Just Group share price falls as new regulations slash profits by a quarter September 4, 2019 Life insurer Just Group shares fell 10 per cent this morning after it revealed profit fell more than a quarter in the first half of the year. The company suffered a hit after new rules from the Prudential Regulation Authority, which require more capital behind lifetime mortgages, which is one of its key products. The [...]
Mortgages, pensions and other savings products are not designed for self-employed workers – here’s what needs to change September 4, 2019 A growing number of us are choosing to go it alone. According to recent figures from the Office for National Statistics, the number of self-employed workers is now nearing the five million mark. That’s around 15 per cent of the UK workforce, and a million more people than the same period in 2009, with London [...]
Debate: Should we be worried that some over-55s are using their pensions to help younger family members buy homes? August 30, 2019 Should we be worried that some over-55s are using their pensions to help younger family members buy homes? Yes – Helen Morrissey is a pension specialist at Royal London. While it is natural for people to want to help their children get a foot on the housing ladder, the worry is that they could damage [...]
Watchdog opens door to PPI deadline reprieve as customers battle technical issues August 28, 2019 The regulator responsible for overseeing PPI claims has hinted that providers could extend tomorrow’s deadline if technical difficulties prevent customers from complaining about mis-sold policies. Consumers have to lodge claims with the provider that sold them the PPI policy, but people have complained of being unable to make claims with providers due to problems with [...]
Natwest customers wrestle with IT issues as PPI deadline looms August 28, 2019 Natwest customers have complained of being unable to make PPI claims ahead of tomorrow’s deadline for lodging complaints about mis-sold plans. Customers took to Twitter to express their frustration at not being able to make claims. “The [Natwest] website is down, personal banking on-line system is down and the PPI call line system is malfunctioning! [...]
One day to go until the PPI deadline: How to make a PPI claim August 28, 2019 Consumers are rushing to make last-minute PPI claims as tomorrow’s deadline looms. Here’s how to get your claim submitted before the cut-off time of 11.59pm on 29 August. What is PPI? PPI – or Payment Protection Insurance – was intended to cover loan repayments if the person who took out the loan became unable to [...]
Three in 10 FTSE 100 companies cut executive pensions as investor pressure mounts August 28, 2019 Three in 10 FTSE 100 companies have pledged to cut their executives’ pension payments in response to pressure from shareholders, as new data reveals that investor rebellions are on the rise. Research published today by the Investment Association shows that 30 companies on the index have made significant changes to executive pensions during this year’s [...]
RBS and Santander rapped over PPI reminders August 23, 2019 Santander and the Ryal Bank of Scotland apologised to customers today as the UK’s competition watchdog scolded them for not properly reminding PPI customers they were able to cancel their plan. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it will force the two banks to appoint independent auditors to scour through their payment protection insurance [...]
Should the state pension age increase from 68 to 75 by 2035? August 22, 2019 Should the state pension age increase from 68 to 75 by 2035, as proposed by the Centre for Social Justice? Yes – Patrick Spencer is head of the work and welfare unit at the CSJ. The happy reality is that we are healthier and living longer. In 2017, the proportion of the UK population aged 65 [...]
Why we should be worried that many women are reliant on their partners’ pensions August 20, 2019 We may have come a long way since the days when women were the property of men, but we still face some huge challenges when it comes to addressing financial gender inequality. According to a new report from Fidelity, 12 per cent of married women plan to rely on their partner’s pension in retirement, while [...]