pensions

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.

Skandia has warned advisers to be cautious when using block transfers to consolidate pension funds, as it could lead to their client losing the right to higher levels of tax free cash.

It has irritated me for many months that people decide they will smoke outside my office in the covered area to hide from the rain. I do hope this will stop from the 1st July when the new law comes in.

The Public Administration Select Committee has further boosted the campaign to compensate 125,000 workers who lost their pensions when their schemes wound up, by stating recent government concessions "have not gone far enough".