The FTA market has already undergone many design evolutions, allowing increasing flexibility for those at or approaching retirement. The Just Retirement Fixed Term Annuity was the first to offer the innovative conversion feature, allowing clients to switch from an FTA to an enhanced lifetime annuity or access their Open Market Option, if they subsequently qualified and had selected this option when originally purchasing the product.

There are various factors credited for this predicted growth. Increasing longevity, with clients not wishing to tie themselves into a standard lifetime annuity, the belief that current low gilt yields will increase, and clients wishing to take a more cautious attitude to investment risk, and escape the turbulent financial market for more security and peace of mind, are all contributing factors.

Support, materials, guides and more

You can find out more about the Just Retirement Fixed Term Annuity, and how it can help your clients, by clicking onto justadviser.com.

By following the links you can also find out about:

• Underwriting and the 1500+ conditions we’ve underwritten on to date
• Enhanced annuities and the difference this could make to the 60% of clients we estimate could qualify

How your clients can avoid being stranded on standard

Deferring an annuity – Weighing up the potential costs and considerations – Looking at what situations could make deferring beneficial or costly for your clients.

No.1 for service – Just what is it that makes us the ‘Company of the Year’?

It’s crucial to really know your clients – How information is key to providing a more comfortable retirement for your clients.

When to annuitise - In search of the golden scenario – Looking at the pros and cons of searching for the perfect time to annuitise.

An enhanced annuity could mean around 50%* more income per annum for your client, sometimes even more, guaranteed for life, depending on your client’s specific medical conditions. 

As the intermediaries’ preferred provider, you can be confident in the level of service you receive from us: 

• Fully underwritten quotes in minutes that could lead to around 50% more income over a standard annuity, sometimes even more (Read More)
• A fast and efficient process that could save you both time and money - it could be as much as £120 per case
• A dedicated quote manager , keeping you up to date and available to discuss any questions or issues
• Instant, electronic up-to-date information

Read more on why we are the intermediaries preferred provider.

*Illustration is based on a male aged 65, with a 45k fund, 5 year guarantee, no escalation, no value protection, based on RH2 7RU  postcode, compared to the lowest standard annuity rate offered via Avelo Exchange on 16.12.11

MARCH 

21^st March – The Budget   

Previously there have been rumours about higher-rate tax relief being cut. Although at present this seems unlikely, those concerned may want to make any pension contributions before Budget day to ensure they get full relief on contributions.

APRIL

5^th April – Contracting out of the state second pension (S2P)  

This is the last year that people will be able to "contract out" of S2P (previously known as SERPS). Those who opt to do so get a refund of part of their National Insurance contributions to invest directly in a personal pension or SIPP (self-invested personal pension), rather than getting an earnings-related "top up" state pension instead.

5^th April – Protecting your ‘Lifetime Allowance’ 

From this date the maximum that can be saved into a pension will fall from £1.8m to £1.5m, without a tax recovery charge being applied. However, those who have retired, or expect to retire, with a higher limit can protect this benefit, provided that they apply to HMRC by the end of this tax year. This change will also affect those in final salary pension schemes who can expect to retire with a pension of £75,000 or more. 

6^th April - End of Protected Rights & Defined benefits  

From the 6^th of April 2012 the government is to abolish protected rights and defined benefits, centralising state pension, to reduce the amount of risk garnered from external fund investment. 

NOVEMBER 

22^nd November– Financial Adviser Service Awards

This sell out event is the annual climax and highlight of the financial services industry, rewarding and congratulating the very best service providers. Results are based on questionnaires submitted by IFAs grading the providers that they use throughout the year. Financial Adviser regularly receives over 10,000 submissions - a strong reflection of the merit of these prestigious awards for intermediaries. 

DECEMBER 

21^st December – EU Gender Directive   

The controversial directive from Brussels means that from the 21^st of December, insurance premiums and benefits can no longer use gender as a basis in risk calculations. This is expected to cause a large uplift in premiums for women.

The winners of our ‘Save our Santa’ are:

Helicopter Trip winners

Bob from Leeds

Leigh from Southampton

Chris from Glasgow

John from Blackburn

Bryan from Norfolk  

Amazon Kindle winners

Ian from Kent

Elaine from London

Mila from London

Stephen London

Chris from Walsall 

Christmas hamper winners

Fiona from Edinburgh

Des from the West Midlands

Jade from Truro

J Collingwood from Hull

Mark from Devon