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  • Tilley: Are we asking too much of pension savers?

    Working in UK pensions, I’ve always accepted that the system evolves. Fiscal pressures change, demographics shift, and governments recalibrate policy objectives. But even allowing for that, the pace and volume of legislative change in the pensions space over the last few years feels unprecedented, and in my view increasingly problematic.

  • Lisa Webster: Beware IHT and pensions double taxation

    One of the most disliked aspects of bringing pensions into the estate for inheritance tax (IHT) purposes from 6 April 2027 is the double taxation that will occur when the member dies on or after their 75th birthday.

  • Lisa Webster: Good news from DWP for SIPPs but not SSAS

    The DWP has just released its long-awaited consultation on the SIPP transfer regulations – and it’s largely encouraging news. As an employee of a reputable SIPP provider the changes are positive. SSAS providers may be less enthusiastic about some of the proposals.

  • Lisa Webster: Should tax-free cash always be taken?

    Since the Lifetime Allowance was abolished and replaced with the Lump Sum Allowance (LSA) and lump sum and death benefit allowance (LSDBA), we have seen an increase in SIPP members who want to take drawdown only – foregoing the right to take the associated pension commencement lump sum (PCLS).

  • Tilley: Transfer reform welcome but SSAS governance is key

    At first glance, DWP’s June 2026 consultation on proposed changes to the 2021 transfer regulations does something the industry has long asked for; it acknowledges that the current regime, while well intended, has created too much friction for some perfectly legitimate pension transfers.

Popular News

  • The FCA plans to crack down on inconsistent record-keeping in SIPPs by introducing new clear standards of due diligence.

  • There’s a comprehension gap in workplace pension communication, with more than a third (37%) of UK employees claiming their workplace pension scheme was either not clearly explained to them or they had no memory of any explanation.

  • The next Prime Minister has been urged to address the long-term sustainability of the state pension triple lock.

  • The Pensions Dashboards Programme (PDP), the body launching pensions dashboards in the UK, has pushed back a key implementation deadline by five months from November to March 2027 after feedback from users.

  • At first glance, DWP’s June 2026 consultation on proposed changes to the 2021 transfer regulations does something the industry has long asked for; it acknowledges that the current regime, while well intended, has created too much friction for some perfectly legitimate pension transfers.

Latest News
Could 2016 be the year of the SSAS? The main reason I can see the answer being yes is that it is simply a suitable product for many that may have been overlooked in the past. I could just stop there but this would then be really short and quite uninformative so I feel I should expand a little.

In the last week I have been travelling around the country a lot and one day I was booked in to talk with some professional connections of a financial adviser, when I asked for a list of attendees I was a little surprised to discover the majority of the audience were property professionals.

In his first column since becoming a blogger for Sipps Professional, James Jones-Tinsley from Barnett Waddingham a Chartered Financial Planner and Self-Invested Technical Specialist, discusses problems with the time delay between pension changes being announced and being cemented in law.

James Jones-Tinsley column: Time for Sipp firms to resolve long-running issue with FCA.



Last October, the FCA released a consultation paper entitled pension reforms – proposed changes to our rules and guidance.

The Financial Conduct Authority’s final rules on Capital Adequacy imply that fixed term cash deposits that cannot be realised within 30 days will have to be classed as a ‘non-standard’ asset.
Last December, the Financial Conduct Authority released Handbook Notice No. 28.

The minimum capital adequacy requirements for directly authorised personal investment firms will be doubled to £20,000 next June.

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