Latest Blogs
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Tilley: Will IHT reforms really threaten pension saving?
The Government’s decision to bring most unused pension funds and lump sum death benefits within the scope of inheritance tax (IHT) from 6 April 2027 has provoked widespread criticism from across the pensions industry. Providers, advisers and trade bodies have warned that the change risks undermining confidence in pension saving and damaging long term retirement provision.
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Lisa Webster: Charity giving from pensions
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.
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Lisa Webster: Salary sacrifice cap will hit some hard
The headline story from Budget 2025 - in the pension world at least - was the plan to cap National Insurance relief for pension contributions paid through salary sacrifice at £2,000 a year.
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Tilley: Rebooting the FOS makes sense
I’ve written before about the lack of coherence in the UK’s pension complaints landscape and it remains a source of real frustration for those of us working in the sector.
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Lisa Webster: Pension age uncertainty lingers on
We’ve known for many years that normal minimum pension age, NMPA it's known, is going up.
Popular News
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Pension professionals concerned about dashboard handling
Pension professionals are concerned about the industry’s capacity to handle Pensions Dashboards queries.
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Aptia acquires Mercer’s Pension Decision Service
Pensions administrator Aptia has acquired Pension Decision Service from Mercer for an undisclosed amount.
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Pensions industry urged to protect savers from scams
Fraud Minister Lord Hanson has urged pension trustees to do all they can to protect millions of scheme members from fraudsters.
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FCA survey reveals 15% fall in adviser firms
The number of adviser firms has fallen by 15% since 2021 although the number of advisers overall has remained steady at 31,000.
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Lisa Webster: Beware IHT and pensions double taxation
One of the most disliked aspects of bringing pensions into the estate for inheritance tax (IHT) purposes from 6 April 2027 is the double taxation that will occur when the member dies on or after their 75th birthday.
Xafinity SIPP and SSAS has rebranded as XPS Self Invested Pensions following the creation of XPS Pensions Group three years ago when Xafinity acquired the actuarial and administration divisions of Punter Southall.
Two in three UK adults aged 45-65 view the government as doing “terribly” in its attempts to make using Pension Wise the norm for pension guidance, according to new research.
More than 1,000 pension savers were hit every working day in 2020 by the Money Purchase Annual Allowance (MPAA), according to new analysis.
SIPP provider STM, the owner of the London & Colonial and Options SIPP businesses, has sold some of its Gibraltar-based businesses for just over £3m.
A 61-year-old man has been extradited from Spain in connection with a £13.7m pension fraud prosecution being brought by The Pensions Regulator (TPR).
AJ Bell, the SIPP and platform provider, has acquired mobile phone fintech Adalpha to increase its digital offering to financial advisers.
AJ Bell is buying the Adalpha group of companies, including Ad Alpha Solutions, for an undisclosed sum.
Adalpha is developing a mobile-focused investment platform proposition for financial advisers which allows transactions and account details to be done mostly via a mobile phone.
AJ Bell says the Adalpha platform will only be available via financial advisers.
According to the FAQs released today: “Adalpha is currently developing a simplified platform proposition for financial advisers delivered to customers via a mobile and tablet app. In essence, advisers will be provided with the software infrastructure they need to support an entirely digital service model for clients who are suited to that form of relationship and advice process.”
Manchester-based AJ Bell says it believes that this ‘simplified proposition’ has the potential to complement the company’s existing adviser platform business, AJ Bell Investcentre.
Adalpha’s staff will join AJ Bell.
Andy Bell, chief executive of AJ Bell, said: “Financial advisers need a variety of propositions to match a diverse range of client needs. The Adalpha team are working on a simplified, mobile focused platform service that will broaden our offering to financial advisers and help them service a wider base of clients.”
Dave Tanner, chief executive of Adalpha, said: “Our vision has always been to develop technology that helps financial advisers service a greater number of clients. Advisers should have the choice and capability to deliver their service remotely or face-to-face. As part of AJ Bell, we will be able to further develop our mobile led services and help increase clients’ engagement with their adviser.”
AJ Bell was established in 1995 and operates in the advised and direct-to-consumer sectors via AJ Bell Investcentre (adviser) and AJ Bell Youinvest (direct-to-consumer). It offers SIPPs, ISAs and General Investment / Dealing Accounts.