A recent survey has shown that those aged 50 and over, the typical Saga Insurance customers, are concerned about how the credit crunch will affect their pensions and investments.
According to the survey, carried out by Millennium, over 75 percent of these Saga Insurance aged respondents believe the credit crunch will negatively impact on their investments, whilst almost 60 percent are expecting their pension provisions to be affected. However it is not all doom and gloom, since over three quarters of the over 50s are also saying they will not give up holidays and eating out.
People aged 50 and over tend to have a good view of the economy, having experienced its ups and downs over their lives. This is why the opinions of the Saga Insurance customers are valuable and worth bearing in mind no matter what age you may be.
Legal and General has today launched a new pension product, called the Portfolio Plus Pension it is designed for customers who want to spread their investment in a large number of funds.
Over 40 fund managers are responsible for around 300 different funds, with customers pension payments being spread between up to 100 of them. Both Legal and General themselves plus independent financial advisors are promoting the new Portfolio Plus Pension, giving customers plenty of choice regarding access to it.
A Legal and General spokesman said that this particular pension option would be ideal for those customers who would like the flexibility inherent in a self invested personal pension.
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.
