Useful Sites For Financial Research
External Links
We have provided some links that you may find useful on this page. By following any of these links you will be leaving the Annuity Base site and Portal Financial LLP is not responsible for the accuracy of the information contained in any other site, or the regulatory status of any other firm within the linked sites accessible from this page.
Just Retirement Ltd is a specialist company that helps people who are approaching retirement, and those who are already retired, to make the most of their pension and property assets. Just Retirement achieve this by working with financial advisers to provide products which are tailored to meet a customer's particular set of circumstances and are designed to improve their quality of life during the years ahead. Just Retirement Annuities
MGM Advantage has a long history in the world of financial services, they are the longest-registered company in the UK. MGM Advantage specialise in retirement income, selling their products through IFAs. MGM Advantage Annuities
Legal and General are a long-standing provider of annuities and ranked amongst the FTSE top 100 companies. Legal and General offer standard and enhanced annuities from as little as £1,000. Legal And General Annuities
LV, the UK's largest friendly society, started business in 1843 as Liverpool Victoria. LV carry a range of savings, investments and insurance products. LV Annuities
Reliance Mutual is one of the biggest UK mutual insurance societies. The Reliance Mutual Society is owned by its members and their profits are distributed to them through bonuses on their policies. Reliance Mutual Annuities
Aviva is the world's 5th largest insurance group and the largest insurance services provider in the UK. They're the leading provider of life and pension products in Europe. Aviva have 54,000 employees serving over 50 million customers in 28 countries around the world. Aviva Annuities
Founded in 1847, Canada Life is the oldest Canadian life assurance company. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada Life operates in the USA, Canada, United Kingdom, Brazil, Germany and other countries through branch operations and subsidiary companies. Canada Life
In business since 1859, AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company (Axa was formerly The Equitable Life Assurance Society of the USA) is a leading financial protection company. Axa are a provider of annuity, life insurance and investment products and services. Axa Annuities
Founded in 1875, Prudential have approximately 38,000 employees in 37 countries and territories worldwide. Prudential, often known as "The Pru", have products that include annuities, life insurance, retirement-related services, mutual funds and investment management. Prudential Annuities
Partnership is the longest established UK insurer specialising in the design and manufacture of financial products for people whose lifestyle and health means that their life expectancy is likely to be reduced. They cater for clients with a wide variety of health impairments, from the relatively minor such as high blood pressure, to the more serious such as stroke, heart failure, diabetes, kidney failure and cancer. Partnership offer enhanced annuities for people whose lifestyle choices may impact their life expectancy, such as smoking. Partnership Annuities
Hodge Lifetime Retirement solutions since 1965 is the trading name of Julian Hodge Bank Limited and Hodge Life Assurance Company Limited. Hodge Lifetime is able to offer a variety of pension annuity plans. Hodge Annuities
Aegon's lines of business include pensions, annuities, investments, protection and financial advice. Aegon is headquartered in Edinburgh, Scotland. Aegon Annuities
Scottish Widows has been working to help people plan their financial futures since it was founded as Scotland's first mutual life office back in 1815. Scottish Widows is one of the most recognised brands in the annuities, pensions, life and investment industry. Scottish Widows Annuities
Standard Life is a leading long term savings and investments company headquartered in Edinburgh and operating internationally. Established in 1825, Standard Life provides annuities, pensions, life assurance and investment management and healthcare insurance products to over 6.5 million customers worldwide. Standard Life Annuities
Zurich Financial Services Group is an insurance-based financial services provider with a worldwide network of subsidiaries and offices in North America and Europe as well as in Asia Pacific, Latin America and other markets. Founded in 1872, the Group is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. Zurich employs approximately 60,000 people serving customers in more than 170 countries. Zurich Annuities
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Financial Services Authority (FSA) Sites
Financial Services Authority
FSA Annuity Tables
FSA Register
FSA: Money Made Clear
Pension Advisory Service
Pension Advisory Service
Pension Advisory Service Online Planners
Online Annuity Planner
DirectGov
DirectGov
State Pension age calculator
Other
The Pensions Regulator
Financial Services Compensation Scheme
Financial Ombudsman
Department of Work and Pensions
The Pension Service
Citizens Advice
Annuity Calculator
Government Actuary’s Department
Actuarial Profession Website
Chartered Insurance Institute
HM Revenue and Customs
Getting a State Pension forecast
Pension Tracing Service
Association of British Insurers
Age Concern
Help the Aged
The Alzheimers Association
The Parkinson's Disease Society
The Argument Against Annuity Rate Tables and Calculators
British Heart Foundation
Stroke Association
Diabetes UK
What Does the FSA Say About Buying Annuities?
The Financial Services Authority (FSA) say "You may be able to get a better annuity rate by shopping around. You should check what your provider is offering you and then compare this with the annuities on offer through the open market."
However, many who retire still don't use their Open Market Option. They are not aware of the benefits of doing so, or they do not actually realise that they have an option.
According to the professional pensions publication, DC World, it's estimated that over £1 billion in pension income was lost by failure to get proper advice on the best selling annuity.
To make the most of the Open Market Option it is important that you speak to an Independent Financial Adviser who'll explain the different retirement options available.
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What does the FSA say about comparison websites?
Comparison websites have been heavily criticised both in the media and by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) for their lack of independence and sometimes incomplete information. Consumers often don't realise that they're not getting the complete picture.
The FSA states "Some may only include products that the website can make money from in some way, for example if you click through to the provider." They also say that you should never buy a product just on the basis of what you see on their tables. They recommend getting advice first.
(Please note that the information on this site does not represent financial advice. You must consult a qualified annuity broker for complete information.)
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Why Use An Annuity Broker?
1. A broker may be able to secure better annuity deals than you may be able to.
2. They're more likely to have access to a wider range of annuity and alternatives to annuities than you are.
3. Due to their ongoing relationships with annuity providers, they may be in a better position than you to surmount any problems that may arise with your application.
4. You will have a qualified, expert point of contact should anything go wrong or need attention.
5. They work to a set of stringent guidelines set out by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) who regulate annuity brokers' working methods and policies.
6. Annuity brokers have got an interest in recommending the right product for your circumstances as they will not wish to fall foul of strict FSA regulations.
7. If you choose not to get FSA registered broker advice, you may not be able to get compensation through the Financial Services Compensation Scheme if, at a later date, you have a complaint about the product that has been recommended.
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