Pension Freedoms

AKG recently published a report on Pension Freedoms: Clearing the hurdles to business success in the retirement income market.
Using their knowledge of the market and the providers operating within the market and its sub-sector, AKG wanted to create a platform for the consideration and discussion of some of the key challenges and opportunities, some old and some new, which present themselves to financial advisers and the companies operating in their assessment sectors.
The paper identifies and discusses ten key obstacles to business success:
1. Meeting capital demands
2. Establishing the right business mix
3. Managing risk and governance
4. Evolving distribution approach
5. Meeting adviser requirements
6. Meeting client requirements
7. Riding the regulatory wave
8. Establishing a planning framework
9. Connecting markets in future
10. Embracing technology
By using AKG’s position as an independent observer, combined with our knowledge of the market and our understanding of the various market stakeholders, we wanted to create a platform for the consideration and discussion of some of the key pension freedoms challenges and opportunities, some old and some new, which present themselves to financial advisers and the companies operating across AKG’s assessment sectors. The paper is further informed by consumer and adviser market research exercises undertaken by AKG on the cusp of the introduction of pension freedoms in April 2015.
Although the story so far is of a relatively muted market which has still to find its pace and rhythm, we expect developments to gather pace during the second half of 2015 and we anticipate that 2016 will be an extremely interesting year indeed for those seeking to capitalise on retirement income market opportunities. As we continue our round of 2015 company financial strength assessments the topic of pension freedoms, and pensions more generally, will inevitably feature prominently in terms of product and distribution strategies across our ratings sectors.
AKG’s paper has been produced in association with AXA Wealth, Babel Systems, Citigate Dewe Rogerson and Mazars.
The paper can also be downloaded free of charge at www.akg.co.uk and the content is designed to have value for both a provider and adviser audience.