Tom Selby: Longevity's implications for retirement investing

Patterns across society

clock • 4 min read

In the wake of former government health adviser Sir Michael Marmot's surprise revelation of the recent flattening-out in longevity improvements, Tom Selby considers the implications for retirement investing

Retirement remains an unsolved puzzle for policymakers around the world. In the UK, for example, a system where most people annuitised has been unceremoniously ditched in favour of pension freedom and choice. In Australia, by contrast, the government is moving in precisely the opposite direction, attempting to encourage the development of a guaranteed income market - ironically, partly because people are spending too little in retirement (a phenomenon known as ‘reckless conservatism'). While there might be debate over the best way to build a decent retirement pot and withdraw it susta...

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