poor service from life and pensions (L&P) product providers is costing IFAs as much as £8,000 each in lost revenue every year, totalling £208m within the industry, new research indicates.

The TUC has urged firms to disclose both pay and pensions details of both directors and employees to investors.

Employers are still falling short of encouraging employees to sign up to company pension schemes, research from Age Concern indicates.

Steve Bee, head of pensions strategy at Scottish Life, says in a new note that rules taking effect on 6 April 2006 could affect some 10 million company pension scheme members to seek advice because of "concurrency".

Miles Templement, director general of the Institute of Directors (IoD) has put the pensions crisis at the top of the organisation's priority list this year.

Pension fund performance in the UK was positive for a second straight year with a 10% increase, research has indicated, however a UK law firm believes that 2005 will not be all roses for the pensions market.