Share Sounds. related to Pensions & Retirement

Recently there have been some big changes in pensions policy in the UK and throughout this past year we have seen a continuation of these policies and the beginning of a totally new pensions landscape starting to emerge. To discuss the past year and trends for 2017 Sue Dougan was joined by Malcolm McLean Senior Consultant Barnett Waddingham.

Aviva's latest Real Retirement report reveals that baby-boomers are enthusiastic users of technology but pensions need to catch up. According to the report, the 45-64 year old is very confident when it comes to mobile technology where banking is concerned, but when it comes to pensions there's less confidence. So if this is a generation of tech adopters, what's the problem? Alistair McQueen, Aviva's retirement spokesperson, joined Share Radio to discuss.

Before the pensions freedom came along in 2015, many people using a pensions pot bought an annuity. But since then many providers have stopped selling annuities, or will be fading them out in the future. But what does this mean for you? Joining Sarah in the studio are Alistair McQueen from Aviva, Michael Bousfield from independent financial advice firm Helm Godfrey and David Blake, the Director of the Pensions Institute.

Do you have enough saved for retirement? In many cases especially for those who ought to be closest to the milestone, the answer is no. A new study found over a million people are set to retire on less than £9,500 a year. For more information, Nigel People from the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association joined Georgie on the line.

Georgie Frost is joined in the studio by Hannah Maundrell editor in chief of money.co.uk. On the agenda today, they discuss the big story of the day, GB Energy Supply customers are being re-assured their money is safe, and they won't be cut off, after the company announced it's gone bust. Elsewhere, high street footfall was up nearly three per cent on Friday compared to last year giving retailers a much-needed boost. Plus, thirty million people could have to work until they are 70 before claiming the state pension. All these stories and more on The News Review.

Welcome to the This is Money and Share Radio podcast, presented in partnership with NS&I. This week of course the top financial story was Philip Hammond’s first, and indeed last, Autumn Statement. Just what state are the country’s post-Brexit finances in, and crucially what would the Chancellor offer to help his much referenced ‘Jams’? In the end those ‘just about managing’ certainly received a few headline policies but with predictions pointing towards low growth, high borrowing and high inflation many argue Jam spending has been spread too thin. There were also some losers with those enjoying salary sacrifice perks and letting agents coming into the crosshairs, as well as in fact the Autumn Statement itself which will now be scrapped. So what will all this mean for the pound in your pocket? Georgie Frost joins editor Simon Lambert and reporter Becky Rutt to answer just that. Also on the agenda this week they discuss Black Friday and for a slightly different purchase the opportunity to buy a road legal Formula 1 car. This is Money is presented by Georgie Frost in partnership with NS&I.

Sue Dougan is joined in the studio by Kevin Pratt Web editor MoneySuperMarket.com. On the agenda today, they discuss the big story - The Autumn Statement. Sue and Kevin speak about how all aspects of the policies the Chancellor delivered will impact the consumer. Elsewhere, over ten million people across Britain could struggle in retirement if minimum contributions to workplace pensions aren't increased. Air traffic bosses have issued a new code of conduct for drones. All these stories and more on The News Review.

Now, transferring your pension could be a good idea...that is, if you have a lot of pension pots and want them all in one place. Or perhaps if you'd like more investment choice than your current provider offers. But lately, firms have been using delay tactics to deter savers from switching. Research conducted by pension manager site, PensionBee found that on average, customers faced almost three weeks to transfer their pension. To find out more Georgie Frost was joined by their chief executive Romi Savova.

One in four UK businesses say their employees have cut their hours owing to the high cost of childcare. The report from the British Chambers of Commerce also showed that 10% of employers had had staff quit their jobs entirely for the same reason. Its report is calling on the Government to allow policy to revolve around working parents. Measures could include additional childcare subsidies, possibly by extending existing support to the working parents of one and two year olds. Georgie was joined on the line by Marcus Mason, Head of Business, Education and Skills at the British Chambers of Commerce.

The state pension triple-lock should be scrapped, according to some MPs. The 'triple lock' guaranteeing the elderly an annual state pension increase of at least 2.5 per cent is under threat. The annual rises in the state pension are decided by whatever is the highest of price inflation, average earnings growth or 2.5 per cent. But now MPs on the Work and Pensions Committee say it’s too expensive. For more information, Sue Dougan spoke to former pension minister and Director of Policy at Royal London, Steve Webb