pensions

The Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority has for the first time since stakeholder pensions were introduced three years ago fined an employer for failing to provide its employees with access to a stakeholder pension scheme.

The Department of Work and Pensions' Employers' Pension Provision survey 2003 released today paints a distinctly mixed picture of the state of workplace pension provision.

Some UK employers are already preparing to take advantage of the proposed Pension Protection Fund by winding up schemes as soon as it comes into force next April, warns Stewart Ritchie.

Mortgages could become the new asset class for annuity liabilities when the shortfall in long-term gilts becomes more apparent, suggests the Actuarial Profession.

The government's proposed Pension Protection Fund (PPF) suffers from fundamental flaws and could go the same way as the pension schemes it is supposed to protect, leading actuaries warn.

IFAs should be extremely cautious when promoting government plans to allow people to invest their pension pot into residential property as they could be putting themselves at risk, warns pensions expert Stewart Ritchie.

The government's objective of getting more people to put off retirement to a later date has taken a knock with research showing most people over the age of 50 are subject to age discrimination when looking for new jobs.

Independent Financial Advisers may pick up new business after the chancellor this week revealed advisers will be able to provide employees with tax-free advice worth up to £150 per year.

The axe taken to the DWP by chancellor Gordon Brown in the Budget is a cause of great concern to staff at the Citizens Advice Bureaux as evidence suggests many people are already not getting the required levels of service from the DWP.

IFAs hoping for further details on the Inland Revenue's proposed simplification rules will be highly disappointed by the Budget published today as it offers little new on the changes facing pensions in the next couple of years.