Category Archives: EU Solvency II

“Fit lean pension machines” – an uncomfortable prospect?


We move into day two of auto-enrolment with all to play for on a pitch increasingly likely to take spin Continue reading

Posted in advice gap, auto-enrolment, Bankers, dc pensions, EU Solvency II, pensions | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

“Stick or twist” for the lifecos.


It is hard for the insurers to twist because they think the dealer’s against them. Continue reading

Posted in annuity, auto-enrolment, customer service, David Pitt-Watson, dc pensions, EU Solvency II, Financial Education, Henry Tapper blog, pension playpen, pensions, Personality, Popcorn Pensions, Retail Distribution Review, Retirement, social media | Tagged , , , , , , , | 20 Comments

Why we need to say “NO” to pension guarantees!


On Monday the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries delivered a paper stating that it would be able to deliver a system of lock-in guarantees at a price of less than 1% pa of the fund that could be used by … Continue reading

Posted in actuaries, annuity, auto-enrolment, Bankers, club pension, corporate governance, customer service, David Pitt-Watson, dc pensions, defined aspiration, EU Solvency II, FSA, happiness, Liability Driven Investment, NEST, pension playpen, pensions, Personal Accounts, Retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

End of an epoch?


This is an article by Con Keating, reproduced with his kind permission. It’s hard but it’s worth it- Con is the cleverest man in town. The demise of the Bretton Woods system in the 1970s was epoch-defining; it constituted a massive shift of … Continue reading

Posted in Bankers, Change, economics, EU Solvency II, Treasury | Leave a comment

Define your aspiration.


Last week, the brotherhood  of DB and DC pensions got a little sister when Steve Webb introduced the prospect of DA to the family. There is nothing new about the search for a third way, indeed it is the pensions equivalent of the … Continue reading

Posted in dc pensions, de-risking, annuity, EU Solvency II, customer service, NEST, corporate governance, defined aspiration | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Aspirational pensions – popcorn pensions!!


There are going to be a lot of objections to aspirational pensions over the weeks and months to come, but for me they are popcorn pensions – delicious, affordable and while they may not be the haute cuisine of the guaranteed Final Salary plans pragmatic.

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Posted in annuity, auto-enrolment, dc pensions, de-risking, EU Solvency II, happiness, Henry Tapper blog, Management, pension playpen, pensions, Popcorn Pensions, Public sector pensions, Retirement, Treasury | Tagged , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

“Making Pension Charges Clearer” – good on the NAPF


The NAPF, as I’ve mentioned a few times on this blog, are a rather better trade body than you’d expect . Revitalised by Joanne Seagers and Dan Torjussen-Proctor they appear a more progressive member centric organisation than in years gone by. Ambitiously, they … Continue reading

Posted in annuity, auto-enrolment, corporate governance, dc pensions, de-risking, EU Solvency II, pensions, Retirement, social media | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

To get better pensions we need to share risk


Yesterday, Steve Webb announced he was  to review the level of protection that needed to be provided to private pensions in payment. His  intention is to help the solvency of defined benefit schemes which might need to reserve less for future guarantees. He is … Continue reading

Posted in annuity, corporate governance, dc pensions, de-risking, EU Solvency II, Fiduciary Management, Management, NEST, pensions, Retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Who made that choice for you?


Put the question “why are pensions guaranteed?” into google and you will not get an answer. I reckon it’s because no-one asks the question. Why is nobody asking the question? Is someone guaranteeing the value of your house? Is there … Continue reading

Posted in annuity, auto-enrolment, corporate governance, customer service, EU Solvency II | Tagged , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Popcorn pensions


I was sitting in Kentucky Fried Chicken with my friend Mr Peter Shellswell last week. We were eating the salad in case you are wondering. Popcorn chicken and gravy is my fave but we’d decided to be good. Continue reading

Posted in auto-enrolment, corporate governance, customer service, dc pensions, de-risking, EU Solvency II, Fiduciary Management, mallowstreet, pension playpen, Retirement, social media | Tagged , , , , , , | 11 Comments