• PENSIONSANDSAVINGS.COM

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

  • pensionsandsavings.com

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    Category: Monetary and Fiscal Policy

    Budget wishlist for pensions and savings

    Budget wishlist for pensions and savings

    17 March 2014 A Budget wishlist for pensions and savings Exempt savings interest from tax for two years Or allow full ISA allowance in cash Allow small pension funds to be taken as cash Relax restrictions in capped drawdown to allow for ill-health Introduce new incentives to save for long-term care – ISA savings set aside for care could pass on free of inheritance tax if not spent Stop meddling with pension rules What might the Chancellor do to address the…

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    What’s the verdict on 5 years of record low rates and QE?

    What’s the verdict on 5 years of record low rates and QE?

    Brilliant for powerful groups but has caused economic distortions and increased inequalities Each £100,000 mortgage now costs £3300 a year less, saving borrowers about £19,000 since 2008 Savers with £100,000 in Cash ISAs lost £4000pa income and lost total of £18,500 since 2008 What happened 5 years ago?  On March 5th 2009, the Bank of England cut interest rates to 0.5% and started creating billions of pounds of new money from thin air (calling this ‘Quantitative Easing’ or QE) which…

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    Why pit pensioners and youngsters against each other?

    Why pit pensioners and youngsters against each other?

    8 January 2014 Lost Generation fears are real but premature Baby boomers also went through tough times but went on to thrive We need to be very careful, coming out of a few years of recession and economic turnmoil, not to become too negative when discussing the plight of younger people today.  Of course, the level of unemployment among younger people is a cause of great concern, but this is not necessarily a ‘lost generation’, as is so often claimed….

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    Boom time for UK economy in 2014 – 5% growth!

    Boom time for UK economy in 2014 – 5% growth!

    23 December 2013 Boom time for UK economy in 2014 – 5% growth Positive surprises – higher growth, lower inflation, rising earnings, falling unemployment Economic and political cycle brilliantly aligned – by accident or design? My forecasts for UK economy by end-2014: Growth – 5% Inflation – 2% Earnings growth – 3% Unemployment – 7% – a boom with low inflation, rising earnings and falling unemployment Leading indicators show UK set for a pre-election boom:  The leading economic indicators have been strong for months now and…

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    Boom time for economy in 2014

    Boom time for economy in 2014

    16 December 2013 Economic and political cycle brilliantly aligned – by accident or design? Positive surprises – higher growth, lower inflation, rising earnings, falling unemployment Last week I represented the London School of Economics at an Economics Research Council debate called the Clash of the Titans.  http://www.ercouncil.org/clash-of-the-titans-2013/ The event was chaired by Andrew Sentance of PwC, former member of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee, and saw Kevin Daly of Goldman Sachs – representing Cambridge University, Stephen King of…

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    Autumn Statement – implications for pensions and savings

    Autumn Statement – implications for pensions and savings

    5 December 2013 Summary of Autumn Statement measures relating to pensions and savings People will be allowed to buy extra state pension:  People will be allowed to buy extra state pension with introduction of Class 3A National Insurance.  There are no details yet, but the plan is that those who reach state pension age before the new flat-rate state pension is introduced in April 2016.  Existing pensioners as well as those reaching state pension age soon, will be able to…

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