Industry news and views from Panacea and our partners.
Pensions_
Aegon: Pension scheme membership in the doldrums
On the eve of auto-enrolment no-one had any doubt that workplace pension savings was in the doldrums and was in desperate need of a hurricane force gale to push people back into the savings habit
Aegon UK CEO Adrian Grace: Mistrusting employers in Consultancy Charge debate is offensive
Adrian Grace, Aegon UK CEO, is challenging those arguing against Consultancy Charging to stop basing their case on false assumption.
Suffolk Life updates due diligence for 2013.
Suffolk Life have just updated their due diligence document which goes into great detail about their processes, finances and ethics.
Metlife strengthens service focus with new appointment
MetLife is increasing its focus on customer service for both advisers and clients with the appointment of Shirley Fell as its Chief Operations Officer, UK.
Aviva: Were changing the names of three lifestyle approaches
During February well be changing the names of three of the lifestyle approaches.
Aegon strengthens its retirement proposition with a dynamic new approach to pension provision
Aegon UK today announces the launch of its ground-breaking new pension product, One Retirement.
Wizard Learning: New J05 study package and an offer to advisers
In this update we cover our new extended study package for the diploma subject J05 pension income options and we also cover an offer from Panacea Adviser that may be of interest to advisers.
Aegon response to ABI announcement on pension charges.
Steven Cameron, Head of Regulatory Strategy at Aegon, said: Aegon supports this industry-led initiative to further improve the clarity and transparency of charges and investment costs across all workplace pensions.
Aegon: The long, dark autumn of the sole state pension
The Government published its Green Paper A state pension for the 21st century back in April 2011
Women & Pensions report
The gap between the amount men and women are saving for retirement has grown to a record high, as women continue to be hit disproportionately by the economic downturn, according to the eighth annual Scottish Widows Women and Pensions Report.
Stakeholder pensions: end of an era?
1 October 2012 marked a milestone in pension history. Not only is it the start of a new age of automatic enrolment; it may also be the end of an era for stakeholder pensions.
Prudential: Pension switching in todays market
There have been numerous guidance documents given to advisers on pension switching during the past few years
Partnership: Male clients about to retire?
The EU Gender Directive comes into effect on 21 December 2012. From this date, annuity providers will no longer be able to offer different rates for men and women.
Prudential: Whats driving your advice decisions ?
Making choices about product providers for your pension clients has been greatly simplified by best advice systems, but is your approach providing you with the right answers?
Scottish Widows: Corporate Pensions Easier for you, simpler for your clients
The corporate pensions market place is evolving, with clients looking for more flexible, tailored products and expertise to help them meet their new workplace savings obligations.
Scottish Life; Will your clients be affected by the tax change?
We consider how the Child Benefit tax charge could be reduced, or even eliminated, with increased pension contributions
Hide and seek
The issue of hidden pension charges has featured heavily in the financial press recently, and there have been calls for us to "come clean".
Panacea partners with Axa Life Europe
PanaceaIFA , the online resource for directly regulated IFAs, welcomes AXA Life Europe to its list of strategic partners.
Metlife: increased customer satisfaction with guarantees
Three out of four clients rate advice as very good or excellent, MetLife consumer research shows
MetLife focuses on business development in RDR countdown
MetLife is increasing its focus on business development as it continues the countdown to the implementation of the FSAs Retail Distribution Review on 31st December 2012.
Supporting you through Pensions Reform
2012 is a significant year for the corporate pensions market. The first staging dates for Automatic Enrolment are approaching and the deadline for RDR is almost upon us
15% off Investment Life & Pensions Moneyfacts magazine for PanaceaIFA members
Investment Life & Pensions Moneyfacts provides unrivalled access to accurate and factual data on investment, retirement and protection products.
Average 50 year old man earns nearly 60% more than average 50 year old woman
The average 50-year-old man earns nearly 60% more than the average 50-year-old woman with an £11,000 earnings gender gap hitting womens retirement saving, new research conducted for MetLife shows.
Scottish Widows: Pensions reform - the latest news and support material
As we approach the first staging dates for automatic enrolment, were keen to provide ongoing guidance and support as you prepare your business and your clients businesses.
The Scottish Widows UK Pensions Report 2012
Weve launched our eighth Scottish Widows Pensions Report, and our latest findings show the nations retirement savings have hit an all-time low.
Cazenove Capital: A repeat of 2011?
With cyclicals outperforming defensives, will 2012 shape up to be a repeat of 2011?
The High Lords of Google
The informal corporate motto of Google was originally 'Don't be Evil' - reflecting the young, fresh and enthusiastic tone of the business blowing away the cobwebs of dark corporate halls.
MetLife: IFAs "Will cut fees for small pension pots"
Nearly two thirds of IFAs (64%) would be prepared to reduce the fees they usually charge for clients with pension pots worth less than £50,000, new research* from MetLife has found.
Scottish Widows: Supporting you through RDR
As we approach the deadline for implementation of RDR, we are keen to provide on going guidance and support as you prepare your business
Moron Advice Service?
We have become ever more concerned that there is no Cunning Plan at the FSA to educate consumers, and especially consumers who have an IFA relationship.
Schroders: Retirees play pensions roulette by tapping into savings earmarked for retirement
More than a quarter (27%) of UK adults with a private pension have stopped making payments into their fund since 2008 because of tough economic conditions
Wizard Learning News
Wizard Learning have now added a Financial Crime module to their CPD and gap fill system.
NAPF: 100 year bonds 'too long term' for most pension funds
The National Association of Pension Funds says 100-year bonds are unlikely to be popular with pension funds because they are too long-term.
Jealous of the golden age of pensioners
Only 26% of people believe they will be better off than their parents when they retire
Legal & General - THE PENSION QUESTION - Could higher rate Pensions Tax relief be abolished?
In light of the current discussions around the proposal for wealthier savers to be stripped of higher-rate tax relief on pensions, Legal & General's Pensions Strategy Director Adrian Boulding gives eight reasons why he believes retirement planning should remain tax-free for the foreseeable future.
Metlife focuses on fixed-term annuities campaign
MetLife is launching a series of seminars focused on outlining the growth potential of the fixed-term annuity market and how it can fit with client needs following strong demand from advisers.
Scottish Life: Automatic enrolment update February 2012
On the 25th of January, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) published a press release about the employer duties staging dates. Basically, they will be pushed back by about a year.
Wizard Learning: R06 exam and The Expected Solution Package
Our R06 Expected Solution Package has now been expanded and in this update we also cover the contents and requirements of the R06 exam and go on to detail how our R06 The Expected Solution Package will help you pass first time.
Metlife: Consumer engagement key to improving retirement income choice
Increasing consumer engagement is crucial to improving retirement income choices and the Association of British Insurers Compulsory Code of Conduct is a common sense agreement for consumers and the industry, according to MetLife.
Legal and General: The Pension Question - could higher rate pensions tax relief be abolished?
In light of the current discussions around the proposal for wealthier savers to be stripped of higher-rate tax relief on pensions, Legal & General's Pensions Strategy Director Adrian Boulding gives eight reasons why he believes retirement planning should remain tax-free for the foreseeable future.