Category Archives: Change

20 questions we need to answer to make CDC mass-market

Posted on November 7, 2021 by henry tapper

This is the first in a series of blogs which will address some of the questions being asked about CDC schemes. The 20 questions in this blog have been collated and  addressed  by Con Keating in the hope that we … Continue reading →

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The impact of banning contingent charging for pension transfers

Posted on June 6, 2020 by henry tapper

The end of an era After over three years of mounting pressure, the FCA yesterday announced it would be banning the practice of contingent charging for work on Defined Benefit transfers from October 1st. Although some pipeline cases will conclude … Continue reading →

Posted in advice gap, BSPS, Change, DWP, FCA, pensions | Leave a comment

Why planning for “care” is everyone’s business

Posted on June 5, 2020 by henry tapper

Whether we are carers or ‘cared for’, we are likely to be involved in caring in the future. Of course the pandemic has highlighted the under-funding of residential care homes and the lack of support given to many home carers, … Continue reading →

Posted in advice gap, Change, pensions | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

“Would you pay a social care premium?”

Posted on November 12, 2018 by henry tapper

This was the question Radio Five Live’s Wake up to Money asked its audience this Monday morning. 2.5% off wages for the prospect of insurance against things going really wrong with your health in later life? The idea is being trailed … Continue reading →

Posted in CDC, Change, Charity, pensions | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

“Probing” IFAs is not enough; we need simpler more transparent transfers.

Posted on January 14, 2018 by henry tapper

  Allegations of “mis-selling” against IFAs are premature and unsubstantiated. My eye was caught last night by a linked in post by Andrew Warwick-Thompson, formerly of the Pensions Regulator. Here we go again. The personal pensions miss-selling scandal all over … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogging, BSPS, Change, FCA, pensions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

“A decision to take a transfer cannot be reversed and should not be rushed”

Posted on October 31, 2017 by henry tapper

This blog is mainly written for deferred members of the British Steel Pension Scheme, but many other people may find it interesting. There’s no doubt that what is going on in Tata-land, will go on with other employers who feel … Continue reading →

Posted in accountants, advice gap, Bankers, Change, drawdown, Facebook, pensions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Common sense needed on transfers

Posted on June 30, 2015 by henry tapper

Whether you’re moving house or moving money, the process is fraught. We are no closer to pots following member than when the “portable personal pension” was established in 1987. The friction involved in moving money from scheme to scheme, fund … Continue reading →

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Care or hubris? – How Tesco got in such a pensions mess.

Posted on April 23, 2015 by henry tapper

Every little helps? The right old mess that Tesco has found itself in , is blamed partially on its mishandling of its pension strategy. How can an organisation with the motto “every little counts” have such a large pension deficit? … Continue reading →

Posted in Change | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Probably the worst flagship tax ever?

Posted on April 13, 2015 by henry tapper

George Osborne says his proposed tax break for high value homes is about “values”, it is no such thing. This policy is about votes. What is going on with the conservatives on tax? They have become obsessed with the “retail … Continue reading →

Posted in auto-enrolment, Change | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Magic beans and “negative capability”

Posted on March 22, 2015 by henry tapper

Negative capability describes the capacity of human beings to transcend and revise their contexts. If we dismiss it as “magic beans” we are committed to repeating the mistakes of the past – and- as we all know – that way is madness. Continue reading →

Posted in Change, corporate governance, drawdown, Financial Education, happiness, Pension Freedoms | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments