The Department for Works and Pensions (DWP) has produced a factsheet for pension scheme providers but which will be of interest to advisory firms.
It aims to clarify two issues, namely:
- Whether certain types of pension benefits which contain a promise, including those with a guaranteed annuity rate (GAR), are safeguarded benefits;
- When the exception to the requirement to take independent advice for those with safeguarded benefits worth £30,000 or less applies.
You can access the factsheet here.



Pension Transfer charging
Alistair MacDougall Compliance abridged, FCA, P1, Pension, Pension Transfer, PI, transfer
Policy Statement PS 20-06 stated that a firm providing pension transfer advice “… may also not charge less than it would charge for investment advice of the same value”. That seems clear enough, but the rule that gives effect to this statement is subtly different. COBS 19.1B.7 states: “A firm should not charge less […]