Majority of savers lacking confidence to choose their own pension

More than two thirds (69%) of savers would prefer their employer pick their workplace pension, increasing to 85% among those aged over 55, research from the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association (PLSA) has revealed.

The survey found that just under a third (31%) would opt to make the decision themselves, although this preference was higher among younger savers, as 44% of those aged 18-54 would rather choose their own workplace pension.

Gender differences were also apparent, as 75% of women said they leaned towards employer selection, compared to 63% of men.

Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, previously launched a call for evidence on plans to offer employees a choice on their workplace pension provider as part of his autumn statement, although there are industry concerns that saver confidence and knowledge may not be sufficient for this.

The PLSA's survey found that confidence was a key factor, as a "significant" 55% of employed workplace pension savers expressed minimal confidence, stating they would be either not at all or only slightly confident in selecting a pension provider.

In stark contrast, just under a fifth (19%) conveyed being extremely or quite confident in their ability to make such decisions.

Deputy director – policy at PLSA, Joe Dabrowski, highlighted the findings as demonstration of the importance savers place on their workplace pension scheme and the support their employer provides in choosing and managing high quality provision that will help deliver their retirement needs.

He continued: "As we can see, not all savers are the same, from generational to gender disparities there are clear differences in knowledge, understanding and confidence.

"While the sector examines the concept of a lifetime provider, it is important that we carefully consider the implications the model may have on good saver outcomes, especially given long-established concerns about general financial literacy, as well as the average savers engagement and understanding of pensions.

"This will be important for the majority of employees who do not want to choose their own provider and those who lack confidence in making their own choice. Equally we must protect those who may have confidence, but in most cases will not in fact have the appropriate skills or knowledge to make good choices."



Share Story:

Recent Stories


FREE E-NEWS SIGN UP

Subscribe to our newsletter to receive breaking news and other industry announcements by email.

  Please tick here to confirm you are happy to receive third party promotions from carefully selected partners.


Helping the credit challenged get mortgage ready
A rising number of borrowers are finding it harder to access mortgages due to being credit challenged - whether that’s from historic debts, a county court judgment, or having little to no credit history.

In the latest episode of the Mortgage Insider podcast, Phil Spencer is joined by Eloise Hall, Head of National Accounts at Kensington Mortgages, and Alastair Douglas, CEO of TotallyMoney.


Inside the world of high net worth lending
The mortgage market continues to evolve, and so too does the answer to the question: what is a high net worth individual in today’s market? In this episode of the Mortgage Insider podcast, host Phil Spencer is joined by Stephen Moroukian, Head of Product and Proposition for Real Estate Financing at Barclays Private Bank, and Islay Robinson, founder and CEO of Enness Global. Together, they explore what brokers really need to know when supporting high net worth individuals.

The future of the bridging industry and the Autumn Budget
MoneyAge content editor, Dan McGrath, is joined by head of marketing at Black & White Bridging, Matt Horton, to discuss the bridging industry, the impact of the Autumn Budget and what the future holds for the sector.