Annuities

An annuity is an income paid for life. Simple. Generally people buy an annuity with a pension fund, which for the vast majority of people is when they retire. The rules changed recently with George Osbourne’s Budget in the Spring, this meant that from 6th April 2015 nobody has to buy an annuity if they dont want to.

Why?

This is an acutaries field day, but let’s keep things simple. Annuity rates are closely linked to interest rates, investment returns and life expectantcy. Over the last 20 years interest rates have fallen considerably (as anyone can observe) so too has inflation and with that investment returns, though “real” (after inflation) returns have been fairly constant over the long term. People are also living longer (on average) – meaning that any income needs to be paid for longer. So actuaries do their sums and review their sums based on these factors.

As a result annuities have fallen from double-digit rates in the 1980’s and early 1990’s to very low and comparativley measly figures today. As a result people understandably look at the size of their pension pot and the projected annuity income and don’t like what they see. Hence pressure over the years to abolish the requirement to have an annuity, which is essentially a decision made once at 65 that cannot be altered and one you have to live with for life.

Regulatory Review

The current regulator (my fifth!) has recently published its findings about annuities and how they have been sold. Most of the report is nothing new, myself and other advisers have been calling for change for years. The main problem being that the vast majority of people do not think to consider the options at retirement properly. Far fewer still do any proper planning (working out how much income is needed, when and for how long etc). Most assume, rather strangley, that their existing pension company is simply offering them the “best deal” which is rarely the case… I’m reluctant to say “never the case” but I am tempted to do so. This is why people need to “shop around” but more sensible still – engage a financial planner to properly assess and explain your options. There can be enormous differences from simply getting a better deal, let alone the most suitable, which takes account of your needs, tax and so on.

Whilst the press have been covering Mr Osbourne’s pension freedoms, annuities certainly still have a place and are one of a number of “tools” to consider. For starters, of all the options, they are the only ones to provide guarantees. So if you know anyone that is in the process of retiring don’t let them get confused by the media noise, but encourage them to seek advice from a financial planner – like me.

Dominic Thomas

AnnuitiesDominic2025-01-27T16:13:24+00:00

Talking Money – Pension Freedom

Clients should now have recieved a hard copy of Talking Money. This issue provides a little more “flesh on the bone” about the new pension freedom that the Chancellor outlined in his Budget. There are many very positive aspects of the changes announced and some are already in action. However some caution is needed and I imagine that there are likely to be some adjustments to the final terms, which are likely to be announced in the Autumn statement next month.

One of the main issues is that despite this making “grown up pensions” and providing people with choice, this does also come with a plethora of options that need thoughtful and careful reflection. Whilst the Chancellor told us that everyone would have free advice at the point of retirement, this has already been reduced to”free guidance” and in practice that means going along to the Citizens Advice Bureau to speak to someone who will almost certainly provide a guide and then refer you to an independent financial adviser.

As you may know, I spend a fair bit of the year attending conferences and training sessions. This is part of my own continual professional development (CPD) but there’s no lip-servcie to this – its pretty vital. The rules for pensions have altered, scrap that, been revolutionised in a “landmark” year for pensions. However despite the appearance of simplicity, there is even more need for good advice and for those that end up opting for a flexible pension rather than an annuity would be wise to review this decision regularly (one of the advantages of making it) and give proper consideration to guaranteed alternatives.

There are about 7.7million employed workers between the ages of 50-64 in the UK according to ONS reports. Even if there were an even demographic spread, that suggests a tidal wave of over 500,000 people reaching 65 each year. There are not enough hours in the day or qualified advisers to currently facilitate this easily. So make sure that your friends and colleagues are aware of all the options, but above all working with someone that puts pensions in their right context – your income to suit your lifestyle.

Dominic Thomas

Talking Money – Pension FreedomDominic2025-01-21T15:51:08+00:00

UK Pension rules are a post-modern farce

The state of the UK pension system, supposedly one of the best in the world, is a shambles. It is high time this Government got its act together and decided that either we should all be saving and encourage us to do so, or give up. The bureaucrats at Whitehall are the only winners in the pensions mess, with endless tinkering with the rules that are gradually constricting the life out of a system that is supposed to encourage and reward savers and employers alike.

You may recall that the last Government decided to draw a line under pension rules and adopt a new approach called “pensions simplification”. Well intended it may have been, but it has been a shambles. The current administration are just as bad. Pension simplification was meant to give everyone a maximum pension fund allowance (the lifetime allowance). Not easy when you consider that a lot of pensions are not real money – a final salary scheme, such as the NHS or Civil Service are not investment based pensions, but service based. Irrespective of what the employee contributes the end result is assured based upon a proportion of final salary. For the record, this has also been messed around with. Anyhow, these schemes were given a formula. Let’s keep it simple and suppose you have built a pension of £25,000 a year and the lump sum would be 3x times this amount. The formula was 2ox pension + LS. in other words £575,000 in this instance. Then this needs to be checked against the lifetime allowance, originally £1.5m – so in this case fine. The problem comes if your pension is worth £65,000 a year – which is not unreasonable in 2013 for a Consultant with 40 years of NHS service. Those with more than £1.5m at A-Day (when the new rules came in on 6 April 2006) could protect their existing funds by applying for enhanced or primary protection, essentially agreeing not to pay more in.

The Lifetime allowance has been increased and then decreased and heading to £1.25m from 6 April 2014. The amount that you can contribute has also been restricted. Severe tax penalties apply for anything over the limit. In essence there is an incentive to restrict growth and payments. Don’t forget that “the other side” of retirement, when you actually take your pension, this is taxable income. Argh! yes there are new levels of protection too, just to meet the problems of a reducing lifetime allowance and the latest raft of rules published by HMRC are out for consultation until 2nd September. These outline two more forms of protection Individual Protection (IP14) and Fixed Protection 2014 (FP14).

All of this needs very careful advice. But just in case anyone from central or any far off field of Government is bothering to listen. Here’s a question for you. Can YOU tell me what your pension is worth today? (all of them) and can you tell me what it will be worth when you retire? can you even tell me who your pensions are with? and are you aware of the potential problems for those with “workplace pension” or “auto enrolment” for those with large pension pots? No, like most people, you attempt to understand the mass of paper that may or may not arrive each year outlining the income that you might get if XYZ does something useful with your money.

If anyone in Government had a modicum of common sense the only restriction on a pension should be the amount that can be paid in that qualifies for tax relief. That is all. Have this as a fixed percentage of income – just one level, not dozens based on your age. Make it attractive. Don’t mess with it, leave it alone. YOU will get your tax relief back anyway in the form of income tax, reduced reliance upon the state and eventually in some cases inheritance tax. Here’s my suggestion after 20+ years of dealing with pensions and handling everything from the very basic questions to the most complex. Offer tax relief of 25% at source, with no need to reclaim it. Only allow those that pay income tax to receive the tax relief and restrict the amount to 25% of taxable income (in total from employer and employee). Oh, and keep the ability to have tax free cash of 25% of the fund at retirement, but no more. It bet that in 2 days you will still be able to remember my suggested fantasy rules. As for the more complex issues – allow carry back to only the last tax year and for non earners, or non taxpayers frankly there are likely to be more pressing matters for their money and a myriad of alternative forms of saving vehicles.

I wait in anticipation of the revolution that puts investors/savers/ the UK public first…. no I am not a member of UKIP.

Dominic Thomas – Solomons IFA

UK Pension rules are a post-modern farceDominic2025-02-04T16:00:44+00:00

Public Sector Pensions – Goalposts Moving Again

2008: The Deal – Schachter

Public Service pension schemes are undergoing a huge amount of change at present. As you may know I advise many Consultant Doctors as well as quite a few people working within “public service”. Yesterday, the Government issued its Public Service Pensions Bill. This may seem like yet another cost cutting exercise, but I have serious concerns about it. In essence we all know that public service pensions are very good and most of us would be lucky to have one, however that does not mean that because we don’t, those that do need to be reprimanded, which is frankly what it looks like. There is a fundamental change to the way the schemes operate, switching from a final salary basis to a career average basis. This will almost certainly mean lower pensions for most members of the scheme. In addition the member contribution is also increasing signficantly, this is on the back of several “shake ups” previously.

Those within 10 years of retirement (generally aged 50+) will not be impacted by the new proposed rules. However everyone else is likely to pay more, get less and retire later. Not exactly a winning combination if you are trying to incentivise a workforce. I’m in the process of properly reading the Bill and will be outlining further thoughts in time. However, envy should have no part to play in policy making and I am concerned that this sort of goalpost moving is exactly the sort of ill conceived idea that makes normal, moderate people give up on the political classes, creating an unhealthy dynamic, which in a European context has resulted in some fairly dire consequences.

We are a boutique firm of financial planners. We create financial plans designed to achieve a desired lifestyle. We will craft and implement your plan that will provide you with the greatest chance of accomplishing your unique goals based upon the values that you hold. Financial products are little more than the tools to achieve your required results
Call us today or visit our website for more information and to arrange a meeting

Public Sector Pensions – Goalposts Moving AgainDominic2023-12-01T12:22:48+00:00

Doctor, Doctor…I Feel Like the BMA Aren’t Listening

1939: The Return of Doctor X

There is more woe for doctors that are members of the BMA. The union organisation had a huge amount of support from its membership who voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action due to reforms of the NHS pension scheme. However, the BMA seem to have backed down and decided not to take any action. There are a considerable number of doctors who are now fairly fed up that not only did the BMA get a decisive “yes” in their online vote, but this was also approved at its Annual Representative Meeting. So many doctors are feeling as though they are not being listened to by either the BMA or the Government.

The NHS Pension Scheme is a really good final salary scheme, but it has undergone some serious changes, which mainly result in increased costs for its members, particularly Consultants. There are many of us that are envious of having a scheme like the NHS, but changes to employment terms and conditions is no small matter and many Consultants are paying well over 10% of their income towards the NHS Pension scheme and many are paying 50% tax and some will even get additional tax charges for remaining in the pension, despite this being in their interests to do so. Advice to leave the NHS Pension scheme should be considered very carefully indeed.

We are a boutique firm of financial planners. We create financial plans designed to achieve a desired lifestyle. We will craft and implement your plan that will provide you with the greatest chance of accomplishing your unique goals based upon the values that you hold. Financial products are little more than the tools to achieve your required results
Call us today or visit our website for more information and to arrange a meeting

Doctor, Doctor…I Feel Like the BMA Aren’t ListeningDominic2023-12-01T12:22:24+00:00

Business Owners – NEST news

2011: Nesting – Chuldenko

Pension planning is complicated and despite good intentions, this remains the case. The Coalition Government have delayed the review of the State Pension and this week have announced yet even more changes to NEST which alters the staging or more accurately, implementation dates. As you may imagine this is often about the detail and meaning of words, something that I discussed on Wednesday.

It seems that greater clarity was required to define employers and organisations by the size of their PAYE scheme. It was possible under the previous definition that existing pensioners could be captured by the original definition (not the intention). In addition, the “full time equivalent provision” is also being dropped and allows small employers who share a PAYE scheme with a larger firm to move their staging date.

The alterations mean that there will be an increased number of smaller firms who will have their staging date pushed back as a consequence. If this is all Greek to you, don’t worry. Forward thinking employers are getting on with implementing decent pension arrangements for staff. I suggest you keep things simple. As the end result will be a pension that forms part of the employee package, make it attractive and get on with setting something up that enables you as the employer to rewards staff and provide further reason to be loyal. For more information about auto-enrolment and NEST have a look at the Pensions Regulator site.

Please be aware that auto-enrolment is likely to be the biggest shake up for your pension planning in memory. Despite assurances, it has all sorts of problems with administration, which will be a very laboured task for most small firms. that lack an HR department. I was at an all-day training event yesterday to get the latest on this, frankly I don’t think many advisers will want to get involved. The knock-on impact is significant.

We are a boutique firm of financial planners. We create financial plans designed to achieve a desired lifestyle. We will craft and implement your plan that will provide you with the greatest chance of accomplishing your unique goals based upon the values that you hold. Financial products are little more than the tools to achieve your required results
Call us today or visit our website for more information and to arrange a meeting

Business Owners – NEST newsDominic2025-01-21T15:52:00+00:00

NHS Pension Scheme Costs Increase

1963: Doctor in Distress – Thomas

As the end of the month approaches, many NHS employees will be reflecting on a fairly significant financial planning matter – in that your net pay will reduce due to the increases in pension payments towards the NHS Pension (which is excellent) which took effect from 1st April 2012. Contribution rates are based upon full-time salary levels and the larger increases impact those with higher NHS pensionable pay. Your pensionable pay does not include all of your income and it is best to review your March payslip (the end of the NHS financial year) where you will see a total pensionable pay figure for the year. This is the amount that your NHS Trust employer report to the NHS Pensions Agency at Hesketh House.

Anyway, for those earning £26,558 – £48,982 of pensionable pay, your payments will increase by 1.5% to a total of 8.0% of your pensionable pay each month. All those earning more that £48,983 have had their payments increase by 2.4% of salary. This means a total of 8.9% a month for those earning £43,983 to £69,931; 9.9% for those with pensionable incomes between £69,932 and £110,273 which will cover most senior staff. Those earning over £110,273 will now pay 10.9% this is generally Consultants and those with Merit Awards etc. The number crunchers estimate that 52% of NHS staff will pay more towards their pension, estimated to be approximately 682,500 people. You can see a table form of this by clicking this link.

It is important that you keep your payslips and P60’s safely, clients should send me a copy of their March 2012 payslip and ideally this should be sent as a pdf scan. This is vital information to enable us to calculate pension contributions for the annual allowance and lifetime allowance, which obviously helps us to do a thorough job in relation to your financial planning, and in particular your pension.

We are a boutique firm of financial planners. We create financial plans designed to achieve a desired lifestyle. We will craft and implement your plan that will provide you with the greatest chance of accomplishing your unique goals based upon the values that you hold. Financial products are little more than the tools to achieve your required results
Call us today or visit our website for more information and to arrange a meeting

NHS Pension Scheme Costs IncreaseDominic2025-01-27T16:19:10+00:00

Work in Progress – Development of the Spotless Mind

2004: Eternal Sunshine – Gondry

Another day, another training session. Financial Planners have to complete a minimum of 30 hours of CPD (Continuous Professional Development) each year and from January will have to obtain a certificate of professional standing which evidences qualification and CPD. Fortunately this is not an arduous task for me as I am regularly improving my knowledge and attend numerous seminars and events that ideally help me to do an even better job. I think it best left that I simply overachieve the CPD requirements by a significant factor. Anyway, today I’m at events which explore the pension rules that are impacting many of our clients in Final Salary Pension Schemes and returning to the office via tucking into a little heavy economics at the IOD. This is of course all part of most professions these days, but when I do count my time spent going to what I consider to be helpful training events (often they are very good) this makes the 30 hour target look rather a dim and distant target. This is all valuable time that admittedly helps me do a better job (well most of the time) but is also rather costly in terms of not being available to clients, anyway my purpose in sharing is that a day in the life of.. is often about ongoing development, which is rather necessary in a world where economics, stockmarkets, law and taxation issues change on a frequent basis and another reason why conducting a review of your financial planning, is vital, even though it may feel rather familiar. However another reason for reviewing your planning is because things change, sometimes unexpectedly and sometimes because mistakes happen and need correction. Despite the continuous development and thorough training, I have yet to meet the perfect adviser or for that matter, the perfect client.

We are a boutique firm of financial planners. We create financial plans designed to achieve a desired lifestyle. We will craft and implement your plan that will provide you with the greatest chance of accomplishing your unique goals based upon the values that you hold. Financial products are little more than the tools to achieve your required results
Call us today or visit our website for more information and to arrange a meeting

Work in Progress – Development of the Spotless MindDominic2025-01-27T16:20:16+00:00

MPs pushing for More Pension Smoke and Mirrors

2011: The Sunset Limited – Lee Jones

Financial Planners remain unimpressed with moves to further restrict pensions. As I blogged on Monday, the Chancellor is being petitioned by various MPs to reduce the annual allowance from £50,000 to a lower sum both £30,000 and £45,000 have been mentioned. Don’t forget that the annual allowance was £255,000 and was reduced to £50,000 from April 6th 2011. So dramatic actions are now a precedent. The amount of tax saved in not providing tax relief, can be used to justify raising the personal allowance to £10,000. This is decidedly bad news for pensions as I outlined in my piece on Monday “Pensions and the Muppet Show“. This is more of the same. However examined, this is not about saving tax, it is about appearing to do so. It is all to do with appearing to help lower income earners. The personal allowance has been raised, true – for everyone, true, but higher rate taxpayers have not benefited as the amount of earnings required before a 40% tax rate applies has been reduced. Anyone earning £100,000 or more can see their personal allowance completely removed and those with incomes over £150,000 pay 50% tax as it is.

What the politicians have not thought about is that Occupational Pension Schemes – in particular final salary schemes do not apply the actual amount contributed towards the pension as part of the annual allowance. Indeed the rather daft calculation involves working out how much the pension has increased, making an adjustment for inflation and then multiplying by a factor of 16 to calculate the element of the annual allowance used. This makes planning very difficult as most Final Salary Schemes are not geared up to provide the information in time for tax year end deadlines. Further messing around just makes things harder and ends up making additional work accounting for things rather than doing anything productive. I hope that George Osbourne will see sense and not introduce further restrictions on pensions. If he wants to make changes, my suggestion would be to scrap the lifetime allowance and restrict tax relief to 20% of all contributions, irrespective of earnings. This would at least make funding a pension a worthwhile exercise.

In the meantime, expect the media to be full of articles this weekend about ending higher rate relief or the annual allowance being reduced. Pension companies will be quick to point out that if you have money for investment, now is the time to act, use the allowance now before it gets removed (before 5th April 2012 presumably). Nothing quite like a fire sale and I’ve known this industry to create a few and invariably nothing changes. However, this time the current general antagonism towards those with large incomes despite the economic recession, is holding court with politicians who seem to be very concerned about appearances.

We are a boutique firm of financial planners. We create financial plans designed to achieve a desired lifestyle. We will craft and implement your plan that will provide you with the greatest chance of accomplishing your unique goals based upon the values that you hold. Financial products are little more than the tools to achieve your required results
Call us today or visit our website for more information and to arrange a meeting

MPs pushing for More Pension Smoke and MirrorsDominic2025-01-27T16:20:16+00:00

Final Straw for Final Salary Schemes?

2003: Lost in Translation – Coppola

OK, so my last post was about how pensions are being made increasingly less attractive as options for building financial security and independence. As a financial planner that seeks to utlise what is available, I have to admit to having something of a “moment” when I come across things that seem to be contrary to the best interests of anyone. No sooner had I published “Pensions and the Muppet Show” when a Gonzo the Great cannonball-like email arrived in my inbox. This time suggesting that Defined Benefit (Final Salary) schemes are likely to become extinct due to Solvency II. This initiative, was (is) meant to primarily ensure that Banks don’t lend too much money and that they keep bigger reserves. Most of us would probably think this is a sensible measure. However, it has been taken a step further reports William Robins of Citywire. The National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF), the CBI and the TUC have written to Jose Manuel Barosso, President of the European Commission. Their letter signed by Joanne Segars (NAPF), Brendan Barber (TUC) and Katja Hall (CBI) makes it clear that new proposals (from Europe) will force final salary pension schemes to make even bigger contributions. This, all three organisations agree, will lead employers to divert money that was otherwise for investment in growth, job creation and R&D. In addition the way investments are made would alter to hold an even greater proportion of low risk, low return asset classes. In addition the need to switch investment (some €3trillion) would have an immediate catastrophic impact on the stability of European financial markets. The proposals as they stand will lead to the death of Final Salary schemes and perhaps the death of a few businesses as well, many of which on paper are effectively a pension scheme with a smaller business bolted on.

Final Salary schemes are without doubt the best type of pensions available. Leaving one or not joining one is invariably not a good idea (unless you are retiring). It seems rather daft that in essence Solvency II might end up just being a raising of the bar rather than any change in behaviour by Banks. One of the main problems with European legislation about pensions is that the UK is so much further ahead (developmentally) than most European nations and as a consequence, they simply do not appreciate the implications.

This stems from the 500 page EIOPA (European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority) report stating that employers need to hold pension qualifications and should also hold greater reserves for operational risk. At the moment European law is actually what counts here in Britain, we have to comply.

We are a boutique firm of financial planners. We create financial plans designed to achieve a desired lifestyle. We will craft and implement your plan that will provide you with the greatest chance of accomplishing your unique goals based upon the values that you hold. Financial products are little more than the tools to achieve your required results
Call us today or visit our website for more information and to arrange a meeting

Final Straw for Final Salary Schemes?Dominic2017-01-06T14:40:09+00:00