pensions

Ahead of the publication of the white paper on pensions reform, Scottish Widows has stated the state pension system has to be reformed before a National Pension Savings Scheme (Npss) can be introduced.

MORE THAN THREE million people will learn they are to lose their rebates from opting out of the state second pension to fund a low-cost national savings scheme when ministers unveil a far-reaching pensions shake-up, reports The Financial Times.

Single male pensioners receive nearly twice as much income from private pensions than women, while pensioners in the South-east are wealthier than those in the Midlands, according to the latest Clerical Medical pensions report.

MILLIONS OF MIDDLE-INCOME earners will be hit by a new stealth tax hidden in the Government's pension reforms which will be unveiled tomorrow, says The Daily Telegraph .

The bulk annuities market is to gain two new entrants as AIG has announced it will be joining the UK arena, following closely on the heels of Aegon's confirmation yesterday.

The white paper on pensions reform due for publication later this week will include plans to scrap the ability to contract-out of the State Second Pension (S2P) for money purchase schemes from 2012.

MINISTERS HAVE MADE A last-minute plea to the Financial Services Authority not to go ahead with plans to relax rules on selling personal pensions, laccording to leaked government documents shown to the Guardian.

More than a third of companies believe the cost of funding a defined benefit (DB) pension scheme is having a negative impact on their share price, claims research from Aon Consulting.

The self-invested personal pensions (sipps) market could gain around £250bn in assets following the A-Day changes, claims Suffolk Life.

The white paper on pension reform, widely expected to be published on Thursday, should meet five key tests, including setting out a clear timetable for reform, if it is to build a new sustainable system, claims the Trades Union Congress (TUC).