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How to help maximise overall pension savings

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How workplace pensions fit into a client's financial plan

How to help maximise overall pension savings

Workplace savings have been given a huge boost thanks to automatic enrolment.

More than 9 million people have now been brought into some form of workplace saving, contribution rates are rising this year and in 2019, meaning potentially more money than ever before being squirreled away into someone's savings pot.

According to Aegon, April 2018's contribution hike from 2 per cent to a total of 5 per cent (2 per cent from the employer and 3 per cent from the employee) will amount to a "hidden £5bn pay rise". 

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Provided opt-out figures remain at less than one in nine people, people will see their pension pots accumulate at a much faster rate from 2018 than they have over the past few years, regardless of the investment performance since 2012.

But is it enough?

It's certainly a start, but what more can be done?

Sean McSweeney, corporate advice manager for Chase de Vere, comments: "Our own research shows even baby boomers, who should be in the best position with regard to their retirement planning, ideally want to retire before the age of 65 but actually expect to retire close to age 70.

"In a world where employers cannot impose a default retirement age, this has huge implications for both the efficiency of the workforce and for succession planning."

He believes corporate advisers have a duty to convince employers the solution to engagement needs to be "more than just online tools", adding: "old-fashioned face-to-face and regulated financial advice can have an important role to play".

This is where some form of 'shortfall analysis' can come into its own, both with trustees and with individuals. 

According to Neil Adams, head of pension planning for Drewberry Wealth, providing regular shortfall analysis is one way in which advisers can help maximise clients' overall pension savings by providing an incentive to save more.

How should advisers advise?

For Mr McSweeney, advisers have a huge role to play in maximising employee outcomes. 

"Our first job is to help sponsors understand failing to address this issue could have massive implications for the employers' business," he says. 

But it is also important to help the individuals and encourage them to take more responsibility for their overall financial health in the lead-up to, and within, retirement.

Matthew Connell, director of policy and public affairs for the Personal Finance Society, thinks the first thing clients should be advised to do is "start saving as early as possible", without putting all their eggs into one basket.

There are also other things he believes should be taken into consideration, such as the fact home ownership could still be a good strategy to help bolster pension income or a potential inheritance.