All freedom and choice articles – Page 8
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NewsShould you pay higher DC contributions to spur retirement?
Any Other Business: Lower employer contributions to defined contribution pension schemes can lead to “massive” challenges in paving the way for older workers to retire and injecting new blood into a business, experts have said.
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NewsState of the nation: What's going on in DC accumulation?
One of the spectres that hung over the announcement of freedom and choice in the 2014 Budget was the fear the proposition would be so attractive people would abandon their defined benefit schemes to make the most of the flexibility.
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Proposed early exit charge cap gets mixed response
The Financial Conduct Authority yesterday proposed capping exit charges at 1 per cent of pot value for existing contracts, while banning them altogether for future contracts.
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OpinionReconfiguring DC: The pensions dashboard
The Specialist: The pensions dashboard could be the upgrade the industry needs to take it into the digital age, but it is at risk of being just another expensive neglected technology project.
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OpinionScams: What trustees can do to avoid members becoming victims
Trustees are, in fact, indirect victims of scams, so action to protect members is more often than not action that also helps themselves.
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News
Consultations to flesh out details of secondary annuity market
The Financial Conduct Authority and HM Revenue & Customs have both launched consultations to shed further light on how the secondary annuity market could work, but questions were raised about the projected level of take-up.
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ABI launches consultation on jargon-busting to empower members
The Association of British Insurers has this week launched a consultation and draft guide aimed at simplifying the language used to explain freedom and choice to savers.
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OpinionFreedom and choice one year on – how far are we now?
April 2015 saw an expected flurry of activity, with tens of thousands of defined contribution members exercising their freedom and accessing their pension funds.
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Withdrawals slow as freedom and choice demand eases
The pace of withdrawals from defined contribution pension pots started to slow in the three months between October and December 2015, as pent up demand following the introduction of freedom and choice began to ease.
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Annuities gain ground on drawdown as savers seek income for life
The anticipated plundering of pension funds following the implementation of the freedom and choice reforms last April has failed to materialise, according to data from the Association of British Insurers.
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OpinionGood guidance for good outcomes
In the absence of a big announcement on pensions taxation in the Budget, it would be easy to ignore the other pensions announcements.
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NewsIRRI: Nest 'should be allowed' to enter decumulation market
Government-backed mastertrust provider Nest should be allowed to compete in the decumulation market from 2018 to help savers who do not understand the risks, the long-awaited Independent Review of Retirement Income has said.
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OpinionA trustee's duties in the era of freedom and choice
Freedom and choice has radically reshaped the pensions landscape. From consumers to pension schemes, in many ways we’re all still learning to navigate this new terrain and adapt to unfamiliar circumstances.
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News
High Court ruling ramps up fears over pension liberation
The High Court has ruled against insurer Royal London for blocking a pension transfer where it suspected the receiving fund could be a pensions liberation scheme, prompting industry observers to raise concerns about protections for members, providers and trustees.
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Opinion
FCA discussion paper outlines raft of challenges from ageing population
From the blog: The Financial Conduct Authority has released a discussion paper, 'Ageing population and financial services', aimed at advancing the debate on how the financial services industry can tackle the challenges and opportunities posed by demographic changes.
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NewsLooser regulation needed as over-65s shun advice
Looser rules about financial advice could be necessary, as research shows more than half of over-65s have never sought regulated advice.
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Opinion
How to use bonds in default funds after freedom and choice
Bonds in default funds for UK defined contribution pensions have come under scrutiny since freedom and choice. While lots of schemes and workplace providers have already altered default fund strategies, many have yet to do so.
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FeaturesRoyal Mail runs survey as freedoms heighten need for engagement
The Royal Mail Pension Plan is running an online member survey to judge engagement and levels of understanding among its members as freedom and choice makes member decisions even more important.
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Rise in member contributions at Scottish Power shows impact of online tools
Energy company Scottish Power has seen a tenth of its stakeholder pension plan up their contributions following the introduction of a member portal that models pension outcomes and warns if an individual is likely to miss their target.
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Tougher nudge needed to make freedoms a success
Consumers will not have enough money to benefit from the opportunities the pension freedoms present, a report has warned, and any success will hinge on auto-enrolment becoming more prescriptive.