Retirement

Jargon related to pensions is putting more than 14 million UK workers off planning for their retirement, claims new research from Aviva.

The Actuarial Profession is the latest organisation to point out the dangers of personal accounts being introduced into a pensions system which includes means-testing.

The activity level in pensions lobbying circles has recently edged up a notch or two. We received the White Paper on personal accounts just before Christmas, and now are turning our attention to drafting a response by the deadline of 20th March.

Zopa has confirmed it is in progressive talks with a number of specialist Self Invested Pension Providers to allow ‘social lending' to become an acceptable asset class for a pension.

FOUR out of five IFAs still intend to recommend Alternatively Secured Pensions (ASPs) despite the proposed new charges announced in the pre-budget report, according to research commissioned by Skandia.

IFAs were asked if they are prepared for the next stage of TCF, in April, and whether it has hade much of a difference to the way they operate.

Although A-day seems to have encouraged more people to take advantage of the Open Market Option for annuities, more still needs to be done warns Just Retirement.

Almost 80% of advisers still plan to recommend Alternatively Secured Pensions to their clients despite the proposed charges put forward in the pre-Budget Report in December.

Paul Thornton has issued a consultation asking whether The Pensions Regulator should work more closely with the Financial Services Authority to cover a gap in regulation of IFAs advising on transfers between occupational pensions schemes.

PENSION expert Mike Morrison has raised fears investors with Alternative Secured Pensions (ASPs) are being hit with taxes so extortionate they could be vetoed under European law.