pensions

HENDERSON GROUP yesterday became a front-runner to buy Gartmore fund management group after shelving a payout to shareholders which will give it the necessary fire power, reports The Times .

A J Bell Group has attacked providers for what it says is a "total abdication of responsibility" towards clients who have bought into Executive Pensions Plans (EPP) ahead of rule changes being introduced with A-Day.

The bickering began early yesterday with the three organisations with the main alternatives to the National Pension Savings Scheme (NPSS) each jostling for position.

A PARLIAMENTARY watchdog's long-awaited report into what went wrong at Equitable Life and whether government departments were at fault, has been delayed and is unlikely to appear until October at the earliest, reports The Guardian .

Up to 57% of people would consider taking their state pension a few years later than the minimum retirement age if this meant a larger payout new research from Skandia claims.

Regulation of a National Pension Savings Scheme (NPSS) model will be very difficult and expensive to implement based on the current problems with stakeholder pensions, claims an industry expert.

New rules relating to employers' pension contributions after A-Day could lead to a system of "postcode pensions" where some payments are allowed and some are rejected.

This morning's papers focus on the Confederation of British Industry's response to the Turner report in which it argues forcing employers to contribute to pensions could put small companies out of business and lead to bigger ones cutting back their pension...

Retirement planning remains the main reason for seeking financial advice, claims research from IFA Promotion (IFAP).

The bulk of self-invested personal pension (Sipp) providers cannot give details of their charges post A-Day, revealed an adviser forum on IFAonline.tv.