Starting from Monday 11 August the Prudential is going to decide annuity rates based on where people live, using their postcode as a guide.
A persons postcode can suggest expected life expectancy and typical health backgrounds of people, leading to the Prudential being able to offer rates that will better match the risk with the amount offered. Those in areas of lower life expectancy and poorer health will be likely to receive bigger pension payments from their annuity since they will be expected not to live as long as someone in a better area.
A Prudential spokesman said that the postcode is an excellent way of determining risk and pension payment since everyone has one. He went on to say that the postcode would make a difference of only 5 percent when comparing highest pension payments to lowest, with other factors also being taken into account to determine the most suitable amount.
A study of the retirement market by Saga Insurance has shown that equity release schemes are being used by many people to help boost finances in retirement, helping them do the things they want to do with their time.
Contrasting with a more conservative view a few years ago, around 88 percent of those surveyed by Saga Insurance, now feel equity release is a good idea. In the past the more common view was that the home should be left to children as part of the inheritance.
With nearly 80 percent of those aged 60 and over having paid off their mortgages there is certainly a substantial amount of money available that is tied up in property. The equity release option frees up this money to provide a more pleasant lifestyle.
A free guide to annuities is being offered by Saga, helping people understand the options open to them at retirement and how to make the best of what is on offer.
The Saga guide is very up to date, with full details of how the OMO (Open Market Option) works for buying an annuity. It explains how it enables people to shop around to find the best annuity to suit them, rather than being tied to their pension fund provider. At the moment only around forty percent of people are actively using the Open Market Option, but it is hoped that this information will prompt more to see how it can be of benefit to them.
The advice from Saga is that anyone approaching retirement should have a look at the guide so they can weigh up their options. It can potentially save lots of money and ensure the package selected best meets customer needs.
