Company pension laws- Auto Enrolment/NEST

The pension landscape in the UK is facing a crisis – people are living longer, but too many people are not saving adequately for their retirement.  In particular, individuals on low-to-moderate incomes are not putting enough money aside for their retirement years. To encourage more of us to save for retirement the Government is changing [...]

In the past few years companies – both big and small – have decided to close their final salary scheme.   Increasingly, companies are following this trend and moving away from offering “gold-plated” final salary pensions to their staff.  Instead they offer the less valuable “money purchase” scheme. Employers are closing final salary schemes for a [...]

Generally, all investments are subject to some loss or gain.  Even cash can be eroded by inflation over time.  Investment markets have good times and bad times.  When a fall eventually comes the effects can be dramatic as – we have recently seen with 2008/09 crash.  Then the British FTSE 100 recorded the worst year [...]

If you are a member of a defined contribution company scheme or a personal pension, when you come to retire you will exchange the pension pot you’ve built up over the years for an annuity. The amount of regular pension you get in retirement will depend upon the size of your pension pot and the [...]

We all want to enjoy retirement and make the most of our time when we’ve finally finish work.  And for some of us, this means giving up work before we reach 65. Whether you want to travel the world, move to a warmer climate, or just put your feet up and relax, early retirement will [...]

While the rules governing pension and the options available can be complex, the general ideal of a money purchase pension scheme is quite straight forward. The member of the scheme makes contributions which are placed in one or more professionally managed pension funds.  These funds then invest in a range of stock and shares, bonds, [...]

There is no doubt, joining a pension scheme can be confusing.  Once you’ve made your move and started pay contributions you may assume that it is it . . . it’s sorted.   But pensions are a long term commitment.  The chances are your life is going to change during the next 20 or 30 years. [...]