Income drawdown: access all areas

With annuity rates at an all-time high, why should investors consider drawdown as a retirement product? Perhaps because of its increased accessibility and flexible offerings

The freedom to choose

The retirement planning market has widened since A-day, and retirees are increasingly looking beyond traditional annuities for more flexible solutions

In the right hands

If implemented correctly, will using Sipps along with GPPs offer more choice or more problems?

The ageing process

Along with the rest of the developed world, the UK is experiencing unprecedented rates of improving longevity. But what are the implications?

Cash is king

Cash is growing in importance in UK pension schemes. It is meant to be the simplest asset class, yet is more complex than many realise

Overseas transfers of pension funds

The tax rules on transferring pension benefits overseas have been simplified. Here’s a rundown

Clearing away the smoke

Despite simplification, the perception remains that pensions are complicated. But are products like drawdown really that difficult to understand?

Teenage kicks

A-day changes and product innovation have contributed to the success of the 13-year-old income drawdown market. But what does the current boom in the market mean for this product as it enters its teens?

The seven deadly sins

Many people turn to their employers first to be enlightened about pensions, so delivering the right information in the right way is crucial

Keeping it simple

Productivity and service improvements in the UK plus Indian wage inflation see offshore focus switch from call centres to back office functionality

Best laid plans

Entering retirement and beginning the distribution phase requires a major change in financial tactics and mindset if an individual is to secure a sound income

Is the FOS unbalanced against IFAs?

The Financial Ombudsman Service’s power to penalise financial advisers to a shocking degree amounts to discrimination

When your business is a write-off

Forget the pad and pen, businesses are moving their underwriting operations online, and, says Jan Iceton, they are starting to feel the benefits

Driving markets to meet liabilities

In an era of uncertainty and low yield, the asset/liability gap becomes even more significant. Malcolm Jones examines whether liability-matching asset strategies are a valid alternative to traditional tactics

How to make an informed choice

No one would argue that pensions reform is on the cards for the UK, but will the industry and government be able to create a simple, working system from Turner’s proposals? Pádraig Floyd outlines how you can shape the debate

The road to self-investment

Regardless of the government back-track on property and esoteric investments, Mike Morrison argues that they are here to stay, owing to their inherent flexibility and growing relevance

Benefiting from a flexible future

Offering a flexible benefits package should be one of the first steps for any corporate business, says Dave Harris

Eastern promise

Tax simplification – A-day – is set to be the major driver for administrators and pensions schemes to embrace outsourcing to India to cut costs, increase service quality and gain competitive advantage, says Matthew Vallance

The changing face of the closed book

William Watling looks at the new wave of closed book deals and the impact these might have on intermediaries

A contradiction in terms

The new rules on borrowing are not consistent with the new pension regime and failing to respond to this issue will lead to the introduction of both unfair and flawed legislation, which will undermine the integrity of the new pension regime from day one, says Andy Bell

— Individual scheme members will be able to access the tool through a secure website

Asset allocation tools come of age

Pension providers are buying asset allocation tools so that IFAs take them seriously. Will Hadfield discovers how online tools that calculate the optimum mix of investments for each policyholder are becoming the core of pension companies’ services

Tough on liability dodgers

To toughen up on employers trying to avoid final salary scheme liabilities, the Pensions Regulator can serve contribution notices and issue clearance statements. Peter Murphy and Ian Cormican (below, right) report

Longevity risk weighs on trustees

The first international conference on longevity risk and capital market solutions raised critical issues for corporate sponsors and trustees of DB schemes. Alistair Byrne and Debbie Harrison report

An IFA view of the transfer process

Depsite a troubled history, the transfer market is flourishing again as the prospect of A-day in April 2006 forces members in pre-1989 schemes to seek to protect high levels of tax-free cash, says Pamela Atherton

Managing disability in a DC market

Paul White takes a look at what more, if anything, employers who offer DC arrangements should be doing to provide benefits for ill-health

Come together

Dynamic changes are taking place as the industry moves away from its more traditional image. Andrew Stewart looks at the move by life companies to concentrate on particular segments of the market and how this is helping to shape the future of the industry

A duty of constant care

The need for advice on withdrawing from drawdown will increase rapidly as the market matures. But what will this entail and how will advisers be judged on their performance? Steve Patterson highlights some of the key issues

Preparing to benefit

The short-term benefits from A-day are obvious, but managers should be preparing for the long-term options today, so they can profit tomorrow, says Renata Sosna

Wake-up to a long, happy retirement

Retirement is going to last on average 20 years and to secure an income for life and the potential for that income to grow, investment-linked annuities should be considered, says Trevor Mitchell