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As is often the case, come springtime I was asked whether there would be any changes in the upcoming 2014 budget. I thought about it, taking into consideration where we were with pension reform and with a General Election on the horizon, and I categorically said "No – too near to the Election." The rest is history!

In May 2014, Steve Webb, addressing the Treasury Select Committee, indicated that the Guidance Guarantee "would be fairly basic ... fairly rudimentary ... fairly general ... but enough to get people to the starting gate".

The government has advanced its pension thinking this month with the enactment of The Finance Act 2014, guidance on allowing new retirees access to next year's pension freedoms and its response to the consultation on those freedoms.

For someone who's been involved with the Sipp market since its inception 2014 by any measure was an extraordinary year – and a year of considerable contrasts.

I don't know about you but I'm becoming rather disillusioned with the SIPP market and the bad news stories that seem to be more regular and more alarming.

 

2015 is a watershed for me. It heralds the end of one journey and the start of another. It's difficult to be precise but sometime around 6 April will probably mark the transition point.

  1. Moret Blog: Wherever you turn there are unknowns
  2. AMPS chairman becomes latest blogger for Sipps Pro
  3. MacGillivray blog: Joy of 55% tax charge's possible exit
  4. Andrew Roberts blog: Are you working with me, or against me?

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