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.
Two of the world’s biggest financial businesses are to combine with Aon buying rival Willis Towers Watson for £23bn.
Defined benefit pension transfer values rose in February with Coronavirus fears spurring the rise, according to the XPS Transfer Watch Index, a monthly study of transfer values.
Pension savers are more likely to have a pension than 10 years ago but more are expecting to retire later than their parents’ generation.
The director of a company acting as a trustee for 16 pension schemes has received a £10,000 court fine for failing to hand information to The Pensions Regulator.
A record 77% of UK employees were in a workplace pension in 2019, according to latest ONS figures released today.
This compares to only 47% in 2012 when auto-enrolment began and is the highest membership rate for workplace pensions since 1997.
ONS says participation in occupational defined contribution (DC) pensions has grown in recent years to the extent that more employees have a DC pension than other type.
The youngest employees, those aged 22 to 29 years, have seen the most growth in workplace pension membership since 2012, rising from 31% of younger workers enrolled to 80% in 2019.
ONS says that in 2019, the gender gap in public sector pension membership disappeared. In the private sector a gap still persists with more men (77%) having a workplace pension than women (69%).
In 2019, some 78% of employees with DC pensions contributed at least 3% of earnings, up from 37% in 2018. ONS says this is likely mainly due to minimum auto-enrolment contributions rising.
Eleanor Levy, director of Marketing and Communications at NOW: Pensions, said: “It’s fantastic to see that 77% of UK employees are members of a workplace pension scheme, and auto enrolment is at its highest membership rate ever. However, more still needs to be done to ensure that everyone has the ability to save for a successful retirement.
“While DWP’s pledge to lower the auto enrolment age to 18 is a great start, we must ensure that we maintain this momentum and scrap the £10,000 auto enrolment eligibility criteria which is penalising those who simply don’t earn enough. This criteria disproportionately affects women who work part-time while they care for the younger and older generations.
“We are very supportive of Baroness Jeannie Drake’s family carer top-up, which will help approximately three million women, in addition to 300,000 men, to top up their pension savings whilst taking time out of work to be carers.”
Selftrade, one of the oldest retail investment platforms, has re-branded as EQi and announced plans to boost its SIPP services