As you might know from my previous columns on SIPPs Professional, I am, and have been for some time, a huge advocate for Small Self-Administered Schemes (SSAS).

Ever since “tax-free cash” changed its official name to “pension commencement lump sum” back in 2006 there have been pre-Budget rumours that it was going to change – and not for the better.

I can’t be alone in thinking that the recent House of Lords committee sessions on the Finance Bill and, in particular, discussion on bringing unused pension pots into scope for inheritance tax (IHT) made for interesting viewing.

Last month I talked about the headaches and liabilities of being a personal representative (PR) for a deceased’s estate when pensions are included for inheritance tax (IHT) purposes from 6 April 2027.

I’m sure many of you reading this on SIPPs Professional will have had more than a few conversations with clients about estate planning – especially considering the news that pensions are to be included in the value of the estate for IHT purposes from April 2027.

The years of huge compensation payouts for pension transfer redress look to be easing after the latest Broadstone DB Redress Tracker revealed DB pension transfer compensation remained nil in the majority of cases in 2025.

The Financial Services Compensation Scheme is expecting a £9.5m fall in the cost of claims in its current financial year due to an overall reduction in the number of complaints.

The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) said today it expects to receive 188,000 cases in 2026/27, while resolving 245,000 cases.

I’m sure many of you reading this on SIPPs Professional will have had more than a few conversations with clients about estate planning – especially considering the news that pensions are to be included in the value of the estate for IHT purposes from April 2027.