Sipp firm founder: Scotland vote could spark chaos

A pensions firm's co-founder has predicted chaos if Scots vote for independence and says everyone in the financial services industry is keeping their fingers crossed that it does not happen. Although the yes campaign has dismissed many of the concerns about financial institutions as scaremongering, according to John Fox, chief executive of Liberty Sipp, a breakaway from the rest of the UK will lead to a "maelstrom" with the ripples felt across various sectors, but particularly in pensions. He said much of the detail of what would happen on key issues like pensions were still "very vague".Speaking to Sipps Professional, he said: "The big issue I can see is for unfunded benefits and schemes."From an admin point of view it's a potential nightmare. It's not just on the pensions side though, there's no joined up thinking at all on this."There are so many things that haven't been taken into consideration - tax relief – for example."It's not just taxation either, it's also just the basic details of people saying 'where is my money is being held?' {desktop}{/desktop}{mobile}{/mobile} "'If my money is in RBS what currency is it being held in? We've had an enquiry on that this week." The seemingly sudden swell of support for independence, which came apparent through an opinion poll last weekend, has caught everybody on the hop, Mr Fox said.He said: "I don't think anyone expected it to be this close and now panic is setting in."Everyone in the industry is keeping their fingers crossed that they don't vote for independence."It will be a maelstrom and people won't understand what's going on. What chaos is going to ensue?"He believes that perhaps the emotional and historical arguments are swaying voters as the vote on 18 September looms.He said: "People are getting carried away with the Brave Heart idea." For many Scottish institutions including Scottish Life, Scottish Widows and the Bank of Scotland, this may mean moving some or all of their operations to England. Standard Life and RBS have revealed plans to transfer out of Scotland if voters say yes to independence.Mr Smith-Thompson said: "The whole currency issue will make guaranteed incomes hard to commit to due to movements in foreign exchange rates."Under a yes vote pension savers will be at the mercy of unpredictable exchange rates, and a new regulator and most likely different rules and increased costs that will have to be funded either by members or their scheme."Many schemes' rules would not allow the scheme to cover the cost of making a foreign exchange payment as it stands, he explained, and if it does, the additional costs would need to be borne by either the scheme, all of its members, or by the pensioner that is affected. The Yes campaign stated the following about pensions on its website: "The Scottish Government has made clear that accrued pension rights will continue to be honoured after independence. So state pensions will continue to be paid as before. "And so will public sector pensions – including civil service, armed forces, police, fire-fighters, NHS, universities, teachers and local government pensions. Some of these schemes are already administered by the Scottish Government. "There will be agreement between the Scottish and UK governments as to the exact share of pension liabilities to be taken on by the Scottish Government – but it has repeatedly been made clear that no accrued pension rights will be lost. Private pensions will continue to operate as before. The Scottish Government will ensure there are suitable protections in place for final salary occupational schemes." The SNP has said: "The reality is that pensions are more affordable in Scotland than in the rest of the UK, a view supported by the National Institute of Economic and Social Research, who have also made clear that the demographic challenge is no more significant for Scotland than it is to the rest of the UK."We also know that insurance providers, including HSBC and the Department of Work and Pensions itself, are clear that pensions would be unaffected following a Yes vote."With independence we will be able to ensure a fair deal for pensioners, with a triple lock on the state pension to keep pace with the cost of living, a review of the pension age to ensure it is right for Scotland's pensioners and a fair approach to public sector pensions."

Sipp firm founder: Scotland vote could spark chaos

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