Thursday, 27 March 2014

Budget 2014: Getting Advice


shaking hands
It seems likely the retirement advice market will evolve into a two stage process.

Retirees will first need to learn about their options and the implications of those options. This will be the ‘guaranteed guidance’ much heralded by the Government. There are hundreds of thousands of people retiring each year and the Government wants each to have a face to face meeting so it is unclear how this will be delivered. But it will be free and impartial so prospective retirees should first take advantage of this offer when it is available. This should allow retirees to understand and perhaps come to a conclusion on the best option for them.

If their chosen option is more than hiking all the money out of their pension as soon as they can they may well need further advice on how to set up the Drawdown or which annuity to buy, what investments to hold and other such matters. This more specific advice is likely to be still carried by the qualified IFA community at a cost to the retiree. There is a danger that the first phase will encourage some to go it alone and no doubt some will make expensive mistakes.

It will be interesting to see how the FCA reconciles their current view of drawdown as a ‘high risk product’ with any new advice process.

Simon Nicol
Pension Director

Telephone: +44 (0)20 7893 3456
Email: contactus[@]broadstoneltd.co.uk

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