Annuities could play an “increasingly important role” in planning later life finances, according to WelthTech firm, GBST.

A new whitepaper published by GBST has also predicted the UK retirement income market is about to experience “greater innovation”.

The paper, which was written in partnership with Simplify Consulting, has analysed the income solutions currently available to those approaching and in retirement. It argues that changing regulation, longevity, wealth, and retirement norms are reshaping later life income needs.

As a result, GBST believes that advisers and investors will increasingly need to take a more “mix and match” approach to retirement income planning with greater emphasis on guaranteed income solutions alongside the flexibility of income drawdown to support changing income requirements through different stages of retirement.

At the same time, rising interest rates have resulted in the highest annuity rates available for over 12 years, creating renewed interest in annuities and the benefits they can offer those seeking income in retirement.

Head of EMEA at GBST, David Simpson, commented: “We have no doubt that the various pressures shaping people’s future retirement income needs, alongside the economic impact of rising interest rates and annuity rates will drive innovation within the annuity market.

“We expect to see more products where guaranteed income is paid into a pension wrapper and drawn by the consumer to meet varying needs and tax positions.”

GBST has also suggested that more innovation is required to fully embrace the opportunities offered by combining annuities and flexible access drawdown as well as ISAs, general investment accounts and investment bonds to meet an individual’s retirement income needs while optimising tax and death benefits.

Although the technology is already available to support the distribution of different retirement solutions within a single tax-efficient wrapper and alongside other retail investment products on the same platform, the whitepaper also highlighted that many traditional annuity providers are not set up to deliver a scalable new business proposition that meets the expected demand for these solutions.

Simpson continued: “When these solutions sit alongside other retirement planning products such as ISAs, investment bonds and flexi access drawdown, guaranteed income products start to look like a much more attractive option for advisers and their clients, and will become a key component of many retirement plans.

“For providers, administering flexible retirement solutions and other retail investment products on the same technology and across the same operational teams and processes also drives down costs, while improving the service and experience they can deliver to advisers and end-investors.”

Director at Simplify Consulting, Carl Woodward, added: “Retirement has been badged as pensions for a long time now, and as we explore in this paper, it is much wider than just a pension product. The industry has needed investment, into both products and technology, and it’s positive to see these launching with the potential to simplify and provide great outcomes for the consumer.

“Innovative products and technology combined will hopefully help to address the consumer engagement challenges. The key will be to implement without over complicating an already complex market and having any negative impact on consumer engagement.”

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