You may have seen headlines recently about the pension savings “crisis” hitting the self-employed. According to the latest Financial Resources survey from the DWP only 18% of working-age adults that are self-employed are currently participating in a pension. This is compared to 75% of employees of the same age.

The take up of Pension Wise appointments remains stubbornly low and the FCA’s recent paper “The stronger nudge to pensions guidance” is the latest in a line of initiatives designed to increase take-up.

This month we celebrate 15 years since pension simplification was introduced – Happy Crystal Anniversary all!

The Treasury recently released its consultation paper on how the increase in normal minimum pension age (NMPA) is implemented. We have known for several years that the increase from age 55 to 57 was planned to take effect from 6 April 2028, so there is no surprise in the increase itself.

This time two years ago I wrote about when not to use the pension annual allowance. This year this is particularly pertinent.

The first Monday back after the Christmas break has come to be known as “Divorce Day” – this year it fell on 4 January.

Since the death benefit rules changed back in 2015 as part of the Pension Freedoms we have seen a significant fall in the use of bypass trusts.

I recently presented a technical webinar on pension transfers which included a look at transfers to qualifying recognised overseas pension schemes (QROPS).

Pension scams are not new but are growing in number and constantly evolving. Thankfully, after a slow start the wheels in motion to combat the scammers are starting to pick up speed.

I last wrote about Mrs Staveley in my blog of June 2019, and the name will be familiar to many. Mrs Staveley passed away back in December 2006 having transferred her pension just a few weeks earlier while in full knowledge of her terminal illness.