Zurich highlights key retirement planning issues

With industry experts predicting the ‘at retirement' market is set to increase by sixty per cent in the next five years and falling investment markets affecting accumulated pensions savings, the need for retirement planning has never been greater.

In light of this economic uncertainty, Zurich is providing support encouraging advisers and their clients approaching retirement to consider how they can maximise their accumulated wealth to help them fulfil their retirement ambitions.

This material builds on the success of the previous ‘Reviewing Pensions Fairly' support provided earlier this year.

Advisers can access a host of new online support materials downloadable from a dedicated new section on zurich4pensions.co.uk, designed to help them and their clients consider some of the key issues that will help them decide on the most appropriate way of achieving a suitable retirement income.

The microsite showcases a series of animated case studies highlighting typical scenarios facing today's consumers seeking a more flexible approach to retirement planning, which advisers may wish to use with their clients when discussing their retirement goals. In addition the microsite provides advisers with a wealth of downloadable technical information on key issues affecting the retirement market as well as copies of Zurich's latest customer literature.

Commenting on the campaign, Dave Lowe, Pensions Management Director said: "Many people will not have the retirement income that they might have expected. These individuals need professional financial advice to help them make the most of what they do have and possibly to consider alternatives to taking benefits now. We aim to help advisers address this issue by highlighting key considerations for advisers and their clients while ensuring that we continue to recognise the pivotal, personal role played by an adviser in the retirement process."

In light of increasing demand from advisers for greater training and support, Zurich is also making available a suite of learning materials for advisers currently studying for the Chartered Institute of Insurance (CII) Financial Planning qualification JO5.

Advisers can download each of the JO5 learning modules free of charge via zurich4pensions.co.uk.

As well as learning materials, the new microsite also includes access to Zurich's popular modelling tool, Zurich Portfolio Planner (ZPP), which enables financial advisers to build and manage investment and pension portfolios for their clients.