More than half of over-55s currently in the workforce are happy to work past the default retirement age of 65, according to new research[1] from MetLife.
Fundamental plans to redesign the UK defined contribution pension system (as opposed to workplace final salary schemes) were announced as part of the Budget 2014 speech. This is the most far-reaching reform to the taxation of pensions since the regime was introduced in 1921, introducing new flexibility to the pensions system.
It seems incredible that the Bank of England base rate has stood at 0.5% since March 2009. It’s made unhappy headlines for savers looking to generate income over the previous five years.
The number of people in the UK with no savings at all has risen year-on-year from eight million to over nine million, or 1 in 5 of the UK adult population, according to the 2014 Scottish Widows Savings Report. This brings the proportion of people who have savings (67%) down to a level not seen since 2011.
A tax-efficient way to help you minimise the tax you pay
No one knew back in 1999 how popular Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) would become but with £443 billion[1] now held in ISAs, they’ve established themselves as a core option for saving and investing in a tax-efficient way to help minimise the tax you pay on the proceeds.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, gave his fifth Budget speech to Parliament on 19 March 2014. He unveiled plans to support economic recovery – including tax breaks to boost productivity, exports and manufacturing.
Women have historically lived longer than men, but this is gradually changing. Life expectancy has continued to increase all round as all generations enjoy unprecedented wealth, better nutrition, healthier lifestyles and the benefits of advancing medical science.
People change jobs and employers change their names, but, more importantly, we all forget things from time to time. With that in mind, it is easy to lose track of pensions that you have paid into over the years. If you do not actively look for your lost pensions, then you take the risk of relying on them looking for you! This can be difficult for them to do if, for example, you have changed your name through marriage or moved home yourself.
Bringing your pensions under one roof
Most people, during their career, accumulate a number of different pension plans. Keeping your pension savings in a number of different plans may result in lost investment opportunities and unnecessary exposure to risk.
Some people don’t want a pension company deciding how their pension savings are invested – they want to control where their money goes and how it grows. In this scenario, a Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) offers a solution. Very much a do-it-yourself pension, you choose what investments you want to put your savings into, and therefore keep control of your savings.