Retirement

IFAs are losing interest in retirement savings products as more flexible alternatives become increasingly important, according to Defaqto.

As we near the end of the year and start to reflect on the past twelve months whilst looking forward to the next with a renewed sense of vigour and positivity, my over-riding hope for 2010 is that we finally see some better solutions in the pensions arena....

Pensioners who take the open market option (OMO) are around 50 times as likely to benefit from an enhanced annuity as those sticking with their pension provider, ABI figures have revealed.

Enhanced annuity sales fell 7% in the third quarter of 2009, in line with industry expectations.

Employer pension contributions will not be taxed under anti-forestalling measures, HMRC has confirmed.

Less than 3,000 people have taken out an alternatively secured pension (ASP), according to AJ Bell.

Some employers are using ‘worrying' tactics to convince their employees to leave final salary pension schemes, according to The Pensions Regulator (TPR).

An IFA has accused annuity providers of failing to treat customers fairly if they continue to offer the products at well below leading rates.

Ray's Chinn Wag

Salary sacrifice schemes are likely to increase in popularity following increases to National Insurance, according to Standard Life.