Standard Life set to enhance pension exposure in private markets September 24, 2025 Pension provider Standard Life is set to launch a new fund with significant private market allocation, as it works to make investing in the private market more accessible for savers. The Future Opportunities fund aims to improve outcomes and boost returns by diversifying customer portfolios with exposure to quality private assets which could offer increased [...]
Phoenix Group: FTSE 100 giant changes name to Standard Life September 8, 2025 Pensions giant Phoenix Group is set to change its name to Standard Life as it adopts the name of the brand it acquired seven years ago. It follows widespread speculation that the board had been considering a name change. The firm stated that Standard Life was its most reputable name and that the change would [...]
Rachel Reeves’ winter fuel raid to raise £1.3bn less than hoped August 29, 2025 Rachel Reeves’ fiscal agenda has been dealt another chilling blow with new data revealing savings from the winter fuel allowance will be lower than hoped after Labour’s row back. The Chancellor’s winter fuel raid will raise £1.3bn less than originally planned before the government U-turned following a rebellion from backbenchers. Just £227m is set to [...]
Thousands of pensioners overcharged £10,000 on pension withdrawals August 25, 2025 Thousands of pensioners have claimed back more than £10,000 after being overcharged tax on their pension withdrawals, new analysis shows. A handful of people in the UK were given a refund worth more than £100,000. The HMRC figures, which were obtained by Royal London through a freedom of information (FOI) request, show an increase in [...]
Generation games: young people don’t see property as key to retirement August 20, 2025 Younger generations are taking a “more flexible approach” towards saving for retirement, amid concerns that traditional savings routes won’t be enough to rely on. The majority of younger generations see both pensions and property playing “key parts in their financial future”, according to the latest Standard Life retirement voice research, surveying 6,000 people. Over 50 [...]
Rolls-Royce offloads UK pension fund in £4.3bn deal with PIC August 10, 2025 Rolls-Royce has sealed a £4.3bn deal with insurance specialist Pension Insurance Corporation (PIC) to offload its UK pension scheme as the engineering giant presses ahead with simplifying its balance sheet. The deal, which was announced on Sunday, covers the remaining pension obligations of 36,000 members — including 15,000 current pensioners and 21,000 deferred members — [...]
Labour revives Pensions Commission amid fears workers are saving too little July 21, 2025 Ministers are to resurrect the Pensions Commission amid fears that today’s workers face a greater risk of poverty in retirement than their parents. Experts have warned that people looking to retire in 2050 are on course to receive £800 per year less than current pensioners. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) said 45 per [...]
Bailey: Don’t force pension funds into UK assets July 9, 2025 Andrew Bailey has warned the government against forcing pension funds to invest in UK assets, saying that while reform to the sector was essential, he would prefer to see it done in a “natural” way. Treasury ministers have refused to rule out taking measures to make British pension funds allocate a certain share of their [...]
The investment industry has three asks for Reeves’ Mansion House speech June 26, 2025 The investment industry is listening to the Reeves’ rallying cry for growth, but there are three things we need to make it happen, says Chris Cummings In just over two weeks’ time the Chancellor will deliver her Mansion House address to the financial services sector. It is an important moment for government to demonstrate progress [...]
Blow to London Stock Exchange as Scottish Widows plots huge selloff June 19, 2025 The London Stock Exchange has been dealt another hammer blow after it emerged one of the UK’s biggest pension funds plans to massively cut its allocation for UK equities. The Edinburgh-based business, which manages as much as £72bn in pension assets, intends to slash the UK equities allocation in its highest growth portfolio from 12 [...]