Advisers fear new Government and provider failures as pension reforms loom
Advisers are fearful that providers have failed to be fully prepared for April's pension reforms and are worried a change of Government will cause further upheaval.
With speculation rife about the outcome of the General Election, 56% of advisers who were surveyed by Met Life said they were worried this would impact on the new rules.
Many recent opinion polls suggest another hung Parliament is the likely result.
The Met Life study also showed just one in ten thought providers were well-prepared for the launch of pensions flexibility.
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In a separate straw poll, 63% of advisers who attended a recent Dentons Pensions seminar said they believed that Labour pose the biggest threat to the pensions system, with the Liberal Democrats second at 9%.
The questionnaire involving 60 advisers found that 63% felt the least threat came from the Conservatives. Some 6% said Labour and 3% Liberal Democrats.
David Fox, director of sales & marketing, Dentons said: "This snap shot of the industry reflects our own discussions with advisers. They continue to be concerned about a potential change in Government which could bring about even more reforms to the pensions sector.
"Stability is key for the coming years as we all build confidence in the sector and encourage long term savings, after all, that is what the pension freedoms were designed to do."
Concerns about the legacy issues of providers were one of the biggest worries.
Another key message from advisers was that providers need to focus on simplifying products ahead of the April pension reforms.
Nearly seven out of ten said simplifying products was the most effective way providers can support them.
Around 68% of advisers said they were worried about the ability of providers to adapt their existing products to pensions flexibility while one in three (33%) were concerned about the lack of face-to-face contact with intermediaries by provider sales forces and the lack of clarity on products.
Some 44% were worried about service standards at providers while one in four were not convinced providers will have the capacity to process business efficiently.
Dominic Grinstead, managing director at MetLife UK, said: "The role of advisers has been massively enhanced by the pension changes and they will be crucial to the success of pension flexibility."
"Advisers and providers must work together to ensure that those who are at or near retirement get the best and most appropriate support in the new pensions landscape which includes focusing on service and customers."