Pensions news, tips, expert advice and comparison tools

‘Opaque’ annuity system costing pensioners £1bn a year

Half a million people retiring each year lose out on up to £1 billion from future pension income because of the way annuities are sold, a new report suggests.

‘Opaque’ annuity system costing pensioners £1bn a year

Half a million people retiring each year lose out on up to £1 billion from future pension income because of the way annuities are sold, a new report suggests.
Network Rail chief bonus ‘unacceptable’ says Greening

A £336,000 bonus lined up for Network Rail’s chief executive Sir David Higgins has been slammed by Transport Secretary Justine Greening as ‘unacceptable’.
HMRC extends self assessment deadline due to strikes

The deadline for online self assessment tax returns has been extended, so taxpayers who file on February 1st or 2nd as a result of staff strikes will not receive a penalty.
Parents 'may want to pay more into pensions to avoid child benefit losses'

Pension planning could avoid families losing out when changes to child benefits come in.

Pensions News

Vince Cable announces government plans on executive pay The business secretary, Vince Cable, has presented his plans to parliament on how to curb excessive executive pay but Labour say his plans do not go far enough.	Former Woolworths staff win £67m 'Protective Award' compensation Shopworkers union Udsaw has won an Employment Tribunal for former Woolworths staff that will see 24,000 of them share £67 million.
Unemployment increases to 2.68 million in December	S&P cuts credit rating on eurozone's bailout facility EFSF
UK trade deficit widens in November as exports fall	Annuity rates fall by 8% in 2011 hitting retirement incomes
50p tax rate to stay until at least 2015	UK workers do two million hours of unpaid overtime a year

Finance In-depth

Gold may be a better investment than a pension for retirement

Increasing life expectancy means we will all have to work longer but savvy investments could enable you to shave off the extra years work and retire at 65.

How to protect your retirement income

Find out how to maximise your retirement income

Choosing to buy an annuity through the open market option is one way of getting a better deal for your retirement. Kate Saines explains how to get the most out of your pension.

Dr Ros Altmann and Andrew Dilnot discuss funding for care in the UK

Dr Ros Altmann interviews Pensions Minister, Steve Webb

Take control of your pension, don't ignore it!

Euro debt crisis: How it affects your finances

Product News

Alliance Trust Savings suggests opening an SIPP for children

Starting up a self-invested personal pension (SIPP) for children today could result in them being millionaires when they reach retirement.
Prudential study finds 25% of new pensioners retire in debt

Retirees could be losing large amounts of their monthly income because they are struggling to pay off debts.
Pension Protection Fund to set up new panel to assist pension schemes

The Pension Protection Fund (PPF) has announced that it is setting up a new panel to help pension schemes to complete the PPF assessment period.

Ask the Expert

Starting out with Sipps?

A reader has £100,000 and wants to invest in a self-invested personal pension.
Pension value shrinking?

A reader from Frodsham is worried about a fall in the value of her pension fund.
Covering myself if pension goes bust?

A reader is worrying about how to protect himself from his pension company going bust.