Visit/personal-finance/pensions/pension-tax/600877/why-it-makes-sense-to-scrap-higher-rate-pensions-tax
Why it makes sense to scrap higher-rate pensions tax relief
The point of pensions tax relief is to keep you out of the means-tested benefits system. The current system is ridiculously generous, says Merryn Some…
24 Feb 2020
Visit/personal-finance/pensions/state-pensions/600781/how-much-extra-state-pension-you-will-get-if-you
How much extra state pension you will get if you delay claiming it
If you delay claiming your state pension by a year or two you could end up much better off in retirement.
13 Feb 2020
Visit/personal-finance/equity-release/600780/equity-release-how-to-tap-your-house-for-cash
Equity release: how to tap your house for cash
The pros and cons of releasing equity from your home compared with moving to a smaller one
10 Feb 2020
Visit/personal-finance/600674/pass-on-your-pension-without-paying-inheritance-tax
Pass on your pension without paying inheritance tax
The 2015 pension reforms make it easier for you to ensure your heirs avoid inheritance tax when you die
29 Jan 2020
Visit/personal-finance/600675/pension-contributions-what-you-need-to-declare-on-your-tax-return
Pension contributions: what you need to declare on your tax return
Make sure you don't forget to declare your pension contributions in your tax return
28 Jan 2020
Visit/personal-finance/pensions/600676/thousands-of-pensioners-are-set-to-lose-ps3500-a-year
Thousands of pensioners are set to lose £3,500 a year
Around 11,000 pensioners in receipt of the “adult dependants’ addition” will lose up to £70 a week from their state pension.
27 Jan 2020
Visit/520338/how-much-the-state-pension-will-rise-by-this-year
How much the state pension will rise by this year
While Boris Johnson promised to hold a full budget within 100 days of his election victory, many of the details of next year’s state pension increases…
10 Jan 2020
Visit/520337/vanguard-leads-charge-on-fees
Vanguard set to launch the UK’s cheapest-ever pension fund
Vanguard, the giant US asset management company, is set to launch a self-invested personal pension (Sipp) with an annual fee of just 0.15%
10 Jan 2020
Visit/519728/why-it-pays-to-move-your-occupational-pension-out-of-its-default-fund
Why it pays to move your occupational pension out of its default fund
If you’re a member of an occupational pension scheme, moving your savings out of its default investment fund could significantly increase your wealth …
22 Dec 2019
Visit/519730/should-you-take-a-25-lump-sum-from-your-pension-fund
Should you take a 25% lump sum from your pension fund?
If you’re approaching retirement, think twice before exercising your right to take 25% of your pension fund savings as a tax-free cash lump sum.
20 Dec 2019
Visit/519731/why-you-should-keep-a-close-eye-on-your-national-insurance-contributions
Why you should keep a close eye on your National Insurance contributions
The state pension now requires a 35-year record of National Insurance payments to get the maximum payment. Check your record is correct, because any m…
20 Dec 2019
Visit/519421/pensions-vanguard-sparks-a-sipp-price-war
Pensions: Vanguard sparks a Sipp price war
Fund giant Vanguard is poised to shake up the Sipp market with the cheapest offering on record.
17 Dec 2019
Visit/519097/dont-get-caught-by-the-pension-contributions-cap
Don’t get caught by the pension contributions cap
It’s easier to breach your annual pension contributions allowance than you might think. Here's how to make sure you don't go over it.
11 Dec 2019
Visit/518346/tread-carefully-if-youre-thinking-about-equity-release
Tread carefully if you're thinking about equity release
The equity release market is getting its act together. But the cost means tapping your property for cash should be a last resort for most people.
25 Nov 2019
Visit/518498/the-one-thing-a-divided-britain-can-agree-on
The biggest threat to capitalism right now isn't Jeremy Corbyn
The greatest danger to capitalism isn't a far-left Corbyn government, it's the rise of powerful corporations distorting the free market.
21 Nov 2019
Visit/517577/pensions-income-drawdown-time-bomb
The pension income-drawdown time bomb
Some pension savers being paid a regular income from their retirement funds could be heading for disaster.
13 Nov 2019
Visit/517570/keep-an-eye-on-pension-fees
Keep an eye on pension fees
If you have invested in a private pension, just make sure you aren’t eroding your returns by paying hefty fees.
12 Nov 2019
Visit/516958/a-final-salary-pensions-muddle
A final-salary pensions muddle
People saving into a final-salary pension scheme who are receiving compensation for past discrimination may end up with big tax bills.
30 Oct 2019
Visit/516479/one-example-of-the-madness-of-our-inheritance-tax-rules
One example of the madness of our inheritance tax rules
Our system of inheritance tax is needlessly complicated, says Merryn Somerset Webb. Here, she outlines one way in which the well-off could save over £…
14 Oct 2019
Visit/516314/pensions-freeze-is-a-slap-in-the-face-for-ge-employees
Pensions freeze is a slap in the face for GE employees
Bad news for workers at General Electric (GE). The company will be freezing retirement benefits for 20,000 employees in order to cut billions from its…
10 Oct 2019
Visit/516007/how-the-governments-pension-protection-fund-works
How the government's Pension Protection Fund works
The Pension Protection Fund deals with defined-benefit schemes when an employer goes bust. David Prosser explains how it works.
9 Oct 2019
Visit/516133/the-dangers-of-negative-interest-rates
The dangers of negative interest rates
Negative interest rates could spark the next financial crisis. And central bankers could end up the object of the public's wrath, says Merryn Somerset…
7 Oct 2019
Visit/515254/the-pension-consolidation-trap
Beware the pension consolidation trap
Financial advisers and pension providers routinely tell savers to consolidate their disparate pension pots into a single plan. But it isn’t the no-bra…
25 Sep 2019
Visit/515260/doctors-pension-row-spreads-to-other-arms-of-the-public-sector
Doctors’ pension row spreads to other arms of the public sector
The crisis that has seen doctors refuse to take on extra shifts has spread to other public sector workers.
25 Sep 2019
Visit/515259/if-you-retire-later-tell-your-pension-provider
If you intend to retire later than originally planned, tell your pension provider
If you intend to retire later than you originally anticipated, make sure you share your plans with your pension provider, or you could miss out on val…
25 Sep 2019
Visit/514320/should-you-transfer-your-defined-benefit-pension-scheme-to-a-money-purchase-scheme
Should you transfer your defined-benefit pension scheme to a money purchase scheme?
Financial watchdogs have made it clear that they believe transferring money out of a defined-benefit pension scheme is a bad idea for most people. And…
11 Sep 2019
Visit/513932/the-pensions-annual-allowance-debacle-spreads-beyond-the-nhs
The pensions annual allowance debacle spreads beyond the NHS
The annual allowance that has wreaked havoc in the NHS has spread to the armed forces – and is a perfect example of how higher taxes can actually redu…
29 Aug 2019
Visit/513684/companies-cut-back-on-their-pensions-bills
Companies cut back on their pensions bills
Britvic is the latest firm hoping a cheaper inflation index will cut pension costs. David Prosser reports.
28 Aug 2019
Visit/512630/make-sure-you-dont-lose-your-pension-credit
Make sure you don’t lose your pension credit
Time is running out for thousands of people to avoid missing out on a top-up to their pension income following changes to the rules introduced in May.…
14 Aug 2019
Visit/512628/pension-annuities-are-back-in-favour
Pension annuities are back in favour
The flexibility of pensions drawdown doesn’t always trump the secure income provided by annuities.
14 Aug 2019
Visit/511653/why-switching-your-pensions-provider-is-so-traumatic
Why switching your pensions provider is so traumatic
Switching to another pensions provider is much harder than it should be. Here's how to speed it up.
31 Jul 2019
Visit/511823/how-to-avoid-the-pension-scammers
How to avoid the pension scammers
Savers lose £4bn a year to pension scammers. Keep a sharp lookout for their favourite ruses.
31 Jul 2019
Visit/511672/a-job-for-the-next-chancellor-abolish-the-pensions-annual-allowance-taper
A job for the next chancellor: abolish the pensions annual allowance taper
The government is consulting on the pensions annual allowance taper that is wreaking havoc in the NHS. Much better would be to simply abolish it, says…
24 Jul 2019
Visit/510614/dividing-the-spoils
Pensions: how to divide the spoils when getting a divorce
With just 36% of divorce settlements including provisions for sharing pension asset, women getting divorced need much better advice about their pensio…
16 Jul 2019
Visit/510615/when-to-top-up-your-national-insurance
When to top up your national insurance to boost your state pension
If your national insurance contributions fall short of getting you a full state pension, you can make voluntary top-up contributions.
14 Jul 2019
Visit/510616/no-end-to-final-salary-transfer-scandal
No end to final-salary pension transfer scandal
Financial advisers are continuing to suggest that clients transfer out of generous final-salary pension schemes despite repeated warnings from regulat…
13 Jul 2019
Visit/510516/how-the-annual-allowance-for-pension-contributions-is-crippling-the-nhs
How the pension contributions annual allowance is crippling the NHS
NHS doctors are responding to the perverse financial incentives of the pension contributions annual allowance scheme by just not doing any extra work.…
9 Jul 2019
Visit/509686/warning-of-pension-contributions-shortfall-may-be-overblown
Warning of pension contributions shortfall may be overblown
The typical pension scheme member is only contributing 5% of pay to their pension, raising questions about whether they will have enough to retire on.…
3 Jul 2019
Visit/509687/sticking-with-your-pension-schemes-default-funds-doesnt-pay
Sticking with your pension scheme's default funds doesn’t pay
Savers who invest their pension contributions in the default funds offered by providers without checking their performance are jeopardising their fina…
3 Jul 2019
Visit/509683/good-news-for-savers
Good news for pensions savers from HMRC
HMRC has withdrawn its appeal over breaches of the pensions lifetime allowance.
28 Jun 2019
Visit/508904/combining-a-pension-with-property
Don't raid your pension savings to buy a property
Housing minister James Brokenshire has suggested you should be able to raid your pension savings to fund the purchase of your first home. You shouldn'…
16 Jun 2019
Visit/508903/state-says-it-has-got-pension-sums-wrong
Government admits it has got its state pension sums wrong
Approximately 360,000 people have been given incorrect forecasts of their state pension benefits, the government has confirmed.
14 Jun 2019
Visit/504679/dont-use-your-pension-to-buy-a-house
Don’t use your pension to buy a house
The frankly stupid idea that pension-fund cash should be available to be used for a house has reared its ugly head again. It should be fiercely resist…
4 Jun 2019
Visit/507277/millions-fall-foul-of-pensions-contributions-rule
Millions fall foul of pensions contributions rule
Almost a million savers could face punitive tax charges on their pension contributions because they have unwittingly triggered a substantial reduction…
29 May 2019
Visit/506831/pension-savings-shortfall-among-the-self-employed
Pension savings shortfall among the self employed
Almost two-thirds of self-employed people currently have no pension savings, while more than a quarter aren’t making any savings at all
22 May 2019
Visit/506504/hitting-the-pensions-cap-ceiling
What to do when you hit the pensions cap
High earners running up against pension caps should do their sums, says David Prosser.
13 May 2019
Visit/506660/why-ive-changed-my-mind-about-the-pension-savings-lifetime-allowance
Why I’ve changed my mind about the pension savings lifetime allowance
I used to think the lifetime pension savings allowance was a terrible idea, says Merryn Somerset Webb. I’ve changed my mind on that. But there are som…
13 May 2019
Visit/506552/how-to-prepare-for-a-corbyn-government
How to prepare for a Corbyn government
The real risk to your finances is not Brexit, says Merryn Somerset Webb, it's that the mismanagement of Brexit could lead to a Corbyn government. So h…
9 May 2019
Visit/506140/robbing-pensioners-to-pay-millennials
Robbing pensioners to pay millennials
Should we get rid of generous perks for pensioners to fund more support for cash-strapped young people?
8 May 2019