Financial regulators target ‘value for money’ in defined contribution pensions

by | Sep 16, 2021

Share this article

Facebook Open Graph
  • The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and The Pensions Regulator (TPR) have launched a joint discussion paper on value for money in defined contribution (DC) pensions
  • Regulators want to make it easier to compare value for money between different pension schemes
  • Metrics will focus on costs and charges, investment performance, and governance – including data quality and communications
  • How paying just 0.5% more in charges could cost you £10,000 in lost retirement income

 

Tom Selby, head of retirement policy at AJ Bell, (pictured) comments:

“There are few policy issues in financial services as important as ensuring defined contribution pension savers get good value for money from their retirement pot.

 
 

“This is particularly the case in the workplace pensions market, where the pension scheme is chosen by the employer on behalf of the member. SIPPs, on the other hand, are chosen actively by individuals.

“The areas of focus set out by the regulators today are absolutely the right ones, with costs and charges front-and-centre.

“While there are other elements to value for money, including investment performance and member communications, the amount contributed to a pension and the amount paid in costs and charges are the two things people can control.

 
 

“If the new value for money metrics proposed by the FCA and TPR helps to drive down prices and increase standards across the retirement market, that can only be a good thing for savers.”

The impact of charges

“Take for example two basic-rate taxpayers – John and Jill – who each contribute £2,000 a year into a pension, with tax relief of £500 added on automatically.

 
 

“Both enjoy 4% per annum investment returns, but while John pays 1% in total charges, Jill pays just 0.5%.

“After 30 years, John’s fund has grown to around £116,000, while Jill’s retirement pot is worth over £126,000.

“In short, by paying just 0.5 percentage points more in costs and charges John has ended up with £10,000 less in his pension.”

Share this article

Related articles

Sign up to the IFA Magazine Newsletter

Trending articles

IFA Talk logo

IFA Talk is our flagship podcast, that fits perfectly into your busy life, bringing the latest insight, analysis, news and interviews to you, wherever you are.

IFA Talk Podcast - listen to the latest episode

x