pensionsandsavings.com

  • PENSIONSANDSAVINGS.COM

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

    • pensionsandsavings.com

    pensionsandsavings.com

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    Category: Annuities and Income Drawdown

    When will pensions become user friendly?

    When will pensions become user friendly?

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    People’s Pension research highlights tremendous opportunities of pension freedoms being missed. Freedoms can make pensions more customer-friendly and help them last longer into later life. When will the industry wake up to the chance to promote pensions and encourage customers not to take money out too soon? Here are my thoughts on pensions from the customer perspective.  The findings do not suggest problems with the principles of freedom and choice. They do, however, imply problems in the way the industry…

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    Pension freedoms carry risks but are better than the old system

    Pension freedoms carry risks but are better than the old system

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    FCA concerns about ‘significant risks of harm’ from pension freedoms are valid, but do not mean freedoms are wrong. Consumers are facing new risks, but it is right to allow people to manage their pensions over time, rather than requiring most to just buy a standard annuity.  Original policy intention of ensuring everyone receives impartial guidance or advice before taking money from their pension was absolutely right, but this is not happening in practice.  Without impartial guidance or advice, consumers…

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    Time for Government to force pension firms to send plain English statements to their customers so they can understand pensions

    Time for Government to force pension firms to send plain English statements to their customers so they can understand pensions

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    Government should force pension firms to send simpler, standardised annual statements.   It’s time for pension providers to help customers understand their pensions, not leave them baffled by jargon. Pensions Dashboard will not work without standardisation – and accurate data.   Annual pension statements could be sent for customer’s birthday wishing ‘many happy returns’! New statements should be promoted and explained by national public information campaign. Showing forecast pension at two ages e.g 60 and 67 could offer positive behavioural…

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    FCA moving in the right direction on pension freedoms at last

    FCA moving in the right direction on pension freedoms at last

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    Pension Freedoms not yet working properly as millions have no independent guidance or advice. FCA study highlights need to redesign drawdown for new customer profiles. Regulator demands better investment options, cost transparency and threatens to cap charges. Wake-up packs at age 50 and standard ‘pensions passport’ are major improvements.   New regime not working well for customers as providers fail to innovate: The FCA’s latest report on how pension freedoms have impacted the retirement income space shows that there is…

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    Secondary Annuities Market – thousands will be disappointed

    Secondary Annuities Market – thousands will be disappointed

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    18 October, 2016 Thousands Of People Will Feel Let Down By Government Decision To Abandon Secondary Annuity Market Major disappointment for thousands of people:  The Government’s decision not to proceed with its proposals to allow people to sell back their annuity income will come as a major disappointment to thousands of people.  Many have been waiting anxiously for the opportunity to undo the annuity they were forced to buy and will feel let down by today’s announcement that the secondary…

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    FCA study of annuity selling highlights worrying failings

    FCA study of annuity selling highlights worrying failings

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    14 October, 2016 FCA finds clear evidence of annuity mis-selling to customers in poor health but process of investigation and redress is painfully slow Seriously ill customers short-changed for the rest of their shortened life – need swift action Tens of thousands in line for redress At least one in three firms have failed customers and will have to compensate FCA findings welcome but customers need urgent action not still more reviews FCA findings from its investigation of whether annuity…

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    My farewell blog…

    My farewell blog…

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      As most readers of this blog will know by now, I have been appointed Minister for Pensions in David Cameron’s new government. Having spent so many years studying pensions, savings and retirement policy as an independent expert, I have the chance of working inside government to drive things forward.  It will certainly keep me busy and be a great new challenge. Recent years have seen sweeping changes to our pensions system, changes which have started to move pensions in…

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    Pension Freedom Day is great news for pensions – here’s what you need to know

    Pension Freedom Day is great news for pensions – here’s what you need to know

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    6th April 2015 Pension freedom is great news for pensions – new rules make them more user-friendly, now industry needs to help customers benefit from the changes Don’t be in a rush to take money out of a pension and suffer the tax consequences I believe most people will be responsible with their money, I trust people Pension Wise is there to help – make sure you use it 030 0330 1001 From today, April 6th 2015, the rules governing…

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    Cashing-in annuities – Budget consultation will pave the way to sell unwanted annuities

    Cashing-in annuities – Budget consultation will pave the way to sell unwanted annuities

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    15th March 2015   The pensions revolution rolls on!  Pension freedoms extended to current pensioners too At last, some hope for millions of people trapped in products they never wanted to buy Of course there are risks, but Regulator and Pension Wise can help protect customers  The Treasury will consult on how best to establish a market for second-hand annuities.  This will be popular option with many of the five million or more people who have bought annuities in recent…

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    Cashing in unwanted annuities

    Cashing in unwanted annuities

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    12 March 2015 Why allowing people to unlock annuities makes sense Millions forced to buy unwanted annuities would now have an option to cash in if they need to Nobody will be forced to sell their annuity back, but they can if they need or want to The proposals to allow people to cash-in annuities that they were forced to buy under the old pension rules could prove popular for many of those who have unwanted or low value annuities. …

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