The Best News of 2009?

One of the great injustices for pensioners is the compulsory annuitisation of pensions at the age of 75. At present, at the age of 75 it is compulsory to convert any pension fund into an income for life. This rule was introduced when average life expectancy was below 75. One of the main objections we now hear to pension saving is that the fund is eventually lost to the insurance company providing the annuity. As a result millions do not provide enough on which to retire. Theresa May, the shadow work and pensions secretary, has said that the Conservatives will do away with annuitisations at age 75, provided they win the election in 2010.

"Conservatives believe individuals are best placed to make decisions about their life and it is right to give people more control over their incomes in retirement, so we will end the effective obligation to buy an annuity at 75"

The author of this article is John Kelly.

The author is a partner at Square One Financial Planning LLP. As well as being a diploma qualified finance planner, he is also a chartered accountant, one of a handful of such dual-qualified individuals in UK.

Square One Financial Planning LLP is a leading firm of Chartered Financial Planners based in Sussex, UK. Please click here for more information on how Square One Financial can help you with your Pension Planning.