What the Services say about us
These are just a few examples from what members of the Services have to say about the Forces Pension Society:
"I would like to pass on my thanks and appreciation to you and FPS for the excellent and comprehensive presentations you gave in Germany in July. In the current climate of financial cutbacks and uncertainty it is reassuring to know that there is an organisation like yours that is there to represent the soldiers interests in both their career planning and unravelling the often baffling complexities of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme. Some of the information disclosed was quite eye opening and I feel reinforced in the minds of many that your organisation is there fighting our corner." 8 Regt RLC
"I would like to pass on my thanks to you on behalf of my Regiment for your thoroughly pertinent presentation on Pensions on Friday 3rd June 2011. Although numbers may have seemed a little low, timing for Bielefeld Station is never easy especially as 7 Regiment has not long returned from Op TOSCA and I have two Squadrons deployed on Op HERRICK and in the Middle East. Rest assured that word has already started to get around as to the wealth of advice the Forces Pension Society can offer. I fear we leave it all too late in thinking about such things and you are absolutely right in telling all of us and especially the younger members, to start thinking about savings and pensions now. I will find a suitable date in the diary next year when my Squadrons have returned from Operations when you will hopefully be able to return to Bielefeld and ensure every single one of my soldiers are made fully aware as to what Forces Pension Society has to offer." Lt Col AC Luedicke OBE RLC, Commanding Officer, 24 Regiment, The Royal Logistics Corps
“Judging by the show of hands at the end of your presentation indicated that it was very worthwhile and also tells me that you did not have a wasted journey. In addition to this, the fact the majority of the 250+ personnel present indicated that this presentation should be given to as many military personnel as possible also proves the point that it is more than worthwhile and, you are definitely not wasting your time, and will probably become even busier!” Major R Bingham - Regimental Administrative Officer, Wimbish Support Unit
"Pensions are complex and difficult to understand. The FPS, formed after the Second World War, is an independent not-for-profit membership organisation which represents the interests of the Service and ex-Service community to the Government. It also provides advice to Service personnel who are members of the Society, as well as to veterans, widow(er)s and dependants on Service pension issues. Through its comprehensive understanding of both pensions and the Services, it is extremely well placed to give reliable and pragmatic assistance." DG Pers (Army)
Pensions can be complex and often appear confusing, despite the best efforts of RAO departments and Service and Army pension publications. To help understand how the rules and regulations apply to their individual circumstances, people often seek guidance from independent advisors. One such source of independent advice is the Forces Pension Society (FPS), one of a number of a tri-Service recommended organisations. It works in close cooperation with other ex-Service organisations and charities and frequently conducts pension briefings at unit locations and on courses.
For those of you who are not familiar with the Society, it was formed after the Second World War and is an independent not-for-profit membership organisation which represents the interests of the Service and ex-Service community to the Government. For a small annual fee, it provides a useful source of pension advice to Service personnel who are members of the Society, as well as to veterans, widow(er)s and dependants, on Service pension issues including pension sharing on divorce. It has in depth knowledge of both Service pension schemes, having worked with AFPS 75 since its inception and contributed to the formulation of AFPS 05. 1 know many have been greatly relieved to know of its existence and its ability to support and help with issues that are specific to them. Director General Personnel (Army), November 2011
“The Forces Pension Society (FPS) is one of a range of tri-Service recommended organisations which can provide the sort of advice that our people need. It works in close cooperation with other ex-Service organisations and charities and conducts pension resettlement briefings across all 3 Services, which are well worth attending.” AMP
“May I express my gratitude to you for coming to talk to my soldiers. At unit level there is a huge degree of uncertainty, and so insecurity about what the Hutton Review and Future Armed Forces Pension Scheme will mean to my troops, and so the impact and reassurance of your brief cannot be understated. Similarly the lack of knowledge over both of the current schemes remains worrying to me; whilst DSPS(A)’s presentations deliver the technical detail of the schemes, it is reassuring to know that there is an external body, close to the Armed forces, giving colour to these programmes, seeking to empower our soldiers, and fighting their corner on such a complex issue. I will certainly be encouraging my soldiers to subscribe to FPS. I do hope that you would be willing to return to Abingdon in the future to deliver another brief to the Regiment.” Commanding Office, 12 Logistic Support Regiment Royal Logistic Corp. November 2011
