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Pensions are in mortal danger – beware

January 4, 2017 Ros Altmann 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…

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The triple lock trick

January 4, 2017 Ros Altmann 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…

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A pension scandal ruining good people’s Christmas

December 23, 2016 Ros Altmann 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…

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Is Government going to introduce saving incentives for social care?

December 14, 2016 Ros Altmann 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…

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Political courage needed for social care solutions

December 12, 2016 Ros Altmann 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,…

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

December 7, 2016 Ros Altmann 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…

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Autumn Statement has a bit of good news for savers

November 23, 2016 Ros Altmann 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…

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Hammond could be first Chancellor to help families with social care saving incentives

November 20, 2016 Ros Altmann Comments 2 comments

20 November 2016 Hope Chancellor’s Autumn Statement will address one of biggest social issues of our time Philip Hammond needs to introduce incentives to help people prepare for care Massive failure of political courage by previous Chancellors and a betrayal of British families Britain has been sleepwalking into a social care crisis – it’s time to wake up! Billions set aside for pensions – but virtually nothing to help fund later life care Let’s have Care ISAs, employer care saving…

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Great news on Chancellor banning cold calling and protecting pensions better

November 19, 2016 Ros Altmann Comments 1 comment

19 November 2016 Treasury set to ban pension cold calling in Autumn Statement Well done Philip Hammond – this is a great start to help clamp down on scams Clear signal for people that such calls are illegal so they should Just Hang Up or delete email Further measures to stop scam schemes setting up and clamp down on transfers also welcome We must do all we can to protect people’s precious pension savings and this is a positive step…

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Chancellor should think again on Lifetime ISA before the next mis-selling scandal happens

November 14, 2016 Ros Altmann Comments 1 comment

14 November 2016 LIFETIME ISA TO BE NEXT BIG MIS-SELLING SCANDAL – CHANCELLOR MUST THINK AGAIN Providers beware – don’t sell this product carelessly, it could come back to bite you! FCA rules should require advice, suitability checks and risk warnings before providers sell this Pensions are best for retirement saving – right behavioural incentives to keep money for old age Lifetime ISA could snatch defeat from the jaws of victory as pension coverage rises Lifetime ISA won’t last a…

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