Government may soon back troubled mortgage giants (AP)
AP - The government is expected to take over Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac as soon as this weekend in a monumental move designed to protect the mortgage market from the failure of the two companies, which together hold or guarantee half of the nation's mortgage debt, a person briefed on the matter said Friday night.
Pension is a method of saving up towards retirement. It is however different from other kinds of savings due to its unique tax advantages. Once upon a time before 6th April, 2006 there were a variety of pension schemes that were subject to different rules. The complexity of pensions smothered the interest of workers in saving up towards their retirement.
A new pension legislation was introduced on 6th April, 2006 to simplify pensions and make them much easier to understand. Both occupational and individual pensions are now subject to virtually similar rules on contributions and the benefits that can be built up. Unlike in the past pension regimes, there aren't any longer limitations on contributions that can be made to pension schemes nor are there constraints on the amount of benefits that can be accrued from a scheme. There are however limits to the amount of contribution that can benefit from tax relief. It is also possible to incur tax charges if benefits greater than the life time allowance are accrued, although for benefits accrued prior to A Day, the Transitional Protection facility can be employed.
In spite of pension simplification resulting from A Day, there is evidence that a majority of people have to retire on only 20 to 30 per cent of their earnings during their working life. People are just not saving enough towards their retirement, and it looks like many people will have to rely on basic state pension for survival during retirement.
It is important that with the help of a financial adviser, one assesses how much pension provision is available at present, decides on what earnings are required at and during retirement, and plan how to save towards the shortfall that exists between the former and latter resources. Needless to say factors such as inflation, attitude to risk, and personal taste for investment have to be factored in whilst providing for the shortfall.
David Opoku. BA Hons. Accounting and Finance. Certified Financial Adviser and Stockbroker. E-mail: davido312@aol.com.
I have a BA Hons. degree in Accounting and Finance. I am currently specialising in Financial planning.
