Annuities

Fund choices in the personal accounts regime will to some extent be deliberately restricted because most consumers either do not want or do not understand choices put before them.

If the government decides to abolish or alter alternatively secured pensions in the pre-Budget Report, pensioners will be left with no choice but annuities past the age of 75, but are these still a viable proposition?

The UK government's gilt issuing policy may not only be affecting annuity values but also the prospects of deferred members of pension schemes which are winding up.

Canada Life has appointed two new heads for its life and pensions business and wealth management division which includes offshore business in the Isle of Man.

The life and pensions sector has continued to grow significantly with annuities hitting a record level of sales, claims the Association of British Insurers.

A default annuity option could be added to personal accounts as the government is switching its focus onto the decumulation phase of the retirement income system.

Mike Douglas has taken up a new role at Scottish Equitable as managing director of its annuities operation.

Hargreaves Lansdown is launching a major campaign to try and keep Alternatively Secured Pensions open to all consumers.

The annuity market must become more innovative and flexible to meet the needs of people's changing perception of retirement from a cliff-edge change to a transitional process, claims industry experts.

As falling bond and gilt yields cause conventional annuity rates to continue to decrease, with-profit annuities are becoming more popular with both advisers and consumers, claims Prudential.