The stakeholder pension was introduced in April 2001 in order to give consumers access to a simple, low-cost pension product. The government had the aim of persuading those without any retirement provision at all to start saving using this particular product and the key target group was those with low-to-medium income levels. A 1% charging cap ensured that individuals would pay little in the way of fees and low minimum monthly contribution levels were built in to allow the lower-paid to pay manageable amounts into their schemes.

In order that pension coverage be extended, the government stipulated that every company nominate a stakeholder pension scheme for their employees if there was not already a company scheme in place. However, with many employers not contributing to these schemes, there has been little incentive for consumers to join up. Low commission rates have deterred IFAs from pushing the product and take-up has been fairly slow in the initial phase of the product's life.

As part of your research into changing trends in retirement provision, you need a practical insight into the developments and consumers underpinning the stakeholder pension market. More importantly, you need an understanding that can be easily used to focus your marketing activity and maximise its impact.

'Stakeholder Pensions in the UK', the latest report from Mintel Finance Intelligence is precisely the research you need, providing a unique insight into:

The effects of negative media attention, disappointing annuity rates and poor stock market performance on investor confidence

Low sales of stakeholder pensions and missed government targets

Stakeholder pensions are still missing their target

Why there are fears that the target market (lower to moderate income earners) are not the main buyers of the new pension

Who, instead of this perceived target group, are the consumers actually investing in stakeholder pensions and why

Why consumers who already have other private pensions are invetsing in stakeholder pensions

Poor sales of SHPs in the first half of 2003 and the overall penetration of both regular- and single premium stake holder pensions

The falling value of these contracts

The providers that have experienced a fall in SHP sales in 2003

How independent intermediaries are experiencing greater distribution share

Attitudes towards stakeholder pensions

Consumer reasons for not arranging a stakeholder - confusion, poor advice and a lack of confidence

Written by industry experts for industry professionals, this report offers fresh analysis of:

Market factors/ Market size and segmentation/ Market segmentation/ The supply structure/ Distribution/ Advertising and promotion/ Consumer trends/ The Consumer: Prime motivators towards cycling/ The future/ Sales forecasts

Other reports of relevance include:

- Annuities and Retirement Income Solutions - UK, Finance Intelligence, August 2003

- Occupational Pensions - UK, Finance Intelligence, July 2003

- Targeting the Unpensioned - UK, Finance Intelligence, June 2003

- Equity Release Schemes - UK, Finance Intelligence, May 2003

- Premium Pensions - UK, Finance Intelligence, May 2003

- Personal Pensions - UK, Finance Intelligence, March 2003

- Buy-to-let Property - UK, Finance Intelligence, January 2003.

- The Changing Face of Retirement Planning - UK, Finance Intelligence, November 2003.