LV=, the UK’s largest friendly society, has launched a Pension Income Plus Annuity (PIPA) which combines a high level of initial income with the guarantee of an minimum income. It is structured more simply than traditional with-profits annuities and offers enhanced terms, value protection and competitive starting incomes. Clients can take out a PIPA with [...]
According to a report by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the number of people paying into an occupational pension has slumped to a level not seen since 1956. Last year, there were 8.3 million people contributing to an occupational pension (3 million in the private sector and 5.3 million in the public sector). This [...]
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) today announced Consumer Price Inflation (CPI) accelerated to annual rate of 5.2% last month from August’s rate of 4.5%. The rate represented the highest since September 2008 and it has never exceeded this rate since the CPI measure was first calculated in 1997. Higher inflation continues to be led [...]
A 24-hour strike is underway in the UK as public sector workers protest against pension reforms. The Public and Commercial Services (PCS), which is Britain’s largest civil service union, as well as three teaching unions, are protesting against changes to their pensions. The industrial action will result in Britain’s worst strike for decades and will [...]
The Government has now provided details of the new flat-rate state pension, as well as increases in the retirement age – due to be equalised at 65 by 2018. The state pension age will then be lifted to 66 for both men and women by 2020. Meanwhile, it was announced that the new pensions system [...]
Details of the new flat-rate state pension will be unveiled next week by the Government. In last month’s Budget, it was announced that the new pensions system should make pension planning easier to understand – stripping out the current complex means-tested payments system and will move towards a flat-rate payment for men and women. The [...]
In today’s Budget, Chancellor George Osborne confirmed that the new flat-rate state pension will be brought in but will take many years to come into force. According to the Government, the new pensions system should make pension planning easier to understand – stripping out the current complex means-tested payments system and will move towards a [...]
Business Secretary Vince Cable has today unveiled a proposed reform of Britain’s state pension system, with the introduction of one universal payment. This would replace the current system of earnings-related “top-up” payments, plus additional means-tested benefits. Costs relating to the proposed reform were not divulged but it is intended to reduce inequalities between men and [...]
It has been announced that the Government is to reduce the annual amount of pension tax-free income in order to save £4 billion a year, to reduce the spiralling budget deficit. The tax-free amount is being slashed from £255,000 a year to £50,000 from April 2011. High earners will continue to be paid tax relief [...]
A survey by Scottish Widows has found that the squeeze on household incomes, as a result of the economic downturn, has hit pension savings with nearly half of people in the UK saving less. According to the Edinburgh-based life and pensions provider, 41% of people saved less for their pensions – many of them blaming [...]
Brits prefer driving a nice car to having a financially sound pensions plan, according to new research published this week. A study by Standard Life found 54% of consumers care strongly about their car. This is compared to just 46% who place high value on their pension pot. Women were found to care more about [...]
As the Labour Government’s general election campaign continues, its latest pledge is to increase the basic state pension in accordance with earnings from 2012 – provided the party is re-elected. The pensions-earnings link was scrapped by Margaret Thatcher thirty years ago and replaced with the retail price inflation index (RPI). However, with pensions being linked [...]
The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has today found that poor advice is still being given to people switching pension funds. The findings come after a major review of the sector conducted by the FSA in 2008. The City Watchdog has raised concerns about the advice being given and, as a result, is to take enforcement [...]
A report by Prudential has revealed that the average male pension is more than £7,000 a year higher than the female pension. The survey found that a man who draws his pension in 2010 will receive an average retirement income of £19,593, while a woman will receive £12,169. However, the survey shows that the average [...]
According to the BBC, workers at the AA may strike for the first time since the organisation was established over a century ago. The vehicle breakdown service, which advertises itself as the fourth emergency service, is in a dispute over pensions and thousands of employees are to be balloted. The GMB union said its members [...]
Minister for Women and Equality, Harriet Harman, is calling for a major shake-up in the retirement law which will see workers no longer forced to retire at 65. Miss Harman believes a radical change in the law is needed in order to smash the notion that people are ‘past it’ once they hit 65. The [...]
Stagecoach has today reported a fall in first-half profit as a result of higher fuel and pension costs. The bus and rail operator posted a pre-tax profit of £75.5 million in the six months to the end of October – a fall of 28%. However, the profits exceeded market expectations and the group said it [...]
Britons’ love affair with property has left more than one million over fifties looking sadly on their retirement prospects. According to a poll by insurer LV=, 12% of homeowners aged 50 and over are relying on capital growth from their homes to part-fund their non-working years. The boom years of the UK’s housing market actually [...]
It has been confirmed that British Airways (BA) and Spanish airline Iberia have reached a preliminary merger agreement. Merger talks took place between both companies yesterday and the deal is understood to give Iberia 45% and BA 55% of a newly merged company. The combined firm would create Europe’s third largest airline and have 419 [...]
M&S Money launches 3% cash ISA
M&S Money has launched an Advantage Cash ISA paying 3 per cent, and which allows transfers in from other ISAs. It can be opened with a minimum deposit of £100 lump sum followed by minimum monthly deposits of £25. The 3% rate is variable, but there is no short-term bonus so the return won’t plummet [...]
Google suspends UK Compare Mortgages site
Google has closed its UK mortgage comparison site which it launched in July last year, after it proved to be less popular than expected. Mortgage comparison sites are designed to allow visitors to compare mortgages quickly and easily without having to visit each lender’s individual site. Google was competing with several well-established comparison sites, including [...]
AA launches ‘black-box’ policy for young drivers
The AA is launching an innovative car insurance policy called Drivesafe which could help younger drivers save up to £850 a year. Younger drivers already pay substantially higher premiums than other motorists and these costs are increasing. A new study by Confused.com suggests insurance costs for younger driver have gone up by 5.7 per cent [...]
ATOL scheme updated to protect online bookers
ATOL, a financial protection scheme managed by the Civil Aviation Authority, is being extended to protect up to six million more holidays a year. The scheme ensures that holiday makers do not lose out financially if a travel company collapses, and that they are not stranded abroad. An increase in the number of holidays booked [...]
Home repossessions lowest for four years
The number of UK homes repossessed fell to 36,200 in 2011, significantly below the Council of Mortgage Lenders’ forecast of 40,000, and lower than 2010 when 37,100 homes were repossessed. With interest rates remaining low and lenders adopting a sympathetic attitude to customers in financial difficulty, repossessions fell to their lowest level since 2007. However, [...]
Monthly pay lasting just 17 days
Workers are running out of money just 17 days after receiving their monthly pay, according to new research by the Halifax bank. This means that the average UK worker spends half the month worrying about money. The study, based on the responses of more than 2,000 adults, found that 10 per cent of workers start [...]
Women disadvantaged by auto-enrolment changes
Government proposals to increase the auto-enrolment threshold to £10,000 could put 1.8 million women at risk of missing out on a pension, the TUC has warned. Under the auto-enrolment scheme, which will be phased in from October, private sector employers will automatically enrol workers between the age of 22 years and the state pension age, [...]
Emergency household repairs company Homeserve is taking longer than expected to get back on track after its operations were suspended last October. The company expected customer numbers to fall by 5% this year but it has increased this estimate to 8% and announced the loss of 200 jobs. It estimates that renewal revenue in 2013 [...]
Sale rumoured for Yorkshire and Clydesdale banks
There is growing speculation that National Australia Bank (NAB) may sell Yorkshire Bank and Clydesdale Bank after the Australian parent company announced a strategic review of the two banks’ operations. The Australian economy is performing well and NAB reported strong profits for the final quarter of 2011 but with the UK economy at a virtual [...]
More women experiencing debt difficulties
Women in Debt, which offers female-focused debt advice, has warned that the number of UK women facing serious debt has grown significantly over recent years. The organisation believes that more women will need advice on solving debt problems in the future because they are building up an unsustainable level of indebtedness. Women in Debt’s director, [...]
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