Scottish Widows

2 weeks ago | professionaladviser.com | Gareth Davies |Scottish Widows

Traditionally, tax-free cash has been received as a lump sum at retirement and used to pay for things that might otherwise be unaffordable: paying off the mortgage, perhaps, or buying a dream holiday. This approach was often justified because tax-free cash was the only way to draw a large lump sum from a pension and being tax-free the timing of the payment in the tax year didn't matter.

Feb 12, 2025 | covermagazine.co.uk | Julie Thompson |Scottish Widows

Before diving in, while most advisers will be aware of the key differences between the two, it's worth giving a brief overview. As you may expect, critical illness typically pays in the event your client is diagnosed with a serious illness, normally one that is pre-defined in severity, in the form of a one-off lump sum. In contrast, income protection typically offers an ongoing monthly payment to replace lost income, in the event your client is unable to work due to sickness or accident.

Dec 18, 2024 | corporate-adviser.com | Scottish Widows

[SPONSORED CONTENT]Reforms look set to lead to scale, consolidation, and a focus on value. It’s a busy period for pensions, with the Government unveiling several proposals for reform just a few months after being elected. The Pension Investment Review, launched in August 2024, explores the opportunity to boost investment, increase returns for savers, and reduce inefficiencies and fragmentation in the UK pension ecosystem.

Dec 11, 2024 | corporate-adviser.com | Scottish Widows

[SPONSORED CONTENT]Our Women and Retirement Report shows the gender pension gap narrowingOur 20th Women and Retirement Report (PDF, 4MB) launched in November. One of the standout findings for me was that around two million women say they don’t believe they’ll ever be able to retire. There is good news though, as the gap is narrowing for both gender pay and gender pension – but we need to do more. Currently, it looks like we won’t have pension parity for at least another 20 years.

Dec 4, 2024 | corporate-adviser.com | Scottish Widows

[SPONSORED CONTENT]What are the main considerations when moving from one master trust to another? The UK pension landscape is undergoing a period of significant transformation. Over the past decade, master trusts have gained considerable traction and moved from being a niche product to a mainstream DC solution.