Latest Columns
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Lisa Webster: Take the pension first? Think again
With the impending changes to tax treatment of pensions on death, there has been talk around the order of income in retirement being turned on its head.
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Tilley: Transfer reform welcome but SSAS governance is key
At first glance, DWP’s June 2026 consultation on proposed changes to the 2021 transfer regulations does something the industry has long asked for; it acknowledges that the current regime, while well intended, has created too much friction for some perfectly legitimate pension transfers.
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Lisa Webster: Good news from DWP for SIPPs but not SSAS
The DWP has just released its long-awaited consultation on the SIPP transfer regulations – and it’s largely encouraging news. As an employee of a reputable SIPP provider the changes are positive. SSAS providers may be less enthusiastic about some of the proposals.
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Lisa Webster: Should tax-free cash always be taken?
Since the Lifetime Allowance was abolished and replaced with the Lump Sum Allowance (LSA) and lump sum and death benefit allowance (LSDBA), we have seen an increase in SIPP members who want to take drawdown only – foregoing the right to take the associated pension commencement lump sum (PCLS).
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Tilley: Are we asking too much of pension savers?
Working in UK pensions, I’ve always accepted that the system evolves. Fiscal pressures change, demographics shift, and governments recalibrate policy objectives. But even allowing for that, the pace and volume of legislative change in the pensions space over the last few years feels unprecedented, and in my view increasingly problematic.
Popular News
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EQRS appoints Accenture's Pritchett as CEO
Pension administration services company EQ Retirement Solutions has appointed Will Pritchett as chief executive officer to replace Duncan Watson, who will join the EQRS Board.
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Defaqto reveals most recommended pensions and SIPPs
Royal London, Aviva and Quilter were the most recommended personal pensions in the first half of 2026, based on recommendations flowing through Defaqto Engage.
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SIPPs and Financial Planning adviser in default
Norwich Financial Planning firm Signpost Financial Planning Ltd (FRN: 575237) - which provided investment and SIPPs advice - has been declared in default by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.
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SIPPs to play major role in private markets expansion
UK private market fund managers believe SIPPs will play a major role in expanding sophisticated and high-net-worth investor participation in private markets over the next five years, according to new research.
Almost 9 in 10 of eligible employees (88%, 19.2m people) have saved for retirement through their workplace pension: an increase from 55% in 2012 when automatic-enrolment began, DWP figures have said.
However, pension participation among self-employed people continued to fall from 21% in 2009/10 to 14% in 2018/19.
The annual total amount saved for eligible employees was £98.4bn in 2019, an increase of £5.3bn from 2018.
£40.5bn was saved into public sector schemes (41%), with £57.9bn (59%) saved into private sector schemes.DWP data from December 2019 showed 5.44m people were employed in the public sector (16%) compared to 27.55m (84%) people in the private sector.
Following the release of the data, Hargreaves Lansdown shared concerns about the pension savings figures for the self-employed.
Nathan Long, interim head of policy at Hargreaves Lansdown said: “The self-employed continue to be precariously placed with just a handful choosing to save into a pension, showing the existing incentives just don’t resonate. The Government will also be acutely aware that 41% of all pension contributions go to public sector employees that represent less than a fifth of all workers.”
Almost two thirds of Britons surveyed (62%) that had received recent financial advice said they had detailed knowledge of Pension Freedoms, compared to a third (33%) of over-55s that had never received financial advice.
Adviser tech firm O&M, part of fintech Iress, is to provide free CPD-qualifying webinars on drawdown for advisers.
The Coronavirus pandemic has forced a widespread rethink of retirement plans as 18% change their retirement age and 20% of over-55s have considered raiding their pension savings, according to a new report.
The Pensions Regulator has so far issued 115,459 auto-enrolment fixed penalty notices since the start of the workplace pension scheme in 2012.
LV=, the mutual financial provider, has declined to comment on reports that it will sell off or float the business.