Searching for a silver lining

Diverting pension funds into expensive healthcare or housing could leave the cupboard bare in retirement

In a number of countries, access to private pension funds is possible Picture: Getty

It has been suggested that first-time buyers should have access to their pension funds to help get them on the property ladder, and that this in turn might encourage more young people to start a pension from the moment they start working. The first part of this idea has been raised in government reports into pension reform. So too has the idea that such access could also fund other key life events, like ...