Stephen Lowe: Six reasons not to overlook guaranteed income for life

It has been suggested we are hearing the death knell for ‘guaranteed income for life' (GIfL) retirement solutions following the withdrawal from the market of some providers - albeit ones with very small market shares - hoping there may be better business opportunities elsewhere. It is easy to be pessimistic. A low interest rate environment and Solvency II have not been helpful for the returns available on guaranteed income plans. Yet despite it all, most retirees still have a fundamental need for a stream of income that will see them through a retirement likely to stretch decades into th...