What should I do with my pension savings? Changes you need to know about

From next April, the chancellor wants you to be able to do what you like with your pension savings once you reach age 55, new rules mean if you want to spend your whole fund you can; if you want to take out a bit at a time, you can; if you want to use your pension fund like a bank account, you should be able to do so.

But you don’t have to do anything! Many people approaching retirement age will have personal pension plans started in the 1980s or 1990s. When setting up these funds, you would have been asked to select a retirement date and many would have chosen a birth date between 55 and 65.

About six months before your chosen pension age, the pension company will send out a 'wake-up pack', offering you an annuity. When you get this kind of pack, you may think you have to do something, but you don’t have to and if you are still working, or if you have other pension income, you may benefit from leaving the fund alone to earn extra tax-free investment returns, rather than buying a product, or transferring it or withdrawing the money.

In the past people have tended to believe they had to automatically buy an annuity or income drawdown product, but you don’t and there are lots of other thing you may want to do with your pension. The 'do nothing' option may still be a good one, Enables IFA’s in Bishop’s Stortford can help you with your retirement planning if you're not sure what's best.

Issued by: Enable Independent Financial Life Planners
25c North Street, Bishops Stortford, Herts CM23 2LD
Telephone: 01279 755950 - Fax: 01279 657339
Enable Independent Financial Life Planners is a trading style of Enable Independent Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
It is important always to seek independent financial advice before making any decision regarding your finances. If you would like any assistance, please contact us.
NOTHING CONTAINED IN THE ARTICLES SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS GIVING INDIVIDUAL FINANCIAL ADVICE

Pension Plans for the next election

Enable’s IFA’s in Bishops Stortford know that good financial management keeps abreast of polictical changes and changes in the law. Back at the beginning of the year Prime Minister David Cameron promised to keep the triple lock on state pensions until 2020 if he is re-elected in 2015. Cameron said: “People who have worked hard, who have done the right thing, who have provided for their families, they should then know they will get a decent state pension and they don’t have to worry about it lagging behind prices or earnings and I think that’s the right choice for the country.”

The triple lock, which was part of the last Liberal Democrat manifesto and introduced in 2010, guarantees pension rises in line with inflation, earnings or 2.5 per cent, whichever is highest.

Labour says it is “committed” to the triple lock but will set out its plans closer to the general election.

Just recently the Liberal Democrats published the party’s manifesto, it will consider introducing a single rate of pensions tax relief of above 20 per cent if they win next May’s general election.

It also says: ”[We will] establish a review to consider the case for, and practical implications of, introducing a single rate of tax relief for pensions, which would be designed to be simpler and fairer and which would be set more generously than the current 20 per cent basic rate relief.” Predicting the future is impossible but making sensible informed choices to provide for your retirement is something Enable's IFA’s are here to do.

Issued by: Enable Independent Financial Life Planners
25c North Street, Bishops Stortford, Herts CM23 2LD
Telephone: 01279 755950 - Fax: 01279 657339
Enable Independent Financial Life Planners is a trading style of Enable Independent Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
It is important always to seek independent financial advice before making any decision regarding your finances. If you would like any assistance, please contact us.
NOTHING CONTAINED IN THE ARTICLES SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS GIVING INDIVIDUAL FINANCIAL ADVICE