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Pensions can provide a cushion for retirement, allowing people to achieve certain goals once they have left the workforce. Preparing for retirement is key, as life expectancy increases and

the cost of living rises. But research has found Britons are on a cliff edge when it comes to their retirement finances, and failing to take action to remedy the situation could be

disastrous.  Open pensions, it is said, could help Britons to better understand their finances and plan towards a comfortable retirement.  Assisting people in the quest to find any lost

pensions they may have is likely to improve their finances, and help them build up a more substantial pot for later life.  And PensionBee has said the concept may even be a better option

than the government-backed Pensions Dashboard, as it can bring more immediate value to savers.  PensionBee and Plaid have now called on the FCA to recognise the need for Open Pensions and

the Pensions Dashboard for different groups of people.  “By mandating pensions to go first in Open Finance, the FCA can bring the urgent regulatory intervention savers need, in a data format

they understand, early enough to make a difference.” Auto-enrolment into workplace pensions has meant many more people stand to benefit from saving throughout their working lifetime. 

However, there could also be a low level of engagement here, and inertia, as active saving does not have to take place. The Money Advice Service states all pension arrangements, whether

personal or through the workplace, should be monitored regularly. If a person finds their pension is not on track to meet the goals they set for their retirement, then they are also

encouraged to take action to remedy this. And Britons can also gain understanding of their state pension entitlement - another source of income for retirement. The government has developed a

tool accessible through their official website which can help people understand what they are scheduled to receive from the state pension and when.