It’s coming up for three years since the Government heralded a major milestone in how we can use our savings and investments to fund our later life: the freedom to invest our pension savings into something other than an annuity. With annuity rates at such low levels in recent years, the attraction is obvious – […]

If anyone were asked to compile a list of ways to fund one’s retirement, you would assume that a pension (or even more than one) might be at or near the top. But that doesn’t apply to the Treasury apparently – triggering an ear bashing from ex-ministers and pension experts alike. The latest Treasury infographic […]

I do like to eat out. I love the indulgent experience of sitting in a nice restaurant and having my food (and wine) brought to the table, and being able to ask for anything (within reason) by polite and efficient waiting staff. It is one of life’s real pleasures. But there is one thing that […]

There has been much written in the media lately about the increasing number of transfers from DB (Defined Benefit) pension schemes into unsecured pension arrangements such as SIPPs and Personal Pension Plans. This type of transfer is where an individual gives up all future rights to an index-linked pension that is virtually guaranteed by a […]

And which was the best investment? At the Classic and Sports Car Show at Alexandra Palace last month, the winner of the ‘Greatest Supercar of all time’ was announced. The shortlist included eleven supercars from the last 100 years and the winner was the McLaren F1.               Those to make the shortlist were: Up to […]

Tony Watts ponders upon the existential question of what “reality” has to do with our current crop of “TV reality shows” I was recently pondering the nature of reality. As you do. I think it was when I was watching (behind my fingers, from behind the sofa) the bit on Planet Earth II where some […]

Many of us contribute towards a pension fund… and either forget about it, or perhaps never realise they were making contributions in the first place. Now, research from Aviva has revealed the extent to which pension policies are being forgotten. A survey of almost ten thousand people who hold a pension has revealed that just […]

You want to know how long your funds will last in retirement… but your finances might be straightforward or more complex. So there are three different LifePlans to choose from – allowing you to select the one that meets your needs best and provides you with the right platform to make an informed decision about […]

How do we face up to the prospect of a retirement age receding into the future and diminishing returns on the money we put away to keep us comfortable in our old age? By Tony Watts OBE Has the time come to question whether the concept of “retirement” is no longer one we can take […]

How can you know if or when you can afford to retire with pensions and investments values on a rollercoaster? Or if what you’ve saved and invested will provide you with a comfortable retirement in the current uncertain economic climate? And for how long? The Government and the financial sector are pushing hard to make […]