Mr Mitchell, managing director at Galashiels-based Lowland Financial, told FTAdviser: “I feel the FCA need to pronounce on income drawdown advice as soon as possible to give guidance on the new regime.
“To me there will be two types of client - the traditional saver looking to preserve income, minimise tax and leave an inheritance to spouse/children - and a new breed of ‘I want it all now’ people intent on spending it, but will surely need advice to minimise huge potential tax bills.”
The remarks echo concerns raised across the sector over clients who would not currently be considered suitable for drawdown but who may demand annuity alternatives after April.
Mr Mitchell’s comments also come ahead of a consultation that the regulator revealed in its guidance guarantee policy statement in November, in which it said it would seek views on launch a review of rules and requirements on at-retirement products ahead of next April.
The regulator said it would in particular focus on rules around income drawdown, including the controversial subject of non-advised drawdown and uncrystallised lump sums. Until formal rules are drafted, the watchdog said firms should treat the new lump sums as they would drawdown.
Generally Mr Mitchell said the new rules should bring opportunities for advice in 2015, as the pensions changes have now become the subject of “dinner party chat”.
However, he also warned that IFAs must be careful that demand from new clients does not impact on existing clients that are already contracted for provision of ongoing support and pensions advice, especially the death benefits for current drawdown clients.
Speaking to FTAdviser, Phil Billingham, compliance and operations director at London-based Perceptive Planning, warned that in the next few months advisers will need to deal with much more misinformation from the media, the ‘bloke down the pub’ and potential pension scammers.
He said he is hopeful that the guidance sessions will push people towards advice and that people would generally have to engage with their finances more this year, but noted that many existing clients will have already made their retirement decisions.
“It is the next generation behind them that must be engaged if advisers are going to continue,” Mr Billingham added.
