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Pensions, annuities & retirement planning

Archives for April 2013

Friends Life Systems Issue
Hi My husband has been slowly starting up his private pensions but Friends Life have come back with a letter stating that "we have a systems issue at present which may cause a slight delay in issuing the retirement pack". This was 3 weeks ago. Does anyone have any info on Friends Life financial reliability? Or is this…
Checking my pension decision before I do it!
Hi there, I’m about to make quite an important financial decision but before I do so, I’d really appreciate some independent feedback on what I’m planning to do. I’m 57 years old with a deferred occupational pension that will pay me £29,500 p.a. at my NRD which is 31/12/2015 (age 59 years and 10 months). I’m self employed…
deferred pension and gmp
i have a deferred final salary pension from bae. Part of this is gmp. Is this only revalued once a year and if so what time of the year. Is it related to when you deferred it or a set date for everyone. My statement this year says it is revalued in line with average earnings but every other statement i have had says in…
Deferring state pension
I qualify for my state pension end Jan 2016. I will be 63 in Feb 2016 (female). In the budget, it was announced that the new universal pension will start in Apr 2016 so of course I will miss out on it. I will never qualify for pension credit as my reduced NHS pension will place me just above the limit. I am wondering if it…
Ever heard of Azacade?
I've been contacted by Azacade, they want to collect pension info from me for Cherish Wealth Management who will do a pension report for free? Is there a catch?. Value your opinion? Thank you xx
Voluntary resignations to avoid paying full benefits
My company has a Defined Benefit scheme that has enhanced benefit features on Early Retirement for both "Employee Initiated Early Retirement" and Employer Initiated Early Retirement". The Company recently asked for voluntary resignations, in order to reduce the workforce by 30 to 40 employees, offering a financial…
Help about 'automatic enrolment' pensions please, i do not have a clue.
Hi all, i have just joined solely because I am at my wits end regarding pensions. I am 26, work full-time, have been in my job for just over a year, and until then i was self-employed. I have never contributed to a pension. I have been 'told' that I will be put into a company pension on the 'automatic enrolment' government…
Pension Contributions and Income Tax
I have a hypothetical question for the experts on here if I may. I am saving for a pension with my current employer 4% from me 6.5% from them. I also pay an addition 4% in the form of AVC's into the same scheme. I choose to do this because, a: It is easy b: The subsidised AMC is 0.05% and they pay for a one off…
Pension with former employer
Six months after leaving my former employer, I have received a letter from the pension scheme offering either the money I invested after tax in cash or the whole pot if I transfer it to another scheme. This is triple the amount I would receive in cash so it is the most desirable option. My new employers scheme does not…
worst pension ever
Teachers' pension. Been on one for 7.5 years. Pension age gone up 8 years Further from retirement then when started. This month contribution gone up 3%. At least the daughter will enjoy the death in service
Do you have to apply for your state-pension or does it come automatic
Talking to a female friend who has just passed her 62nd birthday I said are you enjoying your bus-pass and she said she doesn't have it as not received her state-pension and seemed to think you don't get it until 65. I know she has a private income so maybe off the radar. I have had a pension-forcast and get mine at 62 and…
i was self employed with partner until he fell
ill. he has been on income esa . will this still give him and i points towards our pension? i have a bill here towards national insurance contributions and trying to find out as was not really self employed in this period because he was ill should i be liable? also i dont want to lose out on getting a decent enough pension…
S&S ISA or Pension
I'm in a group pension scheme with scottish Widows, I contribute into this via salary sacrifice. I work through an umbrella company so I also gain on the Employers NI, roughly every £100 into the pension costs me about £52/54, also the AMC is 0.7% I have just had a small increase (£100/month gross) that I want to save away…
State Pension
Mine's coming up shortly. When I talked to them they were very good at asking questions but the answers to my questions seemed a bit furtive. Is the State Pension, without any add ons or take off or anything, equal to £115.78 per month???
Pension Lta again
In Feb 2011 I was forced to take a lump sum because my pension provider wound up the fund and paid tax on this sum. I still have 2 small pension funds that I was hoping to trivialize and take cash but all together they will add up to more than the 1% of this years Lta (£15000). Am I correct in thinking if I take cash I…
HMRC Guidance on Pension Liberation
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/pensionschemes/liberation.htm For those thinking of attempting to access pension monies before 55. (Apologies if someone has already posted this.)
when i hit 55 ?? ( re:personal pension)
Hi, I am due to hit my 55th birthday soon, in a month or so. My Pension company have sent me some forcasts of what i am liable to receive ( it's not much because i stopped paying in a few years ago), but it's a nice little sum which will help me out as I lost my job a few years ago and now I'm struggling on basic JSA money…
Search on Equifax credit Report
There is no category for this so have posted on a few topics - I had an alert today on my credit report in the second table search. Capita Employee Benefits Ltd - Beneficiary Trace does anyone know what this is as I have not agreed to this company does this search. I spoke to Equifax and they could not give me any…
My GMP
In 1991 i transfered a company pension plan.The GMP in the paperwork is from 1991 is for example £4000 p.a..It was tranfered to a section 32.My query is this.Will/has the GMP of £4000 p.a. stay at that amount or will it have increased?Does the GMP just stay at that same 4k p.a. until i retire?
VCTs as a retirement vehicle
Hi In projecting to exceed the LTA I am considering using VCT's as a means of quickly building a fund that I can draw on in 5 years time when I would like to retire (age 50). By living off my wifes salary I could in theory invest all of my salary into a VCT each year for the next 5 years. Has anyone here used VCT's in a…

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