BBC - Private Pensions Opinion

16 October 2014

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Study the text below on private pensions and find 3 arguments against private pensions.
Choose one argument from each paragraph.

The Government first started a state pension in 1911. Until then poor people worked all their lives and did not retire.
These days it is accepted that the national insurance and tax we pay when we work means that we can retire without worrying about bills.
If the Government does its sums properly we should not have to take out private pensions.

The money that people pay into private pensions is invested in the stock market.
Shares are purchased in big companies. Usually over the years, these shares go up in value and there is enough money to fund a private pension.
There is though, no absolute guarantee that these shares will go up in value.

Private pensions are a bad idea because we cannot rely on everyone being responsible to prepare for retirement.
It is good advice for everyone to save at least 10% of their income. This can be in a bank account or through buying shares.
Some people in the UK save more than this. Many people save less. This can be because they squander their money. It may also be because they are too poor to save.
Alec Bell, police officer.