Growing pains

Many independent financial advisers have enjoyed the surge in the popularity of self-invested pension plans (SIPPs) over the last few years. Driven by a range of factors, from disenchantment with traditional pensions to the more liberal contribution rules from A-Day, the SIPP market has grown by 20-25% annually in recent years. Estimates and market research now put the total number of SIPPs at around 250,000 with around £30bn in assets; what was once a niche market is rapidly entering the mainstream and SIPP regulation is helping in this. Further growth can also be expected, as SIPPs are s...