Adrian Boulding: Decumulation pathways in the digital age

Duty of care on providers

clock • 6 min read

The FCA wants to tackle the dangers of poor pensions to the non-advised and disengaged by offering investment defaults supported by guidance. How can we extend the concept in the ‘digital first’ age? Adrian Boulding explores the issues

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) launched investment pathways last year, to help non-advised customers as they approach the transition from accumulation to decumulation. The theory was to increase engagement in the range of options open to policyholders in the wake of pension freedoms and at the same time address growing numbers who had taken their tax-free cash and left the other three-quarters of the pot held in cash. During the last few weeks, we found out from one major UK self-directed investment platform, Interactive Investor (II), that only 5% of all its customers starting...

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

Join

 

Already a Professional Adviser member?

Login

More on Pensions

IHT on pensions to cause 'operational complexity and risk' for providers

IHT on pensions to cause 'operational complexity and risk' for providers

Expected to lead to delays in payments to beneficiaries

Isabel Baxter
clock 31 January 2025 • 3 min read
DB transfer advice slows since FCA's 2020 crackdown

DB transfer advice slows since FCA's 2020 crackdown

Many firms have stopped offering DB advice, regulator finds

Isabel Baxter
clock 30 January 2025 • 2 min read
SSAS and divorce: Everything advisers need to know

SSAS and divorce: Everything advisers need to know

'It's estimated that only 4% of divorces include a pension'

Caitlin Southall
clock 30 January 2025 • 5 min read