- 2.6% – the average pension fund is 2.6% lower than at the start of year
- 1.5 million people over the age of 50 are planning to delay their retirement
- 15% plan to delay retirement by an average of three years
- 26% say they plan on working indefinitely
The coronavirus pandemic has not been kind to older generations. As well as having a greatly increased risk of serious health complications from the virus itself, older people have suffered a serious blow to their retirement plans.
Data from Legal & General shows that 1.5m people over the age of 50 are planning to delay their retirement in some way as a direct result of
COVID-19. Fifteen percent say they plan to delay retirement by an average of three years, while 26% say they plan on working indefinitely.
Pension funds fall…
Pensions savers initially saw the value of their pension pots fall in response to the stock market slump, which impacted the retirement income available for those on the verge of retirement. This is the main reason why so many are planning to delay their retirement. The average pension fund fell by 15.2% in Q1 2020 – an even worse performance than that observed at the height of the global financial crisis. Despite recovering losses in Q2 2020 the average pension fund is still 2.6% lower than at the start of the year.
… but flexible withdrawals decrease
Many savers have not panicked but taken a sensible approach to the crisis, with data showing that less money was flexibly withdrawn from pensions in the second quarter of this year. Savers withdrew £2.3bn during this period, down 17% on the £2.8bn withdrawn in Q2 2019.
This suggests that in the face of challenging circumstances, savers have been able to use their common sense, resist temptation and keep their retirement plans on track.
Onwards and upwards
In a press release, a group of regulatory bodies including The Pensions Regulator (TPR) and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) have urged consumers to keep a level head. They advise pension savers to be wary of scams and to seek professional advice before acting. TPR’s chief executive, Charles Counsell, said: “Pensions remain a safe long-term investment for your retirement and it’s important to avoid hasty decisions about cash that’s taken a lifetime to build.”
Financial advice pays
If you’re worried about your retirement, we can help. As your trusted financial adviser will be able to evaluate your situation and offer guidance based on your own personal circumstances.
The value of your investments and any income from them can fall as well as rise and you may not get back the original amount invested.
