pensionsandsavings.com

  • PENSIONSANDSAVINGS.COM

    From Ros Altmann:economist and pensions,
    investment and retirement policy expert

    • pensionsandsavings.com

    pensionsandsavings.com

    Browsed by
    Author: Ros Altmann

    Defined benefit pension schemes Green Paper

    Defined benefit pension schemes Green Paper

    Comments 1 comment

    20 February 2017 DWP seems rather complacent about sustainability of UK Defined Benefit pension schemes Nearly 90% of schemes are closed and Government needs proper planning for members in future years Burdens of Defined Benefit schemes will increasingly put younger workers’ pensions and jobs at risk Using annuity costs as a yardstick is unreasonable, unaffordable and unsustainable for most schemes Complacency based on short-term view: The DWP has today produced its long awaited Green Paper on the affordability of Defined…

    Read More Read More

    Help people use pensions and savings to fund social care

    Help people use pensions and savings to fund social care

    Comments 2 comments

    8 February 2017 Care crisis is worse than pensions crisis – but pensions and savings could help fund social care Many baby boomers have pensions and ISAs but no incentive to retain money for care Chancellor’s Budget could consider tax-free pension withdrawals and IHT-free ISAs for care savings Such incentives would let people know they need to prepare for care costs   Have to get real about the scale of care challenge – need combination of public funding, national insurance,…

    Read More Read More

    Lower immigration post-Brexit makes retaining older workers more vital than ever

    Lower immigration post-Brexit makes retaining older workers more vital than ever

    Comments 0 Comment

    5 February 2017 Wake-up call to business to use home-grown skills and experience of older workers Over 50s women need specific help as they’ve been badly disadvantaged Rethinking retirement can increase economic activity and national income short-term and long-term 3’R’s vital to rethinking retirement – ‘Retain’, ‘Retrain’ and ‘Recruit’ more over 50s In March 2015 I produced a Report as Business Champion of Older workers explaining the benefits of encouraging and enabling more people to work longer if they wish…

    Read More Read More

    Pensions are in mortal danger – beware

    Pensions are in mortal danger – beware

    Comments 1 comment

    4 January 2017 UK private pensions are in mortal danger – their huge benefits seem under threat Anyone who cares about pensions should be very, very worried Latest Treasury info doesn’t mention pensions when educating the public about retirement saving Future generations face worse later life income if Treasury succeeds in undermining pensions ISAs are sub-optimal way to provide for later life and will saddle future Government with rising pensioner poverty – pushing more costs onto the young Now is…

    Read More Read More

    The triple lock trick

    The triple lock trick

    Comments 1 comment

    4 January 2017 Oldest and poorest pensioners are not protected properly by triple lock as it only protects two parts of State Pension Triple lock has kicked in for 2017/18 as earnings and prices rose by less than 2.5% but pensioners deserve proper protection, not just political gimmicks  Keeping triple lock in future gives more money to better off and younger pensioners  Healthier and wealthier pensioners get £200 a week State Pension by deferring while poorest and oldest get much…

    Read More Read More

    A pension scandal ruining good people’s Christmas

    A pension scandal ruining good people’s Christmas

    Comments 2 comments

    23 December 2016 Major pension scandal destroying people’s lives Family plumbing firms face financial ruin due to flawed pension laws but big firms walk away Good employers, who’ve paid their contributions properly into an industry-wide plumbers pension scheme, face personal bankruptcy by pension rules The law forces them to pay for pensions of thousands of workers who never worked for them – 400 employers saddled with debts for 4000 others Some are on the brink of nervous breakdowns or worse…

    Read More Read More

    Is Government going to introduce saving incentives for social care?

    Is Government going to introduce saving incentives for social care?

    Comments 1 comment

    14 December 2016 Jeremy Hunt is right we need for private savings to help fund care crisis There’s no one solution but private savings must be part of the mix Care costs much higher for older women than older men Government can introduce tax incentives to help families save for care costs Care ISAs, Workplace Saving Plans, Eldercare vouchers, Family Care Saving Plans free of Inheritance Tax Consider using auto-enrolment and free Guidance to kick-start care savings as part of…

    Read More Read More

    Political courage needed for social care solutions

    Political courage needed for social care solutions

    Comments 1 comment

    12 December 2016 Action to address care crisis cannot wait any longer – need a 21st Century revolution Britain’s welfare state has never included social care – time for a rethink Social Care system dates back to poor laws principles from the 1800s Ultimately, National Insurance or tax will need to cover care funding All parts of the system are failing and Government has not yet offered solutions Private and employer provision can also help – such as Care ISAs,…

    Read More Read More

    Tata Steel – what happens to the British Steel Pension Scheme?

    Tata Steel – what happens to the British Steel Pension Scheme?

    Comments 0 Comment

    7 December 2016 Common sense prevails at British Steel – jobs secured But not clear what will happen to British Steel’s 130,000 member pension scheme New pension scheme seems generous compared to average UK schemes nowadays But Tata says old British Steel scheme will be ‘de-risked’ and ‘de-linked’ – could mean going into the PPF or could mean standalone Ongoing negotiations with the Pensions Regulator likely and no details yet available  Saving jobs is so important for South Wales:  It…

    Read More Read More

    Autumn Statement has a bit of good news for savers

    Autumn Statement has a bit of good news for savers

    Comments 0 Comment

    23 November 2016 Autumn Statement is missed opportunity to address social care crisis State Pension triple lock seems under threat Chancellor confirms intention to ban pension cold calling The Chancellor’s Autumn Statement had no real surprises for pensions or savers.  There are some tweaks to pension rules, but the biggest disappointment for me is that there is no acknowledgement of the social care crisis.  The Chancellor started by saying the aim of his budget is to prepare and support the…

    Read More Read More

    Page 23 of 39
    1 … 21 22 23 24 25 … 39