Latest Columns
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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.
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Tilley: Are we asking too much of pension savers?
Working in UK pensions, I’ve always accepted that the system evolves. Fiscal pressures change, demographics shift, and governments recalibrate policy objectives. But even allowing for that, the pace and volume of legislative change in the pensions space over the last few years feels unprecedented, and in my view increasingly problematic.
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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.
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Lisa Webster: Should tax-free cash always be taken?
Since the Lifetime Allowance was abolished and replaced with the Lump Sum Allowance (LSA) and lump sum and death benefit allowance (LSDBA), we have seen an increase in SIPP members who want to take drawdown only – foregoing the right to take the associated pension commencement lump sum (PCLS).
Popular News
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Government to increase SSAS scam protections
The Government has issued draft regulations to address concerns about scam risks for members of small self-administered schemes (SSAS).
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Transact adds new trust to help with IHT pension tax
Transact has unveiled the new Flexible Reversionary Trust (FRT) which it says will help advisers prepare for the April 2027 IHT changes when unused pension funds will be subject to IHT.
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James Jones-Tinsley: The pension challenges ahead
On 19 May, the Pensions Commission published its Interim Report on the state of retirement saving in the UK.
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.
Gaudi, the SIPP and platform fintech business, has launched a white-labelled pension income drawdown product that can be used by any financial brand.
Westridge SSAS has recruited three new executives a week after the purchase of James Hay’s SSAS book.