Rachel Reeves has been left red-faced after scores of UK households escaped the clutches ofHMRC and avoided an inheritance tax raid. Sales of annuities soared 20% in 2024 to £7 billion - with the Chancellor humiliated.
在数十个英国家庭逃脱了 HMRC 的魔掌并避免了遗产税``突袭后，雷切尔·里夫斯脸色通红。2024 年，年金的销售额飙升了 20%，达到 70 亿英镑——工党大臣受到了羞辱。

An annuity means a pension is no longer invested and the only tax payable on income is income tax, if a pension income exceeds a saver's personal tax-free allowance.
年金意味着养老金不再投资，如果养老金收入超过储户的个人免税津贴，则唯一需要缴纳的收入税是所得税。

Pete Cowell, head of annuities at Standard Life, part of Phoenix Group, said Brits were increasingly choosing to access their pension now following changes to inheritance tax announced in October's Budget.
Phoenix Group 旗下标准人寿年金主管 Pete Cowell 表示，在 10 月预算中宣布改变遗产税后，英国人现在越来越多地选择领取养老金。

He said: “We anticipate demand for annuities will remain strong, particularly with changes from the October Budget bringing pensions into scope for inheritance tax from 2027.
他说：“我们预计对年金的需求将保持强劲，特别是随着 10 月预算的变化将养老金纳入2027 年的遗产税范围。

"The change is likely to encourage wealthier savers to access more of their pensions and annuities are proving an attractive way of doing so.”
“这一变化可能会鼓励较富裕的储户获得更多的养老金，而年金被证明是一种有吸引力的方式。”

Stephen Lowe, group communications director at retirement specialist Just Group, said savers were getting more savvy by taking advice when buying an annuity.
退休专家 Just Group 的集团传播总监斯蒂芬·洛表示，储户在购买年金时通过听取建议变得更加精明。

He said: “The upward trend in people taking financial advice when buying an annuity – to 36% in 2024 compared to 29% the previous year – is very positive, as is the higher proportion of buyers securing enhanced annuity rates paying a higher income based on health history and lifestyle factors.
他说：“人们在购买年金时接受财务建议的上升趋势—到 2024 年达到 36%，而前一年为 29%—这是非常积极的，根据健康史和生活方式因素, 获得更高年金利率、支付更高收入的买家比例更高。

“The figures released by the ABI today show consumers are increasingly heeding the message to shop around and not take the deal offered by their existing pension provider. Seven in 10 (69%) switched from their own pension firm to a new provider when buying their annuity in 2004, up from 64% the previous year."
“ABI 今天公布的数据显示，消费者越来越注意货比三家的信息，而不是接受现有养老金提供商提供的交易。10 人中有 7 人 （69%） 在 2004 年购买年金时从自己的养老金公司转向新的提供商，高于前一年的 64%。

heed 注意，留心
If your unconscious is saying don't take that job, go on that date, poke that skunk—take heed.
如果你的潜意识告诉你不要接受那份工作，那就在这天去戳穿它—注意了。
To heed more rational monetary considerations in the face of an unfair offer...
面临一个不公平的出价时，留意更理性的金融考虑，

He added: “Guaranteed income producing assets are very much in the consideration set alongside other assets. Sales of annuities are 66% higher than when pension freedoms were introduced in 2015. It’s great to see shopping around and switching become the norm because it means more money in people’s pockets every year for the rest of their lives."
他补充说：“保证创收资产与其他资产一起在考虑范围之内。年金的销售额比 2015 年引入养老金自由时高出 66%。很高兴看到货比三家和转换成为常态，因为这意味着人们在余生中每年都会有更多的钱。