Tom Selby is AJ Bell's Director of Public Policy. He joined the company in 2016 as a Senior Analyst before becoming Head of Retirement Policy. He has a degree in Economics from Newcastle University.
Following his degree, Tom worked for seven years as a journalist specialising in pensions and retirement. He spent almost six years at a leading adviser trade magazine, Money Marketing, initially as a pensions reporter before becoming Head of News in 2014. He has won multiple awards for his role as a financial journalist, and was more recently nominated for Expert of the Year at the 2023 Headlinemoney Awards.
Tom is heavily involved with the PR and external communications teams at AJ Bell. His current role involves direct engagement with senior policy makers in Government and regulators. He also sits on the industry working group for the joint review of advice and guidance boundaries being conducted by the FCA and the Treasury. In the past, Tom has successfully campaigned for a number of consumer-focused reforms, including banning pension cold-calling and increasing pension allowances, and he is passionate about improving outcomes for savers and retirees.
Tom is regularly quoted in national print and broadcast media, including appearances on a weekly BBC Radio London personal finance slot. He has also appeared multiple times on BBC’s MoneyBox as an expert, as well as BBC Radio, BBC News, Sky News and LBC.
3 April 2023
Pension tax tips to consider before 6 AprilThe end of the tax year is a natural time to check you are making use of your annual tax allowances before they expire on 5 April and you shouldn’t forget your pension when doing this, says Tom Selby, head of retirement policy at AJ Bell.
With rising living costs squeezing household budgets across the country, saving for the long-term might feel...
7 October 2022
FCA warns over 'misdirection' scams risk as a quarter of savers eye early pension access during cost of living crisisAs inflation tightens its grip on Brits’ finances and millions of households face up to the prospect of spiralling mortgage bills as interest rates rocket, it is inevitable scammers will increase their activity as they look to prey on rising vulnerability.
Recently published data shows the number of savers accessing their retirement pots for the...
8 September 2022
Truss under pressure to U-turn on energy bills stance as she enters No. 10The most pressing challenge facing the new prime minister is the cost of living crisis, with further rises in energy bills looming just around the corner.
We have heard plenty from Liz Truss about where she is going to spend money during this election campaign, with pledges – some specific and others woolly - ranging from scrapping the National...
26 August 2022
Why men have bigger pensions than women… and what women can do about itIt’s a fact that women, on average, build up much smaller pensions over their working lives than men...
11 August 2022
4 in 10 retirees alter pension withdrawals as inflation surges and recession loomsFour-in-ten retirees drawing an income from their private pension are changing the amount of money they take from their pot in response to the double whammy of struggling markets and the rising cost of living.
The data comes from a survey carried out by investment platform AJ Bell Youinvest with over 1,000 of its customers that draw an income from...
22 June 2022
New report sheds light on the impact of state pension age increasesFor those on very low incomes, increasing the state pension age by just a year can be enough to push people serious financial turmoil new research has revealed*.
And while there are ways to replace at least part of this lost income – either via in-work benefits, from your private pension pot or by working longer – the evidence suggests lots of...
10 June 2022
Number of Lifetime ISA savers hit with early withdrawal charges spikes in April as inflation begins to biteMillions of Brits are facing a devastating income squeeze in 2022 and many will need to turn to their savings in order to make ends meet.
Lifetime ISAs (LISAs) have been hugely popular since launching in 2017, allowing young people to benefit from a combination of a 25% upfront bonus and tax-free withdrawals for the purchase of a first home or when...
14 April 2022
State pension increases by 3.1% …but soaring inflation means retirees will still feel the pinchWhen is a pay rise not really a pay rise? When the cost of the things you buy are increasing by more than the extra cash you’re receiving.
Sadly, that is exactly the position millions of retirees find themselves in as the state pension rises by 3.1% - exactly half the 6.2% CPI inflation figure recorded in February this year.
The reason is that...
21 March 2022
Tax year end retirement tips and traps savers need to know“The end of the tax year is a natural time for people to check they are making use of their annual tax allowances before they expire on 5 April and they shouldn’t forget their pension when doing this,” says Tom Selby, Head of Retirement Policy at AJ Bell.
With the cost of living on the rise, saving for the long-term might feel like a luxury people...
21 March 2022
Tax year end retirement saving options - Pension vs ISA vs LISAThe tax year end on 5 April is a natural catalyst for people to make sure they are making the most of their annual contribution allowances and those saving for retirement have a choice to make between pensions, ISAs and Lifetime ISAs (LISA), with each having different rules, allowances and tax benefits.
For those who are employed and qualify for...
