Pensions - Articles - Andy Zanelli comments on the end of the early retirement era

 Andy Zanelli, head of retirement planning, AXA Wealth, comments on the end of the early retirement era.

 "Steve Webb's words of warning over the effects of early retirement on the nation's tax bills should trigger alarm bells up and down the country. Increasing longevity is not new and the proposed rise in the state pension age to bring it in line with longevity increases is something we would welcome as part of the coalition's pension reforms.

 "Employers have a vitally important role in this shift of working patterns, but they need to be backed up by sensible policy decisions which allow them to keep workers in work, doing appropriate jobs.

 "The biggest challenge is for consumers to adjust their expectations, but when today's workers look at their parents, who have benefitted from house price rises, final salary schemes and years of economic growth, it is far from an easy task."