
UK pensioners are increasingly forced to delve into their savings, as the rising cost of living has cut their pension income by over £700 a year, in real terms, since 2008.

UK pensioners are increasingly forced to delve into their savings, as the rising cost of living has cut their pension income by over £700 a year, in real terms, since 2008.

Nearly half of working over-65s are ‘trapped in work’ by falling pension income and inadequate pension planning. With plunging annuities rates, pension income is half what it was 15 years ago.Read More
Half of UK pension savers have never reviewed their pension plans, and cannot say how their pension is invested. One in 5 actually make investment decisions without advice. Most of those prudent enough to review seek pensions advice from an independent financial adviser.
Demand for financial planning advice was strongly up in the first half of the year. Pensions and investments remain strongest drivers, but greatest growth was in demand for mortgage advice.
Those who go online for independent financial advice are most concerned with pensions and retirement. Second most popular choices are savings and investments, with mortgages taking only 3rd place in a lukewarm climate for lending
How do you feel about trading in the national average wage of £24,000 for the pension income of £8,000 that most of us will have, when we retire? Your weekly ‘cash in hand’ at age 65 may fall by over half.
Less than 1 in 5 people planning to retire in 2010 will take pension advice from a qualified pension planner, according to Prudential.
Government pension changes free you from the obligatory purchase of a pensions annuity by age 75, and enable you to leave your remaining pension savings to your children. However, Inheritance Tax and other tax charges could devour up to 82% of your pension pot. Good pensions advice and pensions planning can minimise the impact of these and future pension changes.
Government pension changes likely to be introduced based on pre-election pledges by the Conservatives and the Lib Dems are currently being presented as benefits that will increase pension income from both state and private pensions. Dig a little deeper, however, and we see that the pension changes are primarily designed to save the state money.
Now that the new government has been confirmed as a Conservative / LibDem coalition, there are several key implications for the Basic State Pension and the whole pensions area. Click the above headline to read where the Conservatives and the LibDems already agree on pensions.
















