pensions

Over half the working population are still unaware of the tax advantages to saving in a pension, claims B&CE Benefit Schemes.

Advisers need to be aware protected rights can be invested in self-invested personal pensions, but not in the trust-based variety available from most providers, claims Merchant Investors.

While recent Budget coverage has been dominated by the fabulous sleight of hand used by Gordon Brown to give with one hand and take with the other, the effect on pensions were slightly overlooked - mainly because all the measures were expected.

Constantly changing rules and u-turns on A-Day issues is putting people off saving for retirement, claims financial services firm Edward Jones.

Attempts by both government and the industry to raise awareness about the importance of saving in a pension are still failing as around 60% of women do not contribute to a pension scheme, claims HSBC.

Apathy is the biggest deterrent for UK workers aged under 34 when deciding about a pension, claims B&CE Benefit Schemes.

Gordon Brown's decision to cut the basic rate of income tax to 20% was clearly signposted by the proposals for tax relief on personal accounts, claims Standard Life.

The government has reduced proposals for the minimum amount of income which must be drawn from an Alternatively Secured Pension from 65% to 55% of a comparable annuity for a 75 year old, but has retained the unauthorised payment charges on funds left...

Gordon Brown has announced the government is to extend the budget of the Financial Assistance Scheme in an attempt to help all of the 125,000 workers who lost their pensions when their occupational schemes collapsed.

A ‘light touch' regulatory system should be introduced for the existing pensions market to allow current schemes to operate on a level playing field with personal accounts, claims the Association of British Insurers (ABI).