New research has suggested that 10 per cent more people are likely to seek a guaranteed income than they were in the immediate aftermath of the introduction of pension freedoms in April.
The latest index from financial forecasters eValue has revealed that 43 per cent are now exploring a guaranteed income post-retirement, compared to 33 per cent in April.
Meanwhile the 54 per cent of people who preferred flexible income has reduced to 44 per cent, meaning the 21 per cent gap in preference has reduced to just 1 per cent in the space of six months.
The preference for cash has remained exactly the same since the reforms were introduced, with 13 per cent favouring this option.
More than 12,000 individuals were surveyed, with the study finding that those with pension pots of over £150,000 are seeking guaranteed incomes more in October (21 per cent) than in July (17 per cent).
Three quarters of those with the most sizeable pots favour flexible retirement solutions, compared with just two fifths of those with pensions savings of less than £50,000.
A reduced appetite for pure drawdown is unexpected just six months into the pensions freedom legislation, according to eValue.
Despite sales of annuities to pensioners falling by almost 90 per cent since 6 April, the data indicates that millennials look set to change the pensions landscape by reverting back to guaranteed income in retirement.
The survey showed that 55 per cent of twentysomethings seek to understand just what might be provided for them in terms of a guaranteed pension income, compared to just 29 per cent of people in their sixties.
Samantha Seaton, the firm’s chief executive, said she was looking forward to seeing more cost-effective products making their way to market to satisfy such a clear demand for guarantees.
Earlier this month, figures from Equiniti’s sixth annual retirement survey revealed that 94 per cent of pension professionals said there was still the underlying need for a guaranteed level of income.
Figures from the Association of British Insurers recently showed the number of annuities sold in the first quarter this year continued to fall, with 20,600 annuities sold compared to 28,700 the previous quarter and 74,100 in the first quarter of 2014.
Last month Metlife estimated the impact of Black Monday on those who chose drawdown.
Since 6 April there has been a surge in drawdown sales, with Metlife stating up to 25,700 customers have spent around £1.75bn buying such policies to the end of August.
However, the at-retirement reforms also coincided with worldwide stock market volatility, in particular the FTSE 100 sliding around 10 per cent from the 6,833.5 level on 2 April before the start of pension freedoms.
The market hit a high of 7,104 on 27 April and has dipped below the 6,000 mark in the five months of pension freedoms.
Metlife estimated total losses for customers to the end of August were £160m.
peter.walker@ft.com
