The perfect storm (TT Jun05 p35-39)

Pensions rarely seem to be out of the headlines these days. Activity in this area includes the work of the Pensions Commission, the 2004 Pensions Act, the 2004 HM Treasury review of the 2001 Myners recommendations, and the European Union Pensions Directive. Increasing life expectancy, revised accounting standards which increase transparency, and a slowly dawning realisation from politicians, corporates and would-be pensioners that present systems of pension provision are unsustainable make for a heady and fascinating mix.