Category Archives: annuity

Annuities – don’t knock ’em!

Posted on September 12, 2019 by

Unwelcome news for anyone looking to turn their pension pot into a secure retirement income. Rates are down due to low bond yields but also because there’s less competition in the market, following the #pensionfreedoms. https://t.co/NWAqReWjMi — Josephine Cumbo (@JosephineCumbo) … Continue reading →

Posted in annuity, pensions | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

The cost of turning pot to pension

Posted on September 5, 2019 by

  I’m pleased to hear that Scottish Widows are planning to open their standard annuity product to the open market (previously only Scottish Widows customers could access this product). Their marketing people tell us It will be available directly from … Continue reading →

Posted in actuaries, age wage, annuity, pensions | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

No one should ever have to buy a poor annuity again.

Posted on September 1, 2019 by

I’ve just read an article that could best be described as smug. It’s written by a lawyer in the financial regulation team of Foot Anstey – Alan Hughes. I don’t know Alan but I know his firm and have a … Continue reading →

Posted in advice gap, age wage, annuity, pensions | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

One life – one retirement – two regulators

Posted on June 26, 2019 by

Yesterday’s Pension and Benefits UK conference kicked off with consecutive speech’s from TPR CEO Charles Counsell and the FCA’s Edwyn Schooling Latter. Counsell delivered a staid and unambitious rehearsal of tPR’s agenda and frankly I was bored. Schooling Latter spoke … Continue reading →

Posted in advice gap, annuity, pensions | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Pension Income’s best kept secret

Posted on May 30, 2019 by

Did you know that when you buy an annuity you can change your mind? No? Well neither did I. I thought that once you handed your money over to an insurer that it was it, an income for life with … Continue reading →

Posted in annuity, pensions | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Let’s get back to those three pillars – promising us certain pensions.

Posted on January 20, 2019 by

There are at least three uncomplimentary ways of thinking about “pensions” in the UK . So disparate are these three that it is hard to talk (or blog) about them in the same place. For a small number of people, pensions … Continue reading →

Posted in advice gap, annuity, pensions | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

The price of being sick in the head

Posted on December 16, 2018 by

  “Sick in the head”? The phrase doesn’t quite work for Tina – a 38 year old Mum who suffered from post-natal depression and then found her life and critical illness insurances 30% more expensive than if she hadn’t declared … Continue reading →

Posted in advice gap, annuity, pensions | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Helping people understand their pensions

Posted on November 15, 2018 by

Last night I spoke to a group of potential investors about AgeWage, they were mainly senior doctors. I thinkthey got it. I hope that you will understand our vision for more understanding of pensions. Here are the slides Here is … Continue reading →

Posted in actuaries, advice gap, age wage, annuity, Australia, pensions | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Pre-budget apprehension

Posted on October 26, 2018 by

There is nothing like the threat of losing a tax-break to get people to value it. The Annual Allowance is under threat, so the Money Purchase Allowance, there are some still worried about higher rate tax-relief on contributions. In my … Continue reading →

Posted in annuity, cliche, pensions | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Will “DC deficits” become a thing of the past?

Posted on October 11, 2018 by

News of HMRC’s “change of position” with regards the “net-pay- anomaly” is welcome, and long overdue. It came in the form of a letter sent in response to a request from respected journalist Jo Cumbo of the FT. Govt to … Continue reading →

Posted in advice gap, annuity, auto-enrolment, pension playpen, pensions | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments