Plea to avoid more pension change at Autumn Statement

A retirement planning expert has called on the Government to avoid making further changes to pensions at next week's Autumn Statement. Chancellor George Osborne is due to give the address to Parliament updating MPs on growth and borrowing forecasts on Wednesday 3 December.He will also outline planned tax and spending measures, with just six months before the General Election.In recent years, Mr Osborne has used the occasion to make announcements on energy, welfare and pensions.Andy James, head of retirement planning, Towry hopes for no further pension changes in this year's Autumn Statement. {desktop}{/desktop}{mobile}{/mobile} He said: "Following historic changes over the past 18 months to the way in which pensions will work – including the simplification of the state pension, the abolition of the pension 'death tax' and the flexibility afforded to over-55s as to how they withdraw their pension – the industry, and consumers, are now desperate for a period of calm."It is not yet clear exactly what the final legislation over these forthcoming changes will look like, and we expect the Chancellor to confirm the details. "Even then, pension providers will have just four months to produce new products that will work best for consumers."Mr James believes the deadline will be tight and some providers will not meet it.He said: "Consumers meanwhile have been left utterly confused as to how they can make their retirement fund work best for them, as a direct result of the continually changing pensions landscape."In order for individuals to make the best choices, and in order for financial advisers to offer them the best possible advice before they make their decisions, we urge the Government to make no further changes to pensions – not at this Autumn Statement, nor next year's Budget, nor indeed any emergency Budget that may result from the General Election."

Plea to avoid more pension change at Autumn Statement

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