Category: Blog

I have recently been instructed as a single joint expert on a number of divorce cases that involve one party having a pension promise from an Unfunded Unapproved Retirement Benefits Scheme (UURBS).

As CEVs reached record highs earlier this year, our latest blog covers CEV and what it means to pensions and divorces.

This blog in intended to give you a “whistle-stop tour” of the issues around death benefits.

Our very own George Mathieson hosts the latest webinar in the Class Legal series, joined by Guy Foster, Head of Research at Brewin Dolphin, alongside Family Solicitor, Mena Ruparel.

Watch:

Agenda:

1. Introduction to the subject and guests by George Mathieson
2. Market insight from Guy Foster
3. Questions with Mena Ruparel
4. Audience Q&A

 

Thanks for watching.

 

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Mathew Richardson hosts the Class Legal webinar on pensions, joined by George Mathieson and Rhys Taylor, Barrister, Arbitrator, Mediator at 36 Family.

The 1-hour discussion is an informative look at how the Covid crisis has affected pension on divorce.

Watch:

 

Covered in the webinar:

• What are the three things which are affecting pension valuations at the moment and how do these affect Defined Contributions pensions and Private Defined Benefit pensions?

There seems to be much discussion on social media about the implications of the current economic conditions on pension funds, and how this may impact financial settlement in divorce cases.

There are so many unknowns at the moment. For example, we do not think anyone has a clear idea as to what the long-term economic impact of government market interventions worldwide will have. We certainly live in interesting and worrying times.

However, we hope the following may help lawyers decide how to proceed with cases involving pensions,

Over the weekend, Rhys Taylor (highly respected Family Barrister with incredible knowledge of pensions and divorce) opined on twitter (@RhysTaylor32), that “Am really hoping that Buehrlen v Buehrlen (employment consultant not necessary in financial remedy proceedings) will not be transposed as reason to not to allow Pension SJEs”

I am delighted to announce that yesterday (April 1st 2019), Mathieson Consulting Ltd became part of the Brewin Dolphin group of companies.

From your perspective this will mean initially, very little difference:

• Mathieson Consulting Ltd will continue to receive your instructions and issue the Expert Witness reports.
• The highly experienced team of Pension Expert Witnesses, Catherine Anderson (Actuary), Jonathan Galbraith (Actuary), Chris Goodwin (Actuary) Kate Routledge (Actuary) and myself will continue to write the reports,

The latest figures from HMRC reveal that the tax collected from the LTA (Lifetime Allowance) have almost trebled within two years—from £40m in 2014-15 to £110m in 2016-17. Due to a combination of (i) increase in volumes of instructions (ii) increasing pension pots and (iii) previous reductions in the LTA limits, LTA tax is featuring more regularly in the work we do.

I would also argue that it is a highly insidious tax, which does nothing to heal the rift between defined benefit and defined salary schemes,

We need your help.

On 18th April 2018, the Pensions Advisory Group (PAG) and Nuffield Foundation published an interim report on the treatment of pensions in matrimonial proceedings. It has been an honour to serve on the Pension Advisory Group with so many other eminent experts and legal minds, and I’m proud to have reached this stage.

Here’s where you come in: We are now seeking feedback and comment on the work done thus far from all those (lawyers,