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The debate on how to close the nation's mammoth savings gap continues to rage - and regularly at the fore of that debate is the issue of pension provision for women

The Chancellor presented his third full Budget since the coalition Government took power on Wednesday, 21st March. Billed as 'the budget for working people' with a promise to 'back business', Mr Osborne highlighted the Government's commitment to three specific areas: a stable economy, a fairer, more efficient and simpler tax system and reforms to support growth. As the Budget was announced, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) increased its forecast for UK GDP growth in 2012 from 0.7% to 0.8%. It predicted future growth of 2% in 2013, 2.7% in 2014 and 3% in 2015

New statistics published in February 2012 by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), reveal that people are working longer than they used to. The average age at which people leave the labour market – a proxy for average age of retirement – rose from 63.8 years to 64.6 years for men and from 61.2 years to 62.3 years for women, between 2004 and 2010.

Our industry is going through a period of change, brought on by new regulations in part aimed at increasing transparency for the consumer. The key changes are that from January 2013 commission will be banned and advisers will have to be qualified to a higher level than previously required. Seems like a good idea.

As I’m writing this, the end of the tax year is 34 days away. By the time you read it, the deadline will be a lot closer. Nobody likes paying tax, so it makes sense to do whatever you can to minimise the amount of tax that you pay and take advantage of all the allowances that are available to you. Remember, most allowances apply to one particular tax year – and once it has ended the allowances are lost. That’s why Thursday April 5th is such an important day.

On Monday February 27th the German Bundestag approved the Greek bailout by 496 votes to 90. A few days earlier consent had finally been wrung from the Greek politicians, and the €130bn bailout now looks to be in place. Is the Greek debt crisis – the constant theme running through this monthly review – over at last? You would be unwise to bet on it. The move is unpopular with the German electorate (who recognise that they are largely going to pay for it): unpopular in Greece (where the far left are making significant gains in opinion polls) – and still looked on sceptically by many market commentators. Expect to see the words ‘Greece’ and ‘crisis’ in future reviews.