Unlock Britain’s pension power to really boost economic growth, says ANTONIO SIMOES, head of Legal & General
What connects delivering better returns for older savers, affordable housing, clean energy and creating the growth our economy needs? The answer is pensions.
As suggested during the Budget, the Mansion House speech this evening is expected to focus on this area, looking at measures to promote more local investment in productive assets, achieve the consolidation of pension funds to support efficiency and to see how large pools of private capital can be unlocked to strengthen them. the British economy.
The stakes are high. Last month the Chancellor set out the challenge facing the economy.
Rachel Reeves was clear that without private investment we wouldn’t see the significant long-term growth we all need.
Reform: Increasing attention is being paid to how pension funds can be used to boost UK economic growth, while saving savers and retirees to benefit for the future
According to a report by the Pension and Lifetime Savings Association, £1 trillion of pension fund capital is allocated to UK-based assets, mainly deployed in government bonds, fixed income assets and listed companies.
Increasing attention is now being paid to how pension funds can be encouraged to spend more on emerging opportunities that could boost economic growth in Britain, while saving savers and retirees in the future.
As the government lays the foundation for its growth agenda, pension capital must be at the heart of this.
We must recognize that the financial future of the economy, individuals and government are inextricably intertwined.
I want to be able to look back in five years’ time and see tonight’s speech as a turning point that makes pensions work harder for savers, while increasing investment in productive assets and stimulating economic growth. We welcome any measures that will achieve these collective goals.
Pensions are a catalyst for better results. For example, L&G recently launched an Affordable Housing Fund, allowing us to increase investment in affordable housing in areas of acute need across England. Such schemes put capital to work for the real economy and local communities.
We have made a good start here. But with the right reforms we can go much further.
I hope that the Chancellor will this evening present plans to make that a reality on a wider scale, helping to deliver value for money for scheme members, employers, local taxpayers and ultimately the Treasury.
With any announcement today, it is also crucial that the Chancellor does not lose sight of the purpose of pensions and the role that pension funds play.
This is to give members a good return on their savings so that they can have a happy and healthy retirement.
Investment drive: Last month, Chancellor Rachel Reeves (pictured) made it clear that without private investment we would not see the significant long-term growth we all need
The goals of better returns and greater investments can and should continue to work together, while balancing the fiduciary duty that comes with managing client money.
This means that we must educate people about what pensions can mean for them and that we must support pension funds to achieve growth. While cost is important, value is critical.
According to the National Infrastructure Commission, the country, and its infrastructure in particular, is in increasing need of investment – £50 billion of private capital will be needed over the next 20 years alone.
Meanwhile, the demand for affordable housing continues to grow and we must move towards a cleaner, greener world.
We simply cannot afford to continue with the status quo and low growth.
Pension reforms must deliver tangible results for savers, with a focus on improving adequacy.
This is crucial. The better-off retirees will become self-sufficient, which will benefit the entire economy.
Currently, about half of working-age people are not saving enough for retirement. By putting savers first, we can achieve our wider collective ambitions.
Pensions and pension assets are important to all of us, regardless of our age or profession. I hope that the Chancellor will seize this opportunity and help us all achieve these objectives.
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