The controversial investment-linked insurance policies were popular decades ago, but have since been all but abandoned by customers and firms after an explosion in complaints.

One financial advice firm has told how its premiums rose from £3,700 in 2009 to £45,000 in 2019. Another adviser says premiums jumped from £22,736 in 2017 to £112,000 in 2018.

Vanguard says the new self-invested personal pension scheme is designed to cut the 'cost and complexity' of saving for retirement.

Rookie Chancellor Rishi Sunak was given a month to prepare for the Budget on March 11. Will Government top-ups into retirement savings pots be lowered to the 20 per cent basic rate for everyone?

What is to stop my ex-husband converting everything to useless shares that are falling in value? Barrister Rhys Taylor explains how pensions are handled when couples divorce.

If the new Chancellor Rishi Sunak wants to appeal to Tory voters in the shires and the new converts in the Red Wall seats of the North, he should use his first Budget to end the war of attrition on savers.

'Cash today, poverty tomorrow must be avoided, as large withdrawals from pension pots could mean later life hardship for many,' says the Association of British Insurers.

There are 18 providers offering 74 deals - up from just 36 this time last year. The average interest rate charged has fallen slightly from 3.5 per cent to 3.47 per cent , according to moneyfacts.co.uk.

Five years after the introduction of pension freedoms, the Association of British Insurers is warning that many middle-aged savers may not be doing what's best with their pension pots.

After the failure by UK authorities to take action, campaigners have launched a private prosecution on the Costa Blanca where many of the rogue schemes now operate.

A 'tipping point' will be reached where older people are unable to afford care, councils lack funding, and care homes don't have enough room to meet demand, warns the 'Elderly Care Crisis' report.

A selection of Steve's top columns can help you avoid being scammed, understand the mysteries of the new state pension, and gain peace of mind by making the most of your pension savings.

Pension credit is a benefit for the poorest pensioners, and a surge in applications is likely to be underway due to the decision to means test pensioners for the free TV licence.

The £980 cremation service is aimed at people wanting a budget or unconventional send-off for loved ones. Ashes are returned to a family, who can then mark a death at an affordable price.

The pension incomes of Britain's richest retirees are now 17 times higher than those of the poorest as the gap between the two has nearly doubled over the past decade.

According to the Office for National Statistics, 11 per cent of private sector workers who have a pension are in a generous final salary scheme. This compares to 92 per cent in the public sector.

Anyone aged 47 or under must plan ahead if they want to retire earlier than 57, or will need cash for other purposes like paying off mortgages, home renovations or university fees for their children.

The Government's move means most doctors will no longer be hit by tax bills due to the hated 'taper' - but it shunned widespread calls to abolish the complicated pension tax rule altogether.

Barry O'Dwyer, chief exec of insurer Royal London, said the catastrophic rout caused by the coronavirus could mean some people nearing retirement age no longer have enough money left to live off.

We explain how you can mitigate the fallout from reducing or ending pension contributions for a time. Don't panic, stay vigilant against scams, and keep paying in if you can afford it.

With fear about coronavirus gripping the country, demand for wills is soaring. Law firms say they are seeing jumps in requests ranging between 30 and 70% compared with normal business.

Younger savers will have decades to recoup pension losses, but those close to retirement have tough decisions to make.

The number of families claiming child benefit has plunged by 44,000 to 7.28m over a year, and has fallen by well over half a million since 2012.

Savers who are under financial pressure or have lost jobs should beware scammers tempting them to tap pension pots early or switch them into higher risk investments.

Tom Selby, a senior analyst at financial services firm AJ Bell, explains how first-timers and experienced investors can avoid unnecessary losses and big tax bills

Morten Nilsson said switching billions of index-linked government bonds it held from the Retail Prices Index to CPIH would cost it at least £1billion, due to a fall in the value of the bonds.

The guarantee should be abandoned to ensure the economic recovery from the coronavirus crisis is fair to working-age households, says the Social Market Foundation.

No frills cremations cost around £1,600 on average, and ashes are returned to a family afterwards, allowing them to organise a personal memorial at a time of their choosing.

So far they have cheated victims out of £2 million, using the fear of Covid-19 to launch a wave of scams that experts describe as 'sick'. We advise you on how to thwart the fraudsters.

Many savers have ditched these generous guaranteed pensions in recent years, often tempted by huge transfer value offers. We reveal six things you must consider if you're tempted.

Registering lasting power of attorney might start taking longer than the usual eight weeks during the current crisis, but official oversight body suggests some temporary workarounds.

We explain how pensions are treated while people are furloughed, including what happens if you are in your employer's 'salary sacrifice' scheme.

We separated 20 years ago. I am about to inherit from an estate and have a small private pension and a full state pension. Can my wife claim on them? Lawyer Lisa Pepper, of Osbornes Law, replies.

Former Pensions Minister Steve is This is Money's Agony Uncle. Here's where you can check out all his previous columns to see if any involve issues affecting you.

The only item in the will is his house, which will be split 50/50 between my brother and I anyway. There's nothing underhand going on in any way. Lawyer Jane Sutherland of Nelsons, pictured, replies.

Any saver expressing interest in ditching a final salary pension is to be warned off in a letter telling them it's unlikely to be in their best interests.

Sainsbury's customer Rose Knight, from Surrey, who drove ambulances during World War II air raids, has been unable get food dropped off at her home, despite frequent attempts.

The Britain's Got Talent judge tweeted the good news, revealing the first story will be from his The World's Worst Children series. 

The Britain's Got Talent judge, 49, displayed her toned figure in gym gear as she got some fresh air with her family.

The Britain's Got Talent judge, 49, praised the NHS amid the ongoing coronavirus crisis, while speaking about them on Wednesday's edition of Heart Breakfast.

The radio host, 49, shared a sweet selfie with daughters Hollie, eight and 14-year-old Lexi on Instagram on Thursday before nominating fellow BGT judges to a fun pet challenge.

The Britain's Got Talent judge was joined by seven-month old Anaya - the younger of her two children with partner Azuka Ononye  as she kicked off her week with some free exercise.

Chelsea war veteran Colin Thackery, 90, told on GMB we have to be 'disciplined' and 'do what we're told' to beat coronavirus - but admitted he finds it 'highly amusing' that people are stockpiling toilet roll.

She's been keeping busy during the coronavirus lockdown in the company of her partner Azuka Ononye and their two daughters.

The Britain's Got Talent judge posted a photo of Azura, six, sweetly kissing her little sister Anaya, seven months, on the cheek.

The preview features a montage of some of the show's wackiest auditions yet, as the nation sets out to wow judges Simon Cowell, David Walliams, Alesha Dixon and Amanda Holden.

The eight mini episodes will be released on ITV Hub minutes after the main show ends, to showcase some of the more bizarre and wacky acts who auditioned for the show.

Amanda Holden looked delighted to be getting her exercise in as she enjoyed her daily run with daughter Hollie, eight on Thursday.

To grown-ups, David Walliams (pictured, with child fans Evie and Ed) is the Little Britain star who brings his humorous touch to Britain's Got Talent. But to children, he's the reigning king of fiction.

Opting for a  casual grey T-shirt and shorts, Cowell, 60, looked relaxed as they prepared fro a coastal stroll through the upmarket suburb.