Tag Archives: income drawdown

Standard Life Reports Spain Tops Overseas Retirement Hotspots

Standard Life has revealed the top retirement hotspots outside the UK with the Spain at the top of the list, followed by Australia, USA, France and Ireland.

John Lawson, Head of Pensions Policy, Standard Life commented: “Retiring abroad is a dream for many people, but does require careful planning and advice. Many people think living abroad is cheaper than living in the UK, but this isn’t always the case. Doing your homework in advance of moving, matching your retirement income and expenditure, and making the appropriate decisions around purchasing an annuity or using income drawdown are key considerations. Your retirement income could also be subject to exchange rates and currency fluctuations, as well as local tax laws.

“You also need to think about your state pension and what, if any, reciprocal agreement is in place. A reciprocal agreement entitles you to any increases in the UK state pension paid for by the country you retire to. However, if there isn’t a reciprocal agreement in place, then you need to be very careful your retirement income is sufficient to cover your living costs over a long period of time. Over a 20 year retirement, your basic state UK pension could halve in real terms if a reciprocal arrangement is not in place.”

If an individual moves abroad permanently, any increases in their UK state pension will only apply if they are living in an EU country (including Gibraltar and Switzerland), or a country with a reciprocal social security agreement with the UK. Where the individual is living outside these countries, the amount of UK state pension they will receive each year is frozen at the amount initially paid when first claimed (or if the pensioner emigrated more than one year after payment began, at the rate in force when emigrating). Popular retirement countries outside these reciprocal agreements include Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa.

Those who are considering retiring abroad in the future, but are wondering if their retirement savings will be sufficient can go to www.yourfuturemoney.co.uk, where they can check if their retirement planning is on track.

Via EPR Network
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Standard Life Reveals One In Eight UK Adult Can’t Wait For Greater Reward

Standard Life, the long term savings and investments specialist, has conducted a poll and found that one in eight of UK adults adopt a ‘live for the moment’ culture and would choose the instant gratification of a £640 holiday this year, rather than be willing to wait five years for a holiday worth £5,000 instead.*

The figures come from Standard Life’s UK-wide poll and prize draw**, in partnership with boutique hotel specialist i-escape.com, which investigates the nation’s attitudes to planning for the future. Entrants have to vote on which prize they would prefer; a short break this year worth £640, or a holiday of a lifetime in five years time worth £5,000.

Standard Life’s John Lawson said: “Planning five years ahead is something many people find difficult to imagine or do their best to avoid. Our poll shows that some people just seem too impatient to wait for greater rewards in the future, no matter how enticing they are. But being patient and taking a long term view on your finances is precisely what helps you achieve your goals and, ensures you remain financially secure. It might seem easier to take a short term view, but unless you plan ahead how else can you look forward to your future with confidence and optimism?”

Standard Life also points out that if everyone was this impatient, the world would be a far different place. If one in eight of the doctors employed by the NHS weren’t patient enough to finish their studies, the UK would have 14,061 fewer doctors**. Inventions such as the Dyson vacuum cleaner may also have never been made if the inventor Mr James Dyson has been impatient, as it took five years to develop the iconic bagless vacuum cleaner***.

Via EPR Network
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Prudential Launches Five New Risk Rated Portfolios

Prudential is launching five new actively-managed, risk-rated, multi-asset funds designed to help advisers to focus on client management through an extension of its partnership with independent investment specialist Old Broad Street Research (OBSR).

The partnership gives advisers access to the asset allocation expertise of Prudential’s Portfolio Management Group (PMG)*, which currently manages over £100 billion of capital, and the fund selection and recommendation experience of OBSR in one place.

Prudential is launching the funds in response to demand f r o m advisers for investment solutions which can help them respond to the changes driven by the Retail Distribution Review and the ongoing focus of the Financial Service Authority’s Treating Customers Fairly (TCF) initiative. In addition, customers will benefit f r o m the choice of a wide range of funds across tax wrappers that are designed to meet the needs of identified groups and are targeted accordingly.

Crucially, the funds will be actively risk managed in line with their portfolio investment objectives and may help reduce the risk of potential TCF issues through running static portfolios.

The five portfolios – Defensive; Cautious; Cautious Growth; Balanced; and Adventurous – will be available on a range of Prudential personal pension products, income drawdown, onshore and offshore bonds. The risk ratings of each portfolio can be mapped against all the major independent risk-rating tools.

Andy Brown, Director of Investment Funds at Prudential said: “Asset allocation and fund selection are vital in ensuring that client needs and long-term investment expectations are met. However, both are potentially demanding and time-consuming.

“Advisers need cost-effective support with their investment management to address the changing regulatory environment. We are determined to address that issue and are delighted to be expanding our partnership with OBSR.”

Phil Lindsay, sales & marketing director for OBSR said: “The objective of the ‘Prudential Dynamic Portfolio’ risk rated funds is to consistently conform to specific risk profiles by utilising the strengths of Prudential’s Portfolio Management Groups’ asset allocation capabilities and OBSR’s fund research and portfolio construction skills thereby assisting intermediaries in developing solutions in line with client attitudes to risk.”

Prudential’s Portfolio Management Group will be responsible for asset allocation, determining the macro asset mix of the portfolios with the long-term aim of ensuring the portfolios conform to their stated risk objectives. They will have the flexibility to implement strategic and tactical changes within given ranges which over time will result in changes in the broad asset mix. These changes will be made to ensure the funds remain within the risk parameters set.

Via EPR Network
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