PensionsFeb 23 2022

Authorities must act to improve advice gap, study warns

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Authorities must act to improve advice gap, study warns

A think tank has called on the government and regulator to improve the nation’s pension knowledge after a study highlighted the significant gap in the take up of guidance and advice.

Just one fifth of 50 to 64 year-olds have spoken to a financial adviser about their pension, according to a survey by the Social Market Foundation, and more than two thirds (69 per cent) of those surveyed said they do not know how much money they will need for retirement.

On average, those approaching retirement age are almost £250,000 short of the pension pot they need in order to maintain the lifestyle they would like in retirement, which SMF says represents a total annual savings gap of £132bn across the country.

Poor information will mean poor outcomes for too many peopleScott Corfe

Scott Corfe, research director at SMF, said there is a “serious” gap in the provision of advice and guidance around pensions which leads to real financial harm.

"The blunt truth about pensions is that many people don't know enough to make the decisions that would give them the retirement they want,” he said. 

“Poor information will mean poor outcomes for too many people.”

Some 20 per cent of 50 to 64 year-olds with a pension have received advice from an independent financial adviser, and only 14 per cent of those accessing a defined contribution pension pot for the first time have sought guidance from the government’s Pension Wise service.

The report, which was sponsored by Phoenix Group and carried out by Opinium, surveyed 2,011 UK adults aged 50 to 64 between November and December last year, as well as an online focus group of 30 respondents participating between December 17 and 21.

The report showed that the most common reason for individuals not seeking support was “overconfidence”. Some 28 per cent of respondents said they had enough knowledge enough to take decisions without advice, with 34 per cent of men saying this, compared with 22 per cent of women.

Just under half (47 per cent) of those surveyed said they had heard of Pension Wise.

The report has included five recommendations to solve this guidance gap:

  1. The Pension Wise service should be expanded, to provide tailored guidance and allow those between the ages of 40 and 50 to book an appointment.
  2. Pension Wise’s online service should be improved, including the provision of robo-guidance and robo-modelling.
  3. The FCA should, at a minimum, provide clearer information on its current definitions of guidance and advice, including “gold standard” examples of guidance that does not stray into advice.
  4. Make it standard practice for advice to be sought before savers can access their pension pot.
  5. Significant investment from the government into a nationwide pensions awareness campaign to bring home the need for individuals to prepare.

The guidance gap

Andy Curran, chief executive, savings and retirement, Phoenix Group, said the report identifies the cost of the guidance gap, but that it is not a “one and done” solution.

“The reality is the majority of people have to navigate the complexities of pensions on their own," he said.

The report identifies the cost of the huge guidance gap and how millions of savers could be substantially better off if this gap was closed, he said.

"While regulated financial advice sets a ‘gold standard’ for helping people, it is not likely to be the solution for the vast majority. Even the government’s free Pension Wise service is limited in its scope.” 

Phoenix Group is calling for a government-led working group to be set up to foster collaboration between the regulator, the advice community, providers and consumer groups.

He said it is not an out-of-the-box solution, and the industry must recognise that there are more than 13mn people aged between 50 and 64 who are not getting any or enough help.

He highlighted the long-term implications of making decisions around pensions.

“If you are making a decision to buy an annuity or go into income drawdown, and you’re making that decision with little or no help or guidance, these are big decisions you’re making that may be irrevocable.”

“We should collectively try and work out how to resolve that issue.”

sally.hickey@ft.com