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Pensions

For most people, their pension represents the largest source of wealth that they will accumulate over their lives. In accumulation and decumulation the wealth management, financial advice and planning industry provides a reassuringly regulated and professional service that puts the customer at the heart of everything they do.

This has become increasingly complex for firms over the preceding decade as they have sought to navigate a changing regulatory environment. Despite substantive reforms such as the introduction of automatic enrolment, pension freedoms, changes to pension transfer advice and more, pensions continue to be a subject of reform from Regulators and the Government. Over the coming years we believe that we see more consolidation of pension schemes, further drive towards value for money, and a drive to focus the way in which and where these schemes invest. Where these reforms directly impact PIMFA firms, we will engage on your behalf to secure change in your interests.

The FCA has published retirement income market data for 2023-2024, with key findings set out:

  • Total number of pension plans accessed for the first time in 2023/24 increased by 19.7% to 885,455 compared to 2022/23 (739,652).
  • Sales of annuities saw the biggest increase from 59,163 in 2022/23 to 82,061 in 2023/24 (38.7%).
  • Sales of drawdown increased by 27.9% from 218,183 in 2022/23 to 278,977 in 2023/24.
  • The overall value of money being withdrawn from pension pots increased to £52,152m in 2023/24 from £43,233m in 2022/23. This is an increase of 20.6%.
  • Some 30.9% of pension plans accessed for the first time in 2023/24 were accessed by plan holders who took regulated advice (down from 32.9 % in 2022/23).
  • The number of DB to DC transfers continued to fall from 18,080 in 2022/23 to 7,181 in 2023/24.

Access the publication here.

FCA DP24/3: Pensions: Adapting our requirements for a changing market

PIMFA Responds to FCA DP24/3: Pensions: Adapting our requirements for a changing market

Read the response here

This guide provides a review of the FCA policy statement on pension transfer advice.

Read the guide now

FCA Retirement income market data 2024/25

The FCA has published analysis of the latest data from firms on the retirement income market, covering the year April 2024 to March 2025.

The FCA noted key findings:

  • Total number of pension plans accessed for the first time in 2024/25 increased by 8.6% to 961,575 compared to 2023/24 (885,455).
  • Sales of drawdown policies saw the biggest increase from 278,977 in 2023/24 to 349,992 in 2024/25 (25.5%).
  • Sales of annuities increased by 7.8% from 82,061 in 2023/24 to 88,430 in 2024/25.
  • The overall value of money being withdrawn from pension pots increased to £70,876m in 2024/25 from £52,152m in 2023/24. This is an increase of 35.9%.
  • 30.6% of pension plans accessed for the first time in 2024/25 were accessed by plan holders who took regulated advice (down from 30.9% in 2023/24).
  • The number of DB to DC transfers continued to fall from 7,181 in 2023/24 to 6,418 in 2024/25.

Access further information here.

Pensions Commission 2.0

The Government has moved on to the second phase of its Pensions Review by reviving the Pensions Commission, which was responsible for the introduction of automatic enrolment. The Commission will look at methods to increase retirement adequacy for savers.

PIMFA supports the aims of this Commission and where possible will look to feed into this process. 

Interested firms should contact Simon Harrington

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