Who should I follow to learn about Pensions and retirement planning?

If you mean UK pensions, I’d follow a mix of independent experts and official sources rather than relying on pension-company influencers.

People worth following

• Steve Webb - probably my first choice for understanding State Pension, pension policy, tax and government changes. He’s a former pensions minister and now a pensions partner at LCP.
• Tom McPhail - excellent for practical retirement planning, drawdown, annuities and pension investing. He’s particularly good at explaining complicated pension issues in plain English.
• Abraham Okusanya - worth following for retirement income and drawdown strategy, especially if you’re getting closer to retirement.
• Paul Lewis / Money Box - useful for consumer-focused coverage of pensions and wider personal finance.

Also follow these organisations

• MoneyHelper – Pensions & Retirement - my top recommendation for a reliable starting point. It’s free, impartial and covers workplace pensions, SIPPs, State Pension, tax, transfers and taking your pension. Pensions and retirement | Help with pensions and retirement | MoneyHelper
• GOV.UK – Personal pensions - use this to verify rules rather than relying on social media. Personal pensions: Get help - GOV.UK
• Which? Pensions & Retirement - good for consumer-focused comparisons and explanations. How to get pension advice and guidance for your retirement - Which?

If you're starting from scratch, I'd do: Steve Webb + Tom McPhail + MoneyHelper. That gives you policy, practical expertise and an impartial reference source.

If by “pensions” you mean US pensions/401(k)s/IRAs rather than UK pensions, tell me and I’ll give you a completely different list of people to follow.

To learn about pensions - ranging from personal retirement planning and public policy to institutional management - following the right journalists, researchers, and publications is essential.

The top experts, outlets, and platforms to follow depend on whether you are looking at personal retirement planning or deep institutional pension policy:

1. Top Journalists & Writers (Personal Finance & Retirement)

• Mark Miller (Retirement Revised on Substack): A nationally recognized journalist who covers aging, Social Security, Medicare, and retirement financial strategies. His Substack and columns are gold standards for practical retirement planning. Mark Miller | Substack

• Edward Siedle (Pension Warriors on Substack): A former SEC attorney and forensic investigator who focuses heavily on public pension transparency, plan mismanagement, and protecting retirement benefits.

2. Leading Industry Publications (Institutional & Workplace Pensions)

• Pensions & Investments (P&I): The premier global news source covering institutional asset management, public pensions, defined benefit, and defined contribution plans. Following their journalists (like Remy Samuels or Brian Croce) on LinkedIn or via their daily newsletters provides an inside look at how mega-pensions (like CalPERS) operate. Articles by Remy Samuels's Profile | Pensions & Investments Journalist

• ** Pensions Expert (UK/Global):** If you are tracking workplace pensions, regulatory changes, master trusts, and international policy shifts, editor Nick Reeve and his publication offer deep insights.

3. Policy & Research Centers

• Center for Retirement Research (CRR) at Boston College: An academic powerhouse that publishes rigorous, easy-to-digest briefs on public pensions, state-local retirement funding, and social security.

• The National Institute on Retirement Security (NIRS): A non-profit research organization dedicated to contributing to an informed policymaking dialogue on retirement security in the U.S.

What specific aspect of pensions are you most interested in learning about (e.g., navigating your own workplace pension, public policy/funding crises, or institutional investing)?

Learning about pensions and defined benefit plans is best achieved by following authoritative regulatory bodies, advocacy groups, and specialized financial economists who focus on public policy and retirement security. Because traditional pensions involve complex legal, actuarial, and funding rules, tracking credible institutional resources and policy experts provides the most accurate foundation.

Key Organizations and Regulatory Bodies

• • Pension Rights Center : A prominent consumer organization dedicated to protecting and promoting worker and retiree pension rights, offering detailed guides and assistance directories like PensionHelp America. Pension Assistance | Pension Rights Center

• Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) : An agency of the U.S. Department of Labor that provides official compliance assistance, publications, and disclosures regarding how employer-sponsored retirement and pension plans are legally regulated under federal law. What You Should Know About Your Retirement Plan

• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) : Offers practical consumer modules and educational breakdowns on managing retirement planning, evaluating lump-sum pension payouts, and avoiding pension-related scams. Planning for retirement | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Policy Experts and Commentators

** Allison Schrager** : A senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute and Bloomberg Opinion columnist who frequently writes and analyzes data on risk, retirement economics, and the structure of modern pension systems.

Eugene Steuerle : Co-founder of the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, whose research and publications deeply examine long-term entitlement trends, social security, and public-private pension structures. 7 Top Substacks on America's Retirement Crisis & Policy Trends

Educational and Research Platforms

• • Investopedia : Maintains comprehensive, peer-reviewed educational breakdowns defining the structural differences between defined benefit (traditional pensions) and defined contribution (401k) systems. What is a pension and how does it work?

• Empower Retirement Education : Publishes accessible consumer guides explaining how different employer-sponsored retirement frameworks operate and accumulate lifetime benefits. [Empower]

For UK pension news and industry analysis, follow Pensions Expert (@pensions_expert) and Pensions UK (@PensionsUK_). For general guidance, MoneyHelper offers free, government-backed one-to-one pension support.(x.com)(x.com)(aegon.co.uk)

If you want to learn about pensions, follow a mix of retirement plan advisers, financial educators, and institutional thought leaders. Michael Kitces, Christine Benz, and Anne Lester are among the most influential voices today.

🌟 Key Experts to Follow

📌 How to Engage With Them

• Blogs & Newsletters: Kitces.com, Morningstar articles, Vanguard research papers.

• Podcasts & Webinars: Michael Kitces’ Financial Advisor Success, Christine Benz’s Morningstar interviews.

• LinkedIn & Twitter/X: Most advisers share pension insights and retirement planning strategies regularly.

• Industry Lists: PLANADVISER’s Top Retirement Plan Advisers is updated annually and highlights professionals actively shaping pension advice.2026 PLANADVISER Top Retirement Plan Advisers | PLANADVISER

⚠️ Risks & Considerations

• Beware of one-size-fits-all advice: Pension rules vary by employer, state, and country. Always cross-check general advice with your own plan documents.

• Scams & misinformation: Be cautious of “gurus” promising guaranteed pension maximization. Stick to credentialed experts (CFP®, CFA, or recognized institutional leaders).

• Changing regulations: Pension laws and retirement plan rules evolve. Following institutional voices like Vanguard or PLANADVISER ensures you stay updated.

👉 Would you like me to tailor this list toward U.S. public pensions (teachers, government workers), corporate pensions, or personal retirement planning? That way, I can highlight the most relevant experts for your situation.