More and more members now staying with their occupational pension schemes

The number of people leaving their pension schemes fell to its lowest level this year, while enquiries about the current value of the pensions rose to its highest level, according to Aon Consulting in a recent article from the Financial Times. Enquiries from members regarding their pension schemes were up 26 per cent from June. The number of members leaving their pension scheme also fell by 34 per cent during the third quarter. The research included 350,000 scheme members from 35 UK defined contribution (DC) and defined benefit (DB) schemes. The fall appears to indicate increased confidence in private sector pension schemes and a growing interest in planning for retirement. Click on the link above for the full article.

National Savings Withdraw Fixed Rate Bonds

As the title says NSI withdrew their highly competitive range of fixed rate bonds following complaints from various banks and building societies. Leaving savers with lower rates and banks with higher margins and greater profits. Something wrong here?

What they don’t teach you at business school

Merryn Somerset Webb looks at Value Investing: Tools and Techniques for Intelligent Investing.

Another commercial property bubble?

This week Aviva pulled the sale of nearly £1 billion of property assets held in funds containing £15.6 billion of offices, shops and sheds. Why?

Pre-Budget report 9th December

Alistair Darling will unveil his pre-Budget report on December 9, at 12.30pm. We can hardly wait.

Early retirement don't lose out.

The minimum age for drawing a pension will rise from 50 to 55 from 6th April 2010. If you are one of the 3 million people effected by the changes please feel free to call us and discuss your options - 020 8209 9247.