The Government has revealed a series of new measures to highlight any potential abuse of the QROPS (qualifying recognised overseas pension scheme) system which allows pension savers to transfer their pension schemes overseas. The new rules will come into force from 6 April 2012.

A new interpretation of the pension rules has opened up opportunities for pension investors to make significant contributions to their pension scheme. HMRC has announced changes to its interpretation of the “carry forward” rules which allow investors to sweep up unused contribution allowances from the previous three tax years.  The carry forward rules allow investors to make contributions in the current tax year where they have paid in less than £50,000 in any of the previous three tax years.  Where no contributions have been paid in the previous three tax years, investors can now pay in up to an additional £150,000.

There has been a great deal of discussion recently on the pricing structure of retail investment platforms and funds in the execution only DIY market. Changes to how investment platforms apply their charges have started to surface. There has also been speculation around the possible impact of changes coming from the work that platforms and fund groups are undertaking as a result of the Retail Distribution Review. Price is a key decision driver for DIY investors, with all of this in mind it is likely that charges will remain a topic of discussion for the foreseeable future.

This core fund range is available on the Advisory option across the Sippcentre SIPP, ISA and Dealing Account.  Advisers will now have access to more than 3,000 core funds of which 2,850 have no initial, dealing or switch charges (for online deals).  The additional funds have been added to satisfy the demand for increased choice as adviser firms prepare for the RDR and include a number of institutional share class and index tracking funds.

The £4.95 online dealing charge will be available to Sippdeal SIPP, ISA and Dealing Account clients who place 20 or more deals in a month.  The charge will be applied to all online deals placed in the following calendar month.  The frequent dealing charge will be available from 1 November 2011 and form part of Sippdeal’s unique pricing, where clients never pay more than £9.95 for an online deal.

Research announced today demonstrates that pension investors and advisers universally support A J Bell’s call for the Government to change the rules for calculating drawdown income limits.

Mark Hoban, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, has responded to A J Bell Chief Executive Andy Bell confirming that the Government are against making changes to the rules on drawdown income calculations.

Andy Bell, Chief Executive of platform provider A J Bell, has written to Mark Hoban, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, calling for the Government to take action on drawdown calculation rules which are causing a significant drop in maximum income for thousands of drawdown investors.

Freedom of Information figures released today by Platform provider A J Bell reveal that 18,574 individuals are at risk of losing protection of their pension benefits when new auto-enrolment rules come into force from October 2012.

In response to the FSA’s Policy Statement 11/9, platform provider A J Bell today urges the FSA to defer any decision on provider payments to platforms and cash rebates until 31 December 2014.

Freedom of Information figures released today by platform provider A J Bell reveal the number of individuals at risk of being worse off because of a rule preventing individuals holding primary or enhanced protection from applying for fixed protection.

SIPP operator and stockbroker A J Bell today announces the launch of its new Investment ISA and Dealing Account on the Sippcentre platform.

A J Bell today announces a trading update for the six months to 31 March 2011. Andy Bell, Chief Executive of A J Bell says, “I am very pleased with these results in what continue to be very challenging market conditions.”

A J Bell today announces the results of a survey that shows there is significant adviser demand for flexible drawdown. Also, contrary to industry speculation, the preferred use of flexible drawdown will not be to exhaust the pension fund. The majority of advisers indicated that they would be using it as a tax planning income tool.

Following on from the ECJ ruling today, Billy Mackay, Marketing Director of SIPP provider  A J Bell said: "It could be argued that this ruling actually introduces discrimination. It's bad for women and men.

Low cost SIPP provider A J Bell has warned that inappropriate tax charges may arise from Government proposals to allow early access to pension schemes. In a consultation HM Treasury has suggested four options allowing savers to access all or part of their pension fund before they reach their minimum pension age.

Investors looking to move into drawdown may see their potential income hit by a double dip with effect from 6 April this year. The maximum income available from drawdown is calculated using tables prepared by the Governement Actuary's Department (GAD). Since 6 April 2006 the figure has been uplifted by 20% as part of the calculation for those under age 75.

Low cost SIPP provider A J Bell has hit out at the complexity of the details contained in the recently announced pension drawdown rules due for implementation on 6 April 2011.

Low-cost SIPP provider A J Bell said the Government had used the change in rules around annuitisation post-75 as a Trojan horse to introduce tax hikes for millions of pension savers.

A J Bell today announces a series of online seminars that consider what the FSA RDR/Platform paper means for advisers, platform providers, fund groups and consumers.

A J Bell today announces the appointment of Alison Mollard as Business Development Manager for the South East and London. Most of Alison's 15 year career has been focussed on the SIPP and SSAS market, starting as a SSAS Consultant for a large firm of Consulting Actuaries. Alison then spent 10 years with Wolanski & Co Trustees Limited which was later acquired by Alliance Trust.

A J Bell welcomes the HM Treasury announcement and package of changes for restricting tax relief on pensions as being consistent with the stated aim of being simple, fair and sustainable.

Low-cost SIPP provider A J Bell has reported a sharp upturn in the number of women taking out self-invested personal pensions in the past six months. It has seen an increase of 108% in the number of women setting up SIPPs in the Sippdeal service since February.

Investors and advisers oppose the Government's proposal to introduce a 55% tax charge on crystallised pension funds according to research released today by low cost SIPP provider A J Bell.

Investors and advisers still think the Government's pensions proposals are too complicated, according to new research released today by low cost SIPP provider A J Bell. Friday (27 August) is the deadline for industry feedback to the Government's plans to review pensions tax relief as an incentive.

A J Bell welcomed Government proposals to simplify the restrictions of tax relief on pension contributions but believes further simplification is possible.

A J Bell today announces the appointment of David Walker as Business Development Manager for Scotland and Northern Ireland. Mr Walker has more than 20 years’ financial services experience. Prior to joining A J Bell he spent 13 years with Skandia as an Executive Consultant, responsible for the promotion of all of their products. Prior to this he was with Eagle Star for 9 years.

A J Bell has welcomed the Government’s reservations and acceptance of the need to review the complex tapered tax relief system for pension contributions.

Figures revealed as part of a Freedom of Information request made by SIPP provider A J Bell regarding the HM Treasury consultation on restricting tax relief on contributions of higher earners have confirmed support for reducing the annual allowance.

Andy Bell, Chief Executive of SIPP provider A J Bell, has written an open letter to the new Chancellor George Osborne proposing three simple measures to restore lost confidence amongst investors and their advisers in the pension sector.

A J Bell today expressed disappointment at the news of HMRC’s confirmation that clients aged between 50 and 54 with crystallised benefits are unable to transfer to a new scheme or annuitise without facing unauthorised payment charges.

A J Bell today announces a four-fold increase in anti-forestalling contributions as savers take advantage of higher rate tax relief on pension contributions before it disappears.

A J Bell today reveals the extent to which advisers have embraced online dealing with 95% of all Sippcentre deals, through its in-house dealing platform, carried out online in February 2010.  At launch, in August 2009, online deals accounted for a little over 80% of adviser activity.

A J Bell today encourages savers to plan their pension contributions to ensure that they benefit from higher rate tax relief whilst it is still available. The Government announced, in the 2009 Budget, their intention to introduce measures to reduce the tax relief on pension contributions available for those earning more than £150,000 per annum.

A J Bell today welcomes the long awaited release of regulations removing the “Transfer Trap” from the anti-forestalling rules.  Prior to this change, pension savers who benefited from protection of their existing regular contributions lost this if they transferred to another pension scheme.

A J Bell today announces that there has been a marked increase in Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) trading activity by advisers using its Sippcentre platform.

Feedback from A J Bell's recent run of online SippTalk.tv seminars confirms that advisers back their proposal to reduce the annual allowance.

A J Bell today welcomed the Conservative's announcement that it will end compulsory annuitisation at age 75*.

A J Bell today calls on the Government to make good on their pledge to remove the “Transfer Trap” from the anti-forestalling rules.

Figures released as part of a Freedom of Information request made by SIPP provider A J Bell have revealed that almost £½ billion of UK pension funds were transferred to Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Schemes (QROPS) in the first two years after A-Day.

A J Bell, one of the UK’s largest SIPP providers and stockbrokers, today announces the launch of SippTalk.tv an online video channel for advisers and pension savers.  This new service is now available at www.sippcentre.co.uk and www.sipptalk.tv. 

In Wednesday’s Pre-Budget Report Alistair Darling announced that employer contributions must be included in the income calculations of those higher earners affected by the anti-forestalling restrictions on pensions tax relief.  There was some ambiguity in the Pre-Budget Report Notes as to whether this change took immediate effect.

A J Bell, the UK’s largest privately owned provider of self administered pensions and stockbroking services, today announces that it has reduced online dealing commission for Sippdeal, its no advice SIPP, to a flat £9.95.  Previously, online dealing costs had varied between £9.95 and £29.95 depending on the size of the deal.

Less than 3,000 individuals have opted for the alternatively secured pension (ASP) rules introduced on 6th April 2007, according to information obtained by SIPP provider A J Bell under a Freedom of Information request.

A J Bell has today announced that they have broken through the 40,000 mark for the number of SIPPs on their platform, reaffirming their position as the 3rd largest SIPP provider in the UK.

A J Bell announces the appointment of Eddie McGuire as Client Services Director.

99% of financial advisers view online SIPPs as a suitable alternative to personal pensions, according to new research carried out by A J Bell.

A J Bell, one of the UK’s leading SIPP providers, has welcomed Conservative plans to focus on the issues affecting people at retirement, restoring the focus on savings and investment while avoiding the uncertainty and damage caused by unpredictable changes to the tax system.

A J Bell, one of the UK's largest SIPP providers has criticised HMRC for adopting a tough line on contributions received after Budget day on 22nd April 2009. HMRC has confirmed that where a cheque was sent or the process of payment started before Budget day but payment was not completed until on or after, contributions must be treated as payments made after 22nd April. This raises the prospect of a potential charge to the new Special Annual Allowance tax charge.

Mark Hoban, Shadow Financial Secretary to the Treasury has responded to Andy Bell's open letter to Alistair Darling and George Osborne calling for a review of the 82% tax on residual ASP funds on death.

A J Bell, one of the UK's largest SIPP providers responds to Chancellor Alistair Darling's decision.

A J Bell, one of the UK’s leading SIPP providers, believe that the current volatile market conditions increases the financial burden on consumers and adds weight to the demand for reducing the tax on lump sum payments on death in Alternatively Secured Pension (ASP) from 82% to 55%.

Two of the most controversial areas of debate in the run up to April 2006 were the tax treatment of residual Alternatively Secured Pension funds on death and the proposal to allow pension schemes to invest in residential property.

Two of the most controversial areas of debate in the run up to April 2006 were the tax treatment of residual Alternatively Secured Pension funds on death and the proposal to allow pension schemes to invest in residential property.

A J Bell today announces the appointment of Glyn Jones as Business Development Manager for the South East and London.

A J Bell today announces an update on its new business figures for the period 1st October 2008 to 31st December 2008.

A J Bell today announces details of a new brand structure that will apply to all companies within the group. The new logo and livery will be rolled out over a 12 month period.

Sippdeal today announces that they have launched two special offer fixed rate cash deals with Halifax Bank of Scotland.

A J Bell, one of the UK’s leading SIPP providers, believe that the new rate of income tax of 45% on income over £150,000 (from 6/4/2011) could act as a disincentive for pension contributions over the short term.

A J Bell Holdings Ltd today announces the appointment of Les Platts as non-executive director and chairman of its audit and risk committee.

Adviser registrations on A J Bell SIPPcentre are 44% up on the 12 months to September 2008 compared with the same period in 2007. Registrations received in the last 3 months are 98% up on 2007 figures.

A J Bell today announces that Richard Taylor has been appointed as Managing Director of A J Bell Pensions, responsible for its SSAS and SIPP business. He will work alongside Charles Galbraith who is Managing Director of Lawshare, A J Bell's stockbroking arm.

SIPPcentre, A J Bell’s low cost SIPP offering, announces the latest in a line of enhancements with the launch of a regular investment link to Cofunds.

Despite volatile market conditions new business continues to boom according to figures released today by A J Bell.

A J Bell one of the UK’s largest SSAS and SIPP providers believe that a greater understanding of SIPPs is required with many general allegations of high cost being naive.

A J Bell one of the UK’s largest SSAS and SIPP providers today welcome the removal of investment restrictions on protected rights from 1st October 2008.

Andy Bell, actuary and Chief Executive of A J Bell, welcomed the announcement, made last night by James Purnell, the Secretary of State for the Department of Work and Pensions, that the requirement to provide a survivor's pension from protected rights is to be removed at the same point as the other restrictions on protected rights are abolished. The DWP is currently planning to implement these changes in 2012.

A J Bell one of the UK’s largest SSAS and SIPP providers, today announces the appointment of Billy Mackay as marketing director. Mackay is set to join A J Bell in the summer from Skandia where he has worked for the past eleven years.

As a break from the well-ordered chaos that is the end of the tax year, the A J Bell Group, one of the UK’s largest SIPP and SSAS providers, took time out to look at the star signs of its SIPP and SSAS clients. The results of the two surveys are quite entertaining and illuminating.

A J Bell’s SIPPcentre has just released SIPP Market Cost Comparisons, highlighting the very significant SIPP wrapper pricing differentials between a variety of different SIPP providers.

The A J Bell Group has recently launched a pilot of the Pensions Management Institute’s Diploma in Member Directed Pension Scheme Administration (MDPSA), having successfully achieved Approved Centre status for the qualification at the start of this year.