All Advice and guidance articles – Page 12
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Opinion
How to prepare for the FCA’s assessment of transfer advisers
From the blog: Pension transfer advisers are stuck between a rock and a hard place. The Financial Conduct Authority is taking an intrusive and robust approach to regulating the industry, in many cases closing down businesses because they are not satisfied with their advice and methods.
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Opinion
We need action on cold-calling now
From the blog: We live in an age in which the internet finds something to promote or celebrate every day, week or month, from cupcakes to allotments. Believe it or not, there is even a world egg day.
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Opinion
Pension transfers – ensuring advice is fit for purpose
The Financial Conduct Authority’s David Geale explains the thinking behind the regulator’s recent proposals and defined benefit transfer rules and guidance.
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News
FCA transfer proposals welcomed but timeline draws criticism
The Financial Conduct Authority’s new proposals on pension transfers have been widely welcomed across the industry, but concerns around the 2018 implementation of the final rules remain.
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News
FCA cracks down on transfer advice
Pension consultants have welcomed the Financial Conduct Authority’s adoption of a tough stance on companies advising on defined benefit transfers, calling it a “price worth paying” for member security in retirement.
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Features
IMI derisks with buy-in and Pie
Specialist engineering company IMI has completed a pension increase exchange exercise and a buy-in, as trustees become more comfortable with liability management measures.
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Opinion
Pension advice allowance – action needed?
From the blog: April 6 saw the introduction of the pension advice allowance: a new type of tax-authorised payment to allow members of defined contribution (or hybrid) schemes to take up to £500 from their pension pot to pay for financial advice.
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News
Ideas from overseas can up engagement, report finds
The Pensions Policy Institute has published a report looking at consumer engagement with pensions and financial products across the world, highlighting numerous lessons the UK can learn from overseas.
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News
Advice suitable but disclosure too complex, finds FCA
The Financial Conduct Authority has published the findings from its review into the suitability of pensions and investment advice, but while the results are reassuring, experts say more needs to be done to make advice less convoluted.
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Opinion
Should trustees review their advisers more often?
Analysis: There are myriad tasks involved in running a pension scheme, so time is precious and efficiency is key. But when it comes to evaluating advice, how can trustees measure performance, and should they be reviewing their consultants more frequently?
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Opinion
The mother of all wash-ups
From the blog: Perhaps it would have been helpful of Theresa May and her cabinet to give a little more thought to the progress of current legislation before taking the country to the polls.
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News
Experts call for mandatory guidance as FCA targets advice take-up
The Financial Conduct Authority will prioritise retirement income provision within pensions in 2017-18, addressing perceived problems with consumers who do not take regulated financial advice, as some argue schemes should organise Pension Wise sessions by default.
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News
FAMR makes headway but experts say further progress is needed
The Financial Conduct Authority has published a progress report on its Financial Advice Market Review, alongside a consultation that sets out proposed guidance, but reactions in the pensions industry show there is still a long way to go.
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News
Freedom and choice: Engagement improved but confusion remains
Two years have passed since the government introduced the pension freedoms, and although the flexibilities have improved engagement to some extent, the increased complexity has also led to confusion.
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Opinion
Will the slashing of fees exacerbate the advice gap?
Technology is a wonderful thing, but it is not something that has been applied with any great skill or diligence in the pensions arena.
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News
TPR guidance: Welcome set of principles or waste of time?
While some have welcomed the Pensions Regulator’s recently published and extensive collection of investment guidance for those running defined benefit pension schemes, there are some concerns over the effectiveness of the information for time-stretched or less diligent trustees.
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News
CPS 'auto-protection' call reignites freedoms debate
Thinktank the Centre for Policy Studies has highlighted the need to shield savers from financial risks in later life through the idea of “auto-protection”, with the introduction of auto-drawdown, followed by auto-annuitisation at age 80.
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Features
More pensioners to be offered Pie at Metal Box
The Metal Box Pension Scheme is planning to offer a pension increase exchange to more pensioner members this year, having offered one to some members in 2015.
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News
The jury is still out on robo-advice
The pensions industry must focus on technology and consumer engagement to keep up with changing demographics and work habits, but opinions are divided over whether robo-advice is the best solution.
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Opinion
The role of advice in a digital world
The way financial advice is provided is developing but consumers still need protection, says the Financial Conduct Authority’s David Geale.