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Rethinking retirement saving incentives Michael Johnson Research Fellow, Centre for Policy Studies. www.cps.org.uk. Central projection for PSND to GDP (%). 99% in. 2062 - 63. 100%. OBR’s FSR July 2013. 66% low (mid 2030’s). 90%. 84% in. 2063 - 64. 80%. 70%. OBR’s FSR July 2014.
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Rethinking retirement saving incentives Michael Johnson Research Fellow, Centre for Policy Studies www.cps.org.uk
Central projection for PSND to GDP (%) 99% in 2062 - 63 100% OBR’s FSR July 2013 66% low (mid 2030’s) 90% 84% in 2063 - 64 80% 70% OBR’s FSR July 2014 60% 50% 40% 53% low 30% Ratio excluding 20% impact of ageing population (approx.) 10% 0% 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030 2040 2050 2060 PSND, £ bn. 20132014 April – August £42.8 £45.4 * OBR’s Fiscal Sustainability Report July 2013 ** OBR’s Fiscal Sustainability Report July 2014
We face a personal debt crisis * Incl. credit cards, motor and retail finance deals, overdrafts and unsecured loans Source: Bank of England
Savings (2012) and demographics OECD; National Accounts at a glance 2014. Definition for HNSR: the ratio of household saving (plus the change in net equity of households in pension funds) to household disposable income.
The squeeze is on Ageing population / fewer workers per pensioner + Stagnant productivity growth + Rising interest rates (2015+ ?) = Fiscal squeeze + Approaching saving tipping point = Diminishing supply of domestic capital Cost of capital to rise We need a savings culture……but……
Retirement saving: contributions, £ bn. EmployersEmployeesAssets Occupational £64.1 £14.4 Personal £9.9 £7.7 SIPP & SSAS - £6.0 c. £100 £74.0 + £28.1 = £102.1 £2.1 trillion c. £2,000 Subscriptions (+ £220 Cash ISA)
Tax relief, 2012-13, £ billion Not deferred tax ! £270 billion of cash since 2001-02 HMRC; Table PEN 6: Cost of Registered Pension Scheme Tax Relief, February 2014
Tax relief: inequitable distribution Income tax is progressive.. …..so tax relief is regressive Not deferred tax: many 40%ers only pay 15% i/c tax….. .......and decades later HMRC; Personal Incomes Statistics 2011-12, January 2014
Behavioural considerations: Denmark DKr1 of gov’t spend raised total household saving by DKr0.01 Tax relief ineffective in increasing the nation’s savings Q: Is UK very different?
Tax relief: policy options • Recent • AA: £255k…….£50k…...£40k….? • LTA: £1.8m….£1.5m ….£1.25m…..? • 25% tax-free lump sum? Savings 2012-13 £2.3 bn 2013-14 £4.4 bn
Tax relief: proposals to boost effectiveness* • Scrap all tax relief 50p per £1 subscribed • Independent of taxpaying status • Max. £4,000 from HMT: focused on first £8,000 savings • Simple…… and highly redistributive • £30,000 annual contributions limit • 3 quid pro quos: • But……..Generation Y…….. • Scrap LTA • Re-intro 10p rebate on dividends • £100k IHT exemption on transfers to pension pots * Retirement saving incentives: the end of tax relief, and a new beginning, MJ, April 2014
Time for the Lifetime ISA* • Combine today’s 4 ISAs + CTF • Cradle (+£500) to grave • HMT incentive……shared with pension products • Withdrawal rules: some ready access….to capital only • Round tripping mitigation • Tax • Nudges to promote default-based saving • Default fund / income accumulation / AE * Introducing the Lifetime ISA, MJ, August 2014
Default fund design: passive • Costs • Av. annual trading costs 1.25% - 1.40% • Weighted av. TER* 1.56% - 1.66% • ≡ 66% of 4.5% equity risk premium • The tyranny of turnover: performance drag** c. 3% p.a. * 1.56% from IMA press release, 27 January 2012, for active retail UK equity funds, 1.66% from Lipper ** Data: Frontier Investment Management
Outcome Luck + Skill "Fail" Top quartile 25 (2.3%) 17 (1.56%) 8 (0.7%) 1,061 (97.7%) Top half 138 (12.7%) 136 (12.5%) 2 (0.2%) 948 (87.3%) Active fund managers: no value-added? F&C consistency ratio: performance over 3 x 12 months The IMA’s 12 major market sectors: 1,086 funds (end-Q2, 2014) Daniel Kahneman: “there are domains in which expertise is not possible. Stock picking is a good example” Warren Buffett: “By periodically investing in an index fund, the know-nothing investor can actually out-perform most investment professionals”
Conclusion • Capital crisis coming • Tax relief: the lowest hanging, juiciest fruit in Whitehall? • The Great Trade • Lifetime ISA to formally bring ISAs into the retirement arena • Chameleon, with saver in control • What future private pensions?
Rethinking retirement saving incentives Michael Johnson Research Fellow, Centre for Policy Studies www.cps.org.uk