We are coming up to 12 years since the introduction of pension simplification and although it seemed at the time not to solve or simplify much I would go back to that day in a heartbeat.

There isn’t anything wrong with a defined benefit transfer for the right person at the right time for the right reasons, but it is a complex decision. So rightly, I believe, there is the advice requirement but this can cause issues for those that can’t afford to pay for advice.

In the final report of its inquiry into pension freedom and choice, the Work and Pensions Committee calls for a simple package of measures to create better informed, more engaged pensions savers – and offer a default decumulation pathway to protect the less engaged.

I make no apologies for the fact that ‘phoenixing’ seems to be a regular topic in the industry press – a quick search of the internet brought up no end of articles on the subject, going back over a number of years.

Cast your mind back to 2035 - the year of the great blip. We had made great progress. All individuals, companies and legal entities held their accounts open to each other through the DigiChain.

It’s so lovely to see the sun finally return, which must mean that it’s nearly summer!

As part of our marketing mix, we occasionally like to enter and win awards. There’s a certain prestige associated with being an ‘award-winning’ firm of Financial Planners. Our website analytics tell us that prospective clients are actively searching for this term, so serving up a handpicked list of award wins helps boost their confidence that they are contacting the right firm.

Where would you like to live when you grow older? There’s a lot to consider. Will your home be manageable as you become older and perhaps less mobile?

One of my clients died on Saturday. She died peacefully at home, surrounded by family and loved ones. It was, as far as these things can be, a ‘good death’.

The high court has ordered a group of pension scammers repay £13.7m to the victims of their scams. This is the first ruling of this type and should hopefully strike fear into scammers, although I suspect those who conduct these types of scams still believe they will get away with it.