Latest Pensions News
The latest news on pensions, the pensions industry, and retirement planning:
March 3, 2008
Research from insurer AXA has revealed that 75% of British workers have some form of pension provision, with the average person starting to save towards retirement at just 28.
The insurer revealed that Britons begin saving earlier than those in France and Spain who start saving at an average of 35, while those in Hungary put off saving until ...
Europe’s youngest pension savers are in the UK
by Kay Murchie
February 14, 2008
Those heading towards retirement should be aware of their legal rights so as not to be pressured into retiring early.
A recent survey conducted by insurer AXA has discovered that ageism is still an issue in the workplace. The survey established that thousands of workers are being coerced into early retirement in spite of age discrimination legislation that came into force ...
Ageism still an issue in the workplace
by Kay Murchie
January 31, 2008
Consulting firm Watson Wyatt has said up to $1.5 trillion (£753 billion) has been wiped off the value of global institutional pension fund assets since the start of 2008.
Roger Urwin of Watson Wyatt said with the average allocation to equities within pension funds in the 11 largest pension markets at 56%, they have felt the pain of the global equities market ...
$1.5 trillion wiped off pensions funds
by Kay Murchie
Pensioners in their 80s are most likely to be happy in their retirement
by Kay Murchie
December 7, 2007
According to figures published by the LibDems, today's pensioners are worse off than they were in the 1950's. Back then, the average full-time weekly wage was worth £7.08 (equal to £499 in today's money) while the basic weekly state pension was £1.36 (£91.65).
In 2006, the average wage had increased to £549.80, but the pension was just £87.30 ...
Pensioners are worse off now than 50 years ago
by Kay Murchie
December 6, 2007
Research from Abbey has established that Britons today are not sure about the amount that they will need to retire on.
A survey showed that 60% of women are 'clueless' about what their requirements during retirement will be. Furthermore, 16% of Britons think that they can retire on one lump sum that would actually pay them less money than people live ...
Britons unsure about amount required to retire
by Kay Murchie
November 30, 2007
Shocking figures have revealed that 22,300 pensioners died of the cold last winter. The main reason is that rocketing energy bills mean the elderly cannot afford to keep warm. Yet they're missing out on unclaimed benefits worth £4.5 billion a year.
Research by the London School of Economics for British Gas and Help the Aged showed that the £4.5 billion is sitting ...
Pensioners missing out on unclaimed benefits
by Kay Murchie
November 20, 2007
Minister for Pensions Reform, Mike O'Brien, has announced that the Pensions Regulator will monitor a new system of pension saving.
The system will be designed to enrol employees automatically who are not able to join a good scheme run by their own employer. Employers, as well as staff, will have to make contributions, to improve the level of pension saving in the UK. ...
New system of pension saving
by Kay Murchie
November 16, 2007
A recent survey conducted by Defaqto discovered that over 30% of people said that they were not saving for their retirement, while 70% confessed that they are relying on their state pension.
Richard Sheppard, head of pensions for AWD Chase de Vere, said pensions are not a priority and many are paying less attention to their long-term saving but are focused on ...
70% relying on state pension
by Kay Murchie
November 14, 2007
A report by consultancy firm, Aon, has revealed that the UK has been named the worst state pension in the European Union for the second consecutive year.
The report shows that the state pays pensioners in the UK an income equivalent to just 17% of average earnings. This is the lowest level in Europe and well below the average ...
UK state pension system named worst in the EU
by Kay Murchie
November 13, 2007
Thousands of women who became stay-at-home mums are set to benefit from a pension windfall. Protests have meant that the Government has given in to demands to close a loophole which meant women who gave up work to raise their children missed out on credits that would increase their pensions.
Tens of thousands of women could qualify for extra ...
Thousands of mums to benefit from pensions windfall
by Kay Murchie
November 12, 2007
Legal & General is to vary your pension depending on your postcode, for instance, in places with low life expectancy, allowances will be higher.
The postcode related pensions have been tested and the insurer said it will now pay higher pensions to people who live in areas where life expectancy is short. However, the company has denied ...
Legal & General – pension will depend on your postcode
by Kay Murchie
November 1, 2007
A report from Scottish Widows has established that many are unprepared for retirement, particularly women. The report called What Women Need – Pension Provision for Today and Tomorrow, has discovered that the gender pension gap is growing with 13% fewer women saving enough for retirement than men compared with 8% a year ago.
Over that 12-month period, the percentage of ...
Women aren’t saving enough for their retirement
by Kay Murchie
October 26, 2007
According to Age Concern, many elderly people are unable to live on their pension and, therefore, are being forced to return to work.
Helen Spinney of Age Concern said that many people realise that their retirement income is not as much as they had anticipated so they are continuing to work beyond the state pension age, currently 60 for women and 65 ...
Elderly people forced back to work
by Kay Murchie
October 15, 2007
Moves have been made to boost retirement income according to last week’s Pre-Budget Report. Under the ‘open market option’, retirees who wish to use their pension savings to buy an annuity, which pays an income for the rest of their life, should be able to look around for the best offer.
Savers should be able to apply the open ...
Measures put in place to increase retirement income
by Kay Murchie
October 10, 2007
Millions of Britons are spending a fortune on home improvements because they are worried that their pensions will not be sufficient to fund their retirement.
A survey established that homeowners are investing more than twice as much money into their properties every month for improvements and maintenance as they are into their pensions.
Homeowners are optimistic that extensions and new ...
Britons investing in homes rather than pensions
by Kay Murchie
October 9, 2007
The Pension Protection Fund (PPF) has shown that UK pension funds in September had an overall surplus of £44 billion.
This is up from a surplus of £27 billion last month, and a £31 billion deficit last year.
However, while pension funds overall carried a surplus, a number of funds are still debt - though significantly reduced to 60% of the ...
PPF shows healthy pension scheme improvements
by Brian Turner
October 5, 2007
Cheshire Building Society has said that people in their 20’s are putting their financial futures at risk by getting caught up in the buy now, pay later society.
Moneyfacts.co.uk recently commented that generations have changed, years ago credit was in short supply so people saved to make large purchases. Nowadays, people see credit as a necessity to pay for ...
Young people should plan for their financial future now
by Kay Murchie
October 3, 2007
Workers have been warned by Consultancy group Mercer that contribution levels to the majority of pension schemes are too low to provide a good income during retirement. If this amount remains the same, the majority of members will receive more from the state pension than from their occupational plan.
Researchers commented that contribution levels still averaged only 10.4% of a ...
Millions urged to pay into their pensions
by Kay Murchie
October 2, 2007
According to research from Baring Asset Management (Barings), 3.2 million Britons are depending on property investments to fund their retirement. Barings commented that this will leave them at risk of fluctuations in the UK property market and interest rate movements.
The research showed that 10% of 35-44 year olds are planning to fund their retirement with the income they receive from ...
Britons relying on property to provide pension
by Kay Murchie