Home  Mortgages  Insurance  Savings  Investments  Pensions  Loans & Credit  Cut Your Bills 
Compare & Buy | News | Features & Guides | Ask the Expert | Blog | Tools

Personal pensions

Plan for the future with a personal pension
Plan for the future with a personal pension

Wednesday, 18, Aug 2010 12:00

Personal pensions are a way of saving for your retirement that takes advantage of government tax breaks and are linked to an individual rather than a job.

Personal pensions can be held as standard pensions, stakeholder pensions (with rules on charges and what funds are invested in) or as self-invested personal pensions.

People savings for pensions in the UK have access to a wide range of tax breaks on the money they invest, but they are not entirely tax free.

Money placed in a personal pension is exempt from income tax. This means that for every pound of take-home pay put in a pension fund, the government repays the income tax on it - offering a potential 40 per cent boost (for higher rate tax payers).

Pension fund growth is not taxed, although dividends from stocks held in pension funds are. Pensions are also exempt from capital gains tax.

Compare the best personal pension plans now, with myfinances.co.uk

Pensions News

Pensions a priority for recession-weary parents

The impact of the recession has made more parents think about the importance of encouraging their children to save in a pension and not to rely solely on property investments to fund their retirement, according to a new poll.

The recession has made many parents encourage their children to save in a pension.

Personal pension savers 'missing out on tax relief'

Many savers in employer-facilitated group personal pension plans and self-invested personal pensions (Sipps) might only be receiving half the tax relief they are entitled to, it has been claimed.

Personal pension savers have been urged to ensure they are getting the right amount of tax relief.

Standard Life fined £2.45m for misleading customers

Insurance giant Standard Life was fined £2.45m today for misleading thousands of pensions customers about the safety of one of its funds.

Standard Life mislead customers telling them a pension fund was fully invested in cash

Tory government would not prop up Pensions Protection Fund

Shadow pensions minister Nigel Waterson has said a future Conservative government will not rescue the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) should the compensation scheme fall into hardship.

Nigel Waterson said a future Tory government would not prop up the Pensions Protection Fund

Product News

Legal & General pays £413m in 2009 bonuses

Legal & General customers were paid more than £413 million in bonuses last year.

Sun Life revamps retirement plan

Sun Life Financial of Canada has increased the funds available to clients investing in its retirement income product, i2Live, as part of an update.

Friends Provident updates pension programmes

Friends Provident has created a new system aimed at helping its members engage more effectively with their pensions and retirement plan.

Scottish Life broadens pension choice

Scottish Life has added ten new funds to its pensions fund range providing investors with the chance to diversify into a new variety of asset classes.

Get Investment Advice

Investments accounts

Unsure where to invest? Get advice from a professional investment adviser.

Investment advice

Compare Investment Products

Investments Products

Use our comparison tables to find the best investment products for your needs.

Compare Investment Products

Free Newsletter

Sign up to myfinances.co.uk's free daily newsletter to keep up with our hints and tips on making the most of your money.