A new education service will offer seminars across the country for pension schemes and individuals approaching retirement.

The service, from the National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF) and supported by WEALTH at work, will offer training from September.

Training will take place in locations including Edinburgh, Harrogate, Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, and London.

Joanne Segars, NAPF chief executive, said, "The seminars have been designed for anyone who is approaching retirement in the next couple of years or is thinking about accessing their pension pot in the near future.

"We want to help savers and schemes who may want to make the seminars available to their members."

The training will include sessions entitled 'Understanding the risks of retirement – making sense of your options' and will address key issues to consider for retirement.

Issues include: sources of income, the impact of risk, being tax efficient and recognising actions that are key for planning.

The sessions will also look at the importance of taking into account other savings and investments, as well as pensions, when planning for retirement.

They are intended to provide additional support, alongside the Government's guidance service, Pension Wise and will provide information only, not personal financial advice.

"Savers tell us they are positive about the pension freedoms, but they are also aware of the risks they now face when managing their savings in retirement – we want to help them make the most of it," said Segars.

The training is available to individuals but also to schemes who may want to book multiple places for their members.

Jonathan Watts-Lay, Director, WEALTH at work said: "Since the pension changes, it has never been more important to provide high quality financial education to those who are nearing retirement.

"Our programme will help savers answer 3 key questions, 'what do I need to know, what are my options and how do I action them?"

First published 02.07.2015

Lindsay.sharman@wilmingtonplc.com