Government pension reforms fail to offer security, expert claims

Thu, 14 Sep 2006

The government's pension reform will not offer security after reaching retirement for many UK residents, an expert has claimed.

Financial security will become a "fantasy" for many UK residents if they undergo means testing because their state pension is too low, asserted Stewart Ritchie, president of the Faculty of Actuaries.

Mr Ritchie commented as the Actuarial Profession launched its response to the Pensions White Paper, titled Security in Retirement - Towards a New Pension System.

"Auto-enrolment for many lower earners may simply mean that private pension replaces mean-tested pension and several million such employees may have little extra to show for the personal account contributions of themselves and their employers," Mr Ritchie remarked.

"Combining this with the absence of advice could be an explosive mix, leading to a breakdown of trust."

However, the Association of British Insurers recently stated that the implementation of personal accounts could increase total levels of pension saving and help to provide a better income for many UK residents upon reaching retirement.

The body claimed that industry professionals were "enthusiastic" about the proposals.


add to favouritesnewsletterlink to this pagesend to friendpost comments

Link to this page

Copy and Paste the following HTML into your page.


Pensions.co.uk is part of a large network of financial sites created to help advise you on life events, such as buying a house, Mortgages.co.uk; insuring your car - CarInsurances.co.uk; your life - LifeInsurance.co.uk; and your home - HomeInsurance.co.uk.

1998 - 2008 UK Pensions - Planning before, at the onset and during retirement.

Join the Pensions NewsletterPensions Newsletter

Please enter your email below and subscribe to our monthly newsletter

Save money on your mortgageSave on Your Mortgage

Would you like to save money on your mortgage? Fill out our quick mortgage enquiry form.

Health cover, life insurance and PMIProtect Your Health

Find Critical illness, Life and Private Medical Insurance PMI policies.