Latest Blogs
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Tilley: Pensions Commission must push reform...and quickly
Recent news of the revival of a Pensions Commission was music to my ears.
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Lisa Webster: Till pensions do us part
There have been some fluctuations in recent years but overall divorce rates in the UK have been in decline since the 1990s.
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Tilley: Let’s end the SIPP vs SSAS debate for good
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).
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Lisa Webster: Pre-Budget withdrawals are spiking again
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.
Popular News
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Barnett Waddingham appoints new head of SIPP proposition
Pensions and SIPP consultancy Barnett Waddingham has appointed Embark Group’s Andrew Phipps as head of SIPP proposition and supplier management.
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Mattioli Woods founder and CEO to step into new role
Ian Mattioli, founder of wealth manager and SIPP provider Mattioli Woods, is to step down as CEO to take up a new role as Founding President.
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Lisa Webster: IHT and pensions headaches and liabilities
Back in July, HMRC announced a proposed change in responsibility for paying inheritance tax (IHT) relating to pensions when they are included in estates from 6 April 2027.
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Pension indexation law shouldn’t change: SPP
The Society of Pension Professionals (SPP) has warned of the “unintended consequences” of changing the law relating to pre-1997 pension scheme indexation.
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DB pension surpluses remain at record highs
DB pension surpluses remain at record highs, up £57bn year-on-year in October, according to new analysis from XPS Group.
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STEP warns of pension reforms ‘chaos’
Proposed pension reforms included in next week’s Budget will create chaos and put bereaved families and ordinary people at financial risk, according to STEP, the global professional body for trust and estate practitioners.
The guide replaced last year’s update to the original guidance issued in 2016 and followed the FCA’s March policy statement ‘advising on pension transfers.’
PFS chief executive, Keith Richards, said mandated professional advice was a “vital consumer protection component and the updated guide aims to give members clarification around changing advice requirements, as well as ongoing good practice gained from subject matter experts and practitioners from across the sector.”
He added: “Defined benefit pension transfer advice continues to be a key area of focus for the FCA, government and consumer lobbyists, so it is particularly important that firms advising on DB pension transfers ensure their clients fully understand the implications of a proposed transfer before deciding whether to proceed.
“Accordingly, our new guide covers a number of important areas, including risk appetite, the need for holistic advice, qualifications and contingency charging.
“It also features sections on the wider tax issues, cash flow modelling, insistent clients and death benefits.”
Mr Richards said that after a programme of specific supervisory work, the FCA recently concluded that only 47 per cent of the DB to DC transfer advice reviewed could be shown to be
suitable, based on the information in the adviser’s file, which will “inevitably” lead to further scrutiny and supervision.
He continued: “We are particularly alive to the issues surrounding the availability of professional indemnity insurance (PII) for DB transfer advice and have seen evidence of withdrawn cover, or increased cost and excesses, for some advice firms at renewal.
“While this is an overreaction in many instances, it can only be addressed if we establish a clear picture of what good looks like in the pension transfer space and in particular the concerns raised regarding conflicts of interest and insistent client transactions.”
Mr Richards believed it was “critical” that concerns were addressed whether real or perceived, so the profession was not “derailed by the actions of a small number of firms.”