Category Archives: Retail Distribution Review

The FCA can excel; the “non-workplace pension” paper’s a model of its kind

Henry Tapper and Pension PlayPen response to FCA’s paper DP18/1 Effective competition in non-workplace pensions This is the response of Henry Tapper and the Pension PlayPen. It is not a response on behalf of any other organisation that Henry Tapper … Continue reading

Posted in advice gap, BSPS, dc pensions, drawdown, Henry Tapper blog, pensions, PLSA, Retail Distribution Review, Retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

GO ROBO!

The robots are here! But not in the Terminator sense. Think, rather, of Asimov’s creations. Or, for the less nerdy, Rosie from The Jetsons: benevolent machines, doing our hard work but better, faster and more reliably. Across almost all sectors, … Continue reading

Posted in pensions, Retail Distribution Review, risk | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Are workplace pensions “risk-free” to employers?

If you think workplace savings plans are “risk free” to employers – think again; “value for money” changes that Continue reading

Posted in advice gap, Bankers, consultant, dc pensions, Fiduciary Management, First Actuarial, pension playpen, pensions, Retail Distribution Review, Retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Vertically integrated mastertrusts? – “my arse!”

  Pardon my Scouse! I throw Mick Royle at Mercer’s master trust (and the incipient Aon Hewitt master trust). “Vertical integration” is where the supply chain of a company is owned by that company. Mercer have set up a master trust where they … Continue reading

Posted in actuaries, advice gap, pensions, Retail Distribution Review | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Will some employers need their own IGCs?

  This blog’s for any employer or adviser with an existing workplace pension scheme (GPP or Stakeholder Pension), where you chose the funds offered to your staff.   I asked a question of the Pensions Regulator this week. He’d put … Continue reading

Posted in FCA, governance, pension playpen, Retail Distribution Review | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Employers can help staff with their money – if only we’d let them

It’s time companies got their mojo back and got real with staff. Www.pensionplaypen.com helps to do just that. Continue reading

Posted in auto-enrolment, Henry Tapper blog, pensions, Retail Distribution Review, Retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Have you got staff approaching retirement? Check out Pick-A

  You and your staff save hard through your careers, you build up a pot of money and the time comes when you want to/have to draw on your savings to pay the bills, enjoy the holidays and look after … Continue reading

Posted in advice gap, annuity, Retail Distribution Review, Retirement | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

What’s this charge cap really going to cost? (1000th blog)

Ringing out the old and ringing in the new should be managed with a little more responsibility than the approach adopted by the DWP through their dodgy Impact Assessment Continue reading

Posted in club pension, dc pensions, defined aspiration, governance, Liberal Democrats, pension playpen, pensions, Popcorn Pensions, Retail Distribution Review, Retirement | 2 Comments

DC trustees; beware your pensioners.

I can’t speculate on why this straightforward guidance isn’t included in the DC Code. It seems to have fallen between the crack between tPR and the FCA surrounding the provision of retail advice by occupational trustees. Continue reading

Posted in advice gap, annuity, pensions, Retail Distribution Review, Retirement | Leave a 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 , , , , , , , | 21 Comments