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But it has always been the case that from time to time some people will be better off contracting back

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But it has always been the case that from time to time some people will be better off contracting back into the state second pension."Speculation is growing that Alan Pickering, who is conducting a pensions review for the Government, will come up with a solution to the problem of contracting in or out of the second tier of state pension.Some industry figures expect Mr Pickering to suggest the process could be simplified by removing individuals' right to choose whether they want to be contracted into the SSP.He may say, when he reports in July, that people will be tested according to their income and age Those on larger salaries will be barred from SSP. They would be forced to invest in a private pension and may in return be allowed to pay smaller national insurance contributions.Paul Greenwood, head of retirement research at William M Mercer, said: "I believe that Pickering will recommend that contracting-out is abolished. The Government will go for that because under SSP rules rebating is going to become very difficult."Keeping an eye on viabilityCaroline Newhouse, a 28-year-old management consultant in London, is among millions of us forced to check pension arrangements.Bloomsbury Financial Planning, her adviser, told her she should keep her personal pension plan contracted out of the state earnings-related pension scheme. "I have an Isa and equities and bonds, and property," she says.

"Bloomsbury says I should use the pension as a wrapper for part of my portfolio."Jason Butler, Bloomsbury's managing director, adds: "We think we can obtain a better return on Carol's contracting-out rebate than she would have by remaining in. And in our view a rebate now is better than a promise in the future that may never happen. "But we will review her position in the light of the introduction of the state second pension next month, and the different calculations that involves. "As Caroline moves towards the critical pension ages, so we will have judge whether it is worth her contracting into the state system.

But that will depend on the rules at the time, which could be very different.". As it seems to be open season on the pensions front, this seems a good moment to offer thoughts on the issue. The first thing to note is how remarkably quickly pensions have been transformed from a potential problem visible to the cognoscenti (but ignored by most) into a universal drama that everyone now seems to be calling a crisis and commands front-page news even in the popular press. Moneynet As it seems to be open season on the pensions front, this seems a good moment to offer thoughts on the issue.

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