RETIRED COUPLES ARE WEALTHIEST IN THE SOUTH EAST

• But if you are single you’re better off in Wales, analysis shows
• Consolidating pensions can help maximise retirement income, iSIPP says

Retired couples in the South East are the best off in the UK with weekly incomes 17% higher than the average for the country as a whole, new data* from pension provider iSIPP shows.

Its analysis of latest Government data shows weekly gross incomes for pensioner couples in the South East at £727 are nearly a fifth higher than the £621 median for the UK. They are a third (33%) higher than in the North East where weekly gross incomes are £547.

However, iSIPP’s analysis shows single pensioners in Wales are narrowly the best off compared with other single pensioners across the country. Their gross weekly incomes at £340 are slightly higher than the £338 in the South East and the £337 in the South West.

The data shows just over half (51%) of pensioner couples generate 50% or more of their income from private savings including pensions while just 28% of single pensioners generate more than half of their income from private savings.

That is starting to change, the data shows. Around 58% of pensioner couples who reached State Pension Age recently receive 50% or more of their income from private savings compared with 34% of single pensioners.

The analysis by iSIPP, a service designed to support UK and international customers to consolidate their pensions, found 93% of pensioner couples have income from private savings compared with 80% of single pensioners.

iSIPP, whose speciality is UK and international customers who wish to consolidate UK pensions, enables customers to sign up easily at www.isipp.co.uk and also offers regular and ad-hoc contributions. Its service is particularly suited to the self-employed and contractors or those who have become self-employed recently as they can combine all their existing pensions.

iSIPP Managing Director Hrishi Kulkarni said: “The differences in retirement income around the country are huge with couples in the South East around a third better off than those in the North East.

“While that probably reflects differences in property wealth it doesn’t tell the whole story as couples in Scotland and the East of England could be marginally better off than those in London where house price rises have outstripped the rest of the country.

“The bigger picture is that private pension saving is on the rise with people recently reaching State Pension Age generating more of their income from their own savings. People need to maximise retirement income as much as they can, and consolidating pensions can make a major contribution.”

The table below shows the breakdown across the country and how much benefits including the State Pension contribute to gross incomes.

iSIPP’s free to set up service has no dealing charges or charges to transfer in existing pension funds and enables clients to create their own investment portfolio complementing its existing ‘Choice’ range of Ready-Made funds from world-leading fund managers BlackRock and Schroders.

 iSIPP’s digital pension consolidation service is available to all customers with UK pension funds who are working or have worked in the UK. Built around flexibility, iSIPP provides access to over 100 funds under its ‘Create’ option allowing users to build their own portfolio. Its ‘Choice’ range include Ready-Made Portfolios from world-leading fund managers BlackRock and Schroders. BlackRock’s multi-asset, risk-managed MyMap range of funds are available which include an ESG fund and iSIPP also provides access to the Schroders’s Shariah compliant fund. Focusing on transparency, the annual trust fee is £200 plus a 0.25% platform services fee. Funds with OCF (Ongoing Charges Figure) start at as low as 0.17%.

iSIPP is not authorised or regulated to provide financial advice. This article is for information purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice or as a personal recommendation. Pension rules are subject to changes in the future. As with all investing, your capital is at risk. The value of your portfolio with us can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you invest.