PPF releases deficit figures for September, buoyed by bond yields heading back north October 11, 2016 Aggregate deficits faced by the government's pension lifeboat edged down in September, finally levelling off after a summer that has seen an astronomic rise in shortfalls. The Pension Protection Fund (PPF), which employers pay into via a levy and effectively underwrites the defined benefit pension liabilities of Britain's companies, said that its aggregate deficit stood at £420bn at the end of [...]
Official statisticians reveal what Britons think will make them the most money for later years October 11, 2016 Britons think the best way to save for retirement is to invest in property rather than a pension scheme, according to research by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Although respondents to the ONS survey admitted that an employer pension scheme was a safer way to save, nearly half felt that investing in bricks and mortar was best way to [...]
The Pensions Regulator is seeking more power to stop another BHS-style pensions crisis October 11, 2016 The Pensions Regulator (TPR) is seeking more powers to prevent another pensions crisis on the scale of BHS'. In evidence given to the Work and Pensions select committee, TPR has called for a mandatory clearance process for some corporate transactions, such as a company being sold when its pension scheme is underfunded, as was the [...]
The government’s creating a new pensions and debt advice service October 9, 2016 A new service will be created to advise consumers about pensions and debt as the government puts plans into action to replace the much-criticised Money Advice Service (MAS). A new body to provide people with financial guidance will be launched, combining MAS along with two pensions advice groups – the Pensions Advisory Service (TPAS) and Pension [...]
The majority of people in these five British regions have less than £100 in savings October 7, 2016 There's been much talk of a debt-fuelled recovery in recent years – but now worrying research suggests people in five parts of the country are taking that to heart. Research by the Money Advice Service (Mas) suggests 44 per cent of people in the UK are "non-savers", with less than £100 in the bank. That means [...]
Tesco’s pension headache is a real challenge because of the financial strength of the company say experts October 5, 2016 Pension experts warned that Tesco's ballooning pension deficit could cause the supermarket problems when it comes to tricky conversations with the scheme's trustees. The deficit – which doubled to £5.9bn – was higher than anticipated and will likely prompt detailed scrutiny by the trustees, in particular when it comes to next year's triennial valuation. "The ballooning deficit at Tesco is [...]
Experts react to potential changes in pension tax relief October 5, 2016 Hints that the government intends a pension tax shake-up has led to mixed reactions from experts. Chancellor Philip Hammond's parliamentary private secretary, John Glen MP, responded to questions at the Conservative Party Conference on whether the government intended to change pension tax relief. "There needs to be some serious examination about how we can re-balance incentives towards the [...]
European consumers turn their noses up at price comparison websites in favour of brokers. And it’s a trend that isn’t changing soon October 4, 2016 Continental Europe is shunning price comparison websites for sales of motor insurance because brokers have managed to adapt better to the needs of the market unlike their British counterparts. Two-thirds of all UK motor insurance policies are sold through price comparison websites – a medium that has only been around since the turn of the millennium. But according to [...]
Investors could be missing out on thousands by following the advice of the Bank of England’s chief economist October 3, 2016 Property might be the investment of choice for the Bank of England's chief economist but research by a leading investment platform suggests that shares are the best option when saving for retirement. At the end of August, Andy Haldane was lambasted by pension experts for advocating his choice to invest in property rather than in a pension scheme. [...]
Pension deficit rate of rise slows but experts warn this isn’t the end of problems October 3, 2016 The meteoric rise in pension deficits abated during September with aggregate levels stagnating for the first time since the Brexit vote. Deficits have leapt since Spring after asset value growth failed to keep up with the rate at which bond yields have collapsed. Read more: Pension costs pose a material threat to UK plc profitability say [...]