Retirement

The Association of IFAs has leapt to the defence of smaller firms after an FSA report found a large portion of them to be failing to implement TCF.

The FSA says it is disappointed in the "sizeable" number of firms that failed to meet its March TCF deadline - and warns it will now intensify its focus on them.

A piece of European legislation is posing a big headache for government and industry in working through the intricacies of pensions reform policy.

Pension campaigners are preparing to take the Department of Work and Pensions to court for a second time over its failure to provide proper compensation for workers who lost their pensions when their occupational schemes wound up.

Trustees have been issued a clearance reminder by the Pensions Regulator over corporate transactions such as leveraged buy-outs, to consider whether the event is 'financially detrimental' to the pension scheme.

The cost of independent advice should not stop trustees from taking appropriate action in reviewing a transaction which could lead to a pension scheme being abandoned, says The Pensions Regulator.

Around 70% of advisers believe clients will have to learn to accept higher levels of risk when planning for retirement, claims Lincoln Financial Group.

The personal accounts board should include consumer representation in the form of a panel similar to those used by the Financial Services Authority, claims the Pensions Policy Institute.

HM Revenue and Customs has published further guidance clarifying A-Day changes on tax relief for employer contributions by owners and controlling directors of companies.

TOWERS Perrin Tillinghast, the global professional services firm, has called on the life and pensions industry to create an upgraded advice offering for consumers before the launch of Personal Accounts in 2012.