Are most people unprepared for retirement?
People are still being left confused by pensions, with almost two thirds not understanding their key features, according to new research by Wesleyan.
The research conducted by the specialist financial mutual revealed how much confusion there still is among most people when it comes to their retirement planning. Three quarters of people (77%) don’t understand the pension freedom reforms put in place last spring, with 68% of those nearing retirement (over 55s) being unsure.
Overall, one in eight (12%) people incorrectly believe the reforms mean you can withdraw your full pension fund at any time, completely tax free. While one in seven (15%) believe you can only take a sum of your defined contribution pension once you retire.
Large funding gap
The research also showed people expect to need an average of £22,596 a year in retirement – almost a third more than the actual average UK pension income*, leaving a potentially very large funding gap for the average retiree. As the Government introduces the Lifetime ISA to encourage saving for retirement, it is clear many people still do not understand how much to save each month for the future, with more than half (58%) saying they don’t know how much they should be putting into a pension pot.
The research shows how important it is for people to get proper advice to ensure they reach their retirement goals. How much people need in retirement depends on their own circumstances and needs, but what is clear is that many people have an idea of what they would like to have in retirement, but aren’t planning early or effectively enough to achieve it.
Lack of understanding
Given the amount of publicity that has surrounded the major pension reforms introduced last year, we would expect to see people begin to plan earlier for retirement, although that doesn’t seem to be happening yet. While the regulation may have intended to make planning for retirement simpler and more flexible, in reality it appears people are still confused.
According to the research, four out of ten (44%) haven’t done any research about pensions in the past year, despite all the changes, while more than a third have no intention of researching their retirement plans in the next 12 months either, suggesting those in the dark will remain confused about what lies ahead.
The over-55s did have a better understanding of how to identify a pension scheme with almost half (45%) correctly identifying the key features – compared with 30% of 25–34-year-olds.
The research also found three quarters (73%) of people are unaware they could get upwards of 25p from the government for every pound invested in a pension.
For people to enjoy the standard of living they dream of in retirement, it’s imperative they not only plan their finances now so that they can afford it, but continuously review those plans. If what we are hearing is true, that many people have not started, nor do they intend to start, any research around what the pension reforms mean for them, then there is clearly a real and apparent need for knowledgeable, credible, expert advice. τ
Source:
Research based on a survey of 1015 general consumers, by Censuswide on behalf of Wesleyan, February 2016
* Prudential Pension Research – Jan 2015