Scottish Widows

Life and pensions underlying profits at Lloyds Banking Group were down 18% to £461m in the first half of the year, latest results show.

In the first of four instalments of in-depth research into the retirement planning market Helen Morrissey looks at the challenges and opportunities facing advisers operating in this market.

Collective defined contribution has been causing a stir among employers and group schemes? What do advisers need to know about this new type of pension?

In the second part of Retirement Planner's auto-enrolment discussion, Helen Morrissey looks at whether current auto-enrolment contribution levels are enough to deliver decent retirement outcomes.

Provider Scottish Widows has confirmed it will be re-entering the IFA market with protection products next year.

Pensions minister Steve Webb has dismissed concerns that retirement freedoms announced in the Budget do not work alongside the government's collective defined contribution (CDC) plans.

The number of savers putting enough money into their pension to secure an adequate retirement is at its highest level since 2009 at 53%, according to Scottish Widows research.

Labour's pledge to reduce the auto-enrolment threshold is a step in the right direction but lower paid employees are still missing out under the ‘band earnings' rules, according to Scottish Widows.

Retirement Planner editor Helen Morrissey spoke to Scottish Widows' Ronnie Taylor and Richard Jones about retirement planning

Former Prudential chief executive Nick Prettejohn has joined Lloyds Banking Group as a non-executive director and chairman of Scottish Widows.