All freedom and choice articles – Page 4
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News
Pension freedoms withdrawals reach record high
On the go: The Treasury’s pension freedoms tax bonanza continues, as record sums are being withdrawn.
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News
Pension savers overtaxed by 'staggering' £372.5m
On the go: The government faces growing pressure to review ‘emergency tax’ treatment of pension freedoms withdrawals, after it was revealed that a staggering £372.5m has now been reclaimed by pension savers since the freedoms were launched in April 2015.
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OpinionDB transfers: Is your pension fund at risk of paying out too much?
During 2018, the Pensions Regulator has written to dozens of defined benefit scheme trustees regarding transfers out of their scheme.
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News
UK pension system still lagging on adequacy and sustainability
The UK pensions system has major shortcomings in its adequacy and sustainability, and could be improved by rowing back some of freedom and choice, according to research comparing retirement provision around the globe.
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PodcastsPodcast: DC default design - Make sure you understand your members
Podcast: Last month, Pensions Expert reported that trustees of the Lloyds Bank Pension Scheme No.1 had overhauled the default offering for their DC members. In this episode, Lydia Fearn, head of DC and financial well-being at consultancy Redington, and Maria Nazarova-Doyle, senior investment consultant and head of DC investment consulting at JLT Employee Benefits, discuss the most important factors for trustees to consider when designing or reviewing their default investment strategy.
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Opinion
DC Debate Q3: Getting the right amount of risk in defaults
In the first instalment of this quarter's DC Debate, five experts dive into the appropriate amounts of risk and diversification for defined contribution members at various points in their savings journey.
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Features
Automation improves insurer scheme admin but work still to do
The Royal Insurance Group Pension Scheme has reported a “considerable improvement in service” from administrator Willis Towers Watson, after two years of problems that have hurt the scheme’s ability to service transfer requests.
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News
DB transfers heading into costly drawdown products, research finds
Defined benefit members transferring out of their scheme to take advantage of freedom and choice may be wasting money on fees for flexibilities they are unlikely to use, according to a new report.
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Opinion
How would a lack of government support affect dashboard progress?
Analysis: Reactions to speculation that the secretary of state for work and pensions wants to scrap the pensions dashboard project have been unsurprisingly negative.
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OpinionShould I stay or should I go?
Editorial: Moving away from the security of a guaranteed defined benefit fund is a big decision to make. For many, it may be the wrong decision.
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NewsLuxfer Group offers IFA to deferred members
Global materials technology company Luxfer Group has launched an exercise offering deferred members of its defined benefit scheme the opportunity to discuss their benefit options with an independent financial adviser.
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OpinionWhat can be done to address 'survival pessimism' in pensions?
Since the introduction of pension freedoms in 2015, fewer pensioners are purchasing annuities at retirement.
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OpinionSidecars suit self-employed
Editorial: Self-employment is more common than ever, and the distinct lack of any concrete solution to get these people saving for retirement is becoming increasingly worrying.
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NewsFCA recommends investment pathways for drawdown
The Financial Conduct Authority has proposed that pension providers are required to develop three ready-made investment pathways to help confused drawdown customers, but has shied away from imposing a charge cap on the products.
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News
Government rejects calls for default decumulation pathways
The government has rejected the Work and Pensions Committee’s recommendation for default decumulation pathways, but has agreed that there is a strong case for pensions dashboard compulsion.
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OpinionCDC ship has sailed for many employers
One of the big news stories of the past few months has been the agreement between the Communication Workers’ Union and Royal Mail to work towards establishing a collective defined contribution scheme for all employees, while closing the current defined benefit scheme to future accrual.
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News
Excess pension freedoms tax of £22m repaid in Q1 2018
HM Revenue and Customs figures show £22m in overtaxed pension freedoms payments was repaid in the first quarter of 2018, prompting calls for reforms to the way withdrawals are taxed.
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News
Third of retirees in drawdown have no investment experience
Thirty-two per cent of people in drawdown do not have any investment experience, yet two in five of them have not received advice or guidance, according to a recent report that urges the introduction of drawdown MOTs.
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News
Individual withdrawals under flexible pension rules up 26% since last year
New HMRC data on flexible payments from pensions show that in Q1 2018, 222,000 individuals made withdrawals, up from 176,000 in Q1 2017 – a 26 per cent increase.
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News
Opperman tells insurers to do more for savers
Pensions and financial inclusion minister Guy Opperman has urged insurers to deliver the products and processes the market is often criticised for lacking, and to defend the pension freedoms policy.