Poor outcomes for retirees due to uninformed decisions ultimately threaten the long-term existence of the pension freedom policy itself but, argues Stephen Lowe, there are clear ways to counter that threat
There is an obvious contradiction at the heart of government policy towards financial guidance and advice. Logically, consumer support should be focused on areas where knowledge and confidence is relatively low and the potential for poor outcomes is high. Yet that is not what happens. Under the popular ‘freedom and choice' policy, pension savers have complete freedom to access money in defined contribution schemes without taking advice or the free guidance on offer. That contrasts with mortgage borrowers who are required to take regulated financial advice - the highest level of support a...
To continue reading this article...
Join Professional Adviser for free
- Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
- Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
- Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
- Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
- Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
- Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes