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£33bn Improvement in pension deficits in FTSE 350 companies – Hymans Robertson

0 CommentsWednesday • February 2, 2011 • by

Hymans Robertson have just issued their latest FTSE 350 Pensions Indicator Report. You can read it in all its glory here.
It makes some good reading if you are an employer with a final salary scheme that has grappled with the monkey of pension funding on your back for the last few years. The switch of the revaluation and increase basis from RPI to CPI has had a positive impact as has the recovery in asset values.
According to Hymans Robertson they are anticipating that with the pressure off funding issues employers will look at tackling the wider issue of the risk that this type of pension poses.
At 44 Financial we are working with a number of employers who are concerned about pension risk and are looking at ways to control it. If you would like to have a chat about the options please click here to email us.

European ruling could mean lower pensions for men

0 CommentsTuesday • February 1, 2011 • by

Equality ruling could be effective from 1 March 2011 – The Pensions Advisory Service (TPAS).

We strongly suggest that you click the link above and read the article from The Pensions Advisory Service. It explains a pending judgement in the European Court of Justice that has pretty much come in under the radar.

It’s worrying that Malcolm Tarling from the Association of British Insurers (ABI) says:

‘We have absolutely no inkling of what the judgement might say but the advice we’ve given to members is to prepare for a worst case scenario.’

The rate for buying a pension has always been better for a man reflecting the fact that, on average, women live longer than men. If insurance companies have to offer the same rates for men and  women all it will mean is that men get less pension for their pot of money.

At a time when we already have a huge savings gap and the average pension pot at retirement is about £24,000 this could be a devastating blow. Let’s hope that the European Court of Justice sees some sense in this quest to achieve maximum gender equality.

As always seems to be the theme of so much in our industry at the moment – watch this space!

The Digital Nativity

0 CommentsFriday • December 17, 2010 • by

A 21st century take on a very very old tale. No room at the Inn – should have booked ahead with Hotels.com! http://bit.ly/gaBi8e

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