The Daily Mail Does It Again

Proof if ever it was needed that the Daily Mail can turn the most encouraging news into something negative. Something it has successfully done with pensions for years.

The ONS have just released their report which shows that life expectancy between the rich and poor is narrowing in the UK. Something to celebrate. We do care for everyone. We are a genuine democracy. We do have the best health service in the world. I could go on.... the message is we have a lot to be thankful for and a lot we are getting right.

So the report is good news, as reflected in the Financial Times headline 'Life Expectancy Gap Between the Rich and Poor Shrinks'. Not the catchiest of headlines- but it is the Financial Times!

Now read the headline in the Daily Mail, covering the same report: 'A fifth of baby boys living in the UK's poorest areas won't live to state pension age - official figures'. I guess they kept looking until they found the suitably negative statistic. I'm sure it's true. I'm sure we can do more. But the overall message is positive. Shame on them (once more) for the ability to whinge louder than the rest of us.

Two Million Reasons to be Cheerful, One Country's Reason to be Careful

NEST has recently announced a landmark, as they passed one million members. Add to that approximately another million from other master trusts such as People’s Pension, NOW and L&G and you have two million reasons to be cheerful. Ian Dury and the Blockheads would be proud.

And it is a cheerful message. A majority of these members may well be new to pensions, thanks to Auto-Enrolment. Pensions that would not have existed had the legislation not changed.

A good start. But not enough.

Figures from Towers Watson Australia highlight the story over there:

 

So why is this relevant? The new announcements in the Budget means we are following the Australia example. Legislated savings but the ability to take cash at retirement.  So this means increased savings for sure, as the chart shows.  But not enough. Nowhere near enough.

And one other worrying slant on the Australia example. Double dipping. The ability to take cash and spend it has been too alluring to many. They spend it and then rely on the State to survive. Double dipping is more likely in the UK than a new Lamborghini. Or maybe it's both.