2 in 3 advisers concerned about 'pot for life' plan
Nearly two thirds (63%) of advisers are concerned about the impact of the Government’s proposed lifetime pension provider model, a new report suggests.
Advisers said the plan could make communication more difficult and reduce employer interest in pensions, according to a survey by Royal London.
A similar number (67%) of advisers said they believed it will make it harder for employers to manage their workplace pension scheme, with the task of sending contributions to numerous providers being problematic.
They also did not think the proposal would improve pension tracking and management.
When asked if it was a good idea that existing small pots will be automatically allocated to one of a smaller number of consolidator schemes, only 13% said it was. Some 24% said a pot follows member approach would be better.
The remaining 53% were more cautious and said it would depend how it works in practice and who the consolidators are.
However, the majority (71%) of the advisers surveyed said they did not think the pot for life proposals would increase the risk of scams in the pension industry.
Jamie Jenkins, director of policy at Royal London, said: “We have seen lots of debate about how the lifetime provider model might work, and our research provides a snapshot of what advisers think, considering both corporate and individual clients.
“Arguably, the most pressing issue is how we address the shortfall of pension provision for the younger generations starting out on their career, rather than rethinking the whole approach to retirement saving at this stage. We should build on the success of automatic enrolment rather than dismantle it.”
The call for evidence on the pot for life proposals closed yesterday.
• Royal London surveyed 94 advisers between 9 January and 16 January.