Pensions Regulator and FCA release joint podcast on guided retirement and helping savers make the right decisions

The Regulator and the FCA have released a joint podcast, which looks at two major proposals shaping the future of retirement: guided retirement and targeted support.

Two propositions in current development are:

• Guided retirement – this is the regime outlined in the Pension Schemes Bill 2025 under which trustees will offer their members one or more default retirement income solutions. The Regulator has described this idea as a “retirement satnav”. Members will be able to opt out of trustees’ suggested decumulation pathways if they wish.
• Targeted support - this is an innovative form of regulated assistance where firms can give recommendations for groups of savers in similar situations, based on limited information. Currently, a consumer can take individual targeted financial advice from an FCA regulated adviser. Around 9 per cent of consumers seek such advice. Many people use unregulated sources of advice, such as social media and personal contacts. Targeted support aims to fill this “advice gap”.

The FCA’s June 2025 consultation seeks to clarify the difference between guidance and regulated advice. It explains the proposals for the new form of targeted support for consumers' pensions and retail investment decisions.