Monthly Archives: December 2011

My five big challenges for twenty twelve

If I thought I’d be here twelve months ago I wouldn’t have bothered. I’d have gone straight to jail, not passed go and not collected my £200. I reckon most of us would have preferred to be on the subs … Continue reading

Posted in annuity, Bankers, corporate governance, customer service, dc pensions, NEST, Retirement, Salford Quays, social media, Treasury | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

(S)hell’s well at Christmas

Popped into a Shell garage this morning – big sign tells me that I get 2 p off a litre if I buy a fourpack of Red Bull. I fancy giving a fourpack to my colleague and chum Peter Shellswell (real name) who survives on Morrisons own label energy drinks. … Continue reading

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I have seen the future of DC (part 84)

The future for DC may well be a fund manager’s future but it’s a fund manager with big ears and a small mouth who is most likely to win.
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Posted in annuity, Bankers, corporate governance, customer service, dc pensions, de-risking, Fiduciary Management, NEST | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

What’s in store for UK pensions in 2012?

Artificially depressed interest rates drive up DB deficits and depress annuities but the pressure on life companies and pension schemes to adopt Solvency II recedes as the UK  distances itself from Brussels. The price of the settlement on public sector pensions is … Continue reading

Posted in annuity, corporate governance, dc pensions, EU Solvency II, NEST, OECD | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Unexpected risks – people just don’t get pensions (education).

We’re all aware that investing in the stockmarket is a “risky” business, it’s easy to understand how the sharp falls in stock markets impact on your savings and as stock market falls are the staple of media reporting, it’s not surprising that … Continue reading

Posted in annuity, Bankers, corporate governance, customer service, dc pensions, de-risking, Fiduciary Management, FSA, NEST, pension playpen, pensions, Retail Distribution Review, Retirement, Treasury | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Better York than Yeovil – #ytfc ousted by the Cod Army

it is hard supporting a minnow, touted as a “giant” savaged by the Cod Army Continue reading

Posted in twitter, Yeovil Town | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

What will Europe do to our pensions?

Europe will, given half a chance, screw up our pensions. I don’t want that to happen. Well done Cameron for digging in your heels.

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Posted in EU Solvency II, mallowstreet | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The FSA should’ve picked on somebody its own size

It’s a feature of bullies that they pick upon the weak and harmless and avoid the toughs in the playground. So we shouldn’t be surprised that the FSA left RBS alone while hunting down IFAs for procedural offences. The big concern about … Continue reading

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What price certainty?

                                The cost of certainty changes in proportion to the amount of certainty. The more flexible your guarantee, the more it’s going to cost you. I … Continue reading

Posted in annuity, pensions, Retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment