pensions

The head of the Institutional Review of Pension Organisations has written to the Department of Work and Pensions highlighting a potential gap in the regulation of IFAs and a potential need for legislation.

Government amendments to the Pensions Bill requiring protected rights to purchase a 50% spouses pension is a 'second-guesisng' exercise which is sending out a confused message to the market, claims Aegon Scottish Equitable.

Around 10% of Addition Voluntary Contribution schemes are failing to offer members the Open Market Option on annuities despite a legal requirement, claims Hewitt.

The pension scheme deficits of the 200 largest defined benefit schemes has fallen to its lowest level of £4bn, leaving nearly half of the schemes in surplus.

HM Revenue & Customs has confirmed it will make changes to current legislation to allow Australian schemes to continue to be included as Qualified Recognised Overseas Pension Schemes (QROPS) where appropriate.

The Pension Protection Fund has published its updated management plan which reveals running costs for the organisation will almost double by 2009/10 to more than £22m from around £12m in 2006/07.

There has been steady growth in life and pensions sales during the first quarter of 2007, according to new business figures from ABI members.

The Government's deregulatory review of pensions must deliver "meaningful reform" rather than "simply tinker around at the edges", says Joanne Segars.

Almost two-thirds of women are failing to contribute to a pension, which suggests they need to think more widely about additional ways to fund their retirement, such as property and benefits, claims Prudential.

The final module in the Pension Regulator's ‘ Trustee Toolkit' has been published, allowing trustees who finish the online course to receive a Certificate of Completion.