Monthly Archives: January 2013

The solid value of insurance

Posted on January 19, 2013 by henry tapper

“The people I talk to full into one of two categories, either you’ve built up some money and want to hang onto it, or you are looking to .” That was our opening gambit when we met with prospects. I … Continue reading →

Posted in economics, Fiduciary Management, life insurance, pensions | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Call out the instigators

Posted on January 18, 2013 by henry tapper

The Office of Fair Trading has decided to get stuck into workplace pensions. Pension people fight grimly on like  townspeople uner siege in the 100 years war. The OFT is the  invincible siege engine wheeled to the gates. In August this year,  the OFT … Continue reading →

Posted in auto-enrolment, David Pitt-Watson, dc pensions, governance, Payroll, pension playpen, pensions, Retail Distribution Review | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Seven things to know about the new state pension!

Posted on January 15, 2013 by henry tapper

        These charts have been kindly donated by Citywire and their New Model Adviser team (to whom we should be very grateful). Each one of them surprised me. I dedicate this little blog to one of my heroes, Barbara Castle. If we … Continue reading →

Posted in auto-enrolment, club pension, NEST, pension playpen, pensions, Retirement, steve webb | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Never mind the width – feel the quality!

Posted on January 15, 2013 by henry tapper

  In the heyday of occupational pension provision, offering membership to a company pension scheme sent a clear message to staff that the company was confident in its future and cared for its human resource. When defined benefit schemes were first … Continue reading →

Posted in auto-enrolment, Consolation, dc pensions, Financial Education, pensions | Tagged , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Hats off to Steve Webb for our new pensions system!

Posted on January 15, 2013 by henry tapper

It’s good to see the publication of the DWP’s white paper Security in Retirement – towards a new pension system. It announces an initiative first promoted by Frank Field in the late 1990s but thought then “unthinkable”;. While I agree with … Continue reading →

Posted in auto-enrolment, pension playpen, pensions, Public sector pensions, Retirement, steve webb | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

“Comply or explain” – will “bottom up” regulation work for pensions?

Posted on January 13, 2013 by henry tapper

“Comply or Explain” is a phrase that crept into the “corporate governance” lexicon after the 1992 Cadbury report. The idea’s that rather than demand compliance with Government standards, regulators give companies the option to comply or explain why they haven’t. … Continue reading →

Posted in auto-enrolment, club pension, corporate governance, customer service, Fiduciary Management, Financial Education, napf, NEST, pension playpen, pensions, Retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

The Regulator’s right to be cautious about mastertrusts

Posted on January 12, 2013 by henry tapper

Over the past two years we’ve seen a number of multi-employer occupational schemes spruced up for auto-enrolment. We’ve seen a number of insurers and asset managers set up as the providers of master trusts. We’ve had a few financial advisers … Continue reading →

Posted in actuaries, annuity, auto-enrolment, club pension, dc pensions, governance, NEST, Payroll, pensions | Tagged , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

ABI finally comes clean on pension charges

Posted on January 11, 2013 by henry tapper

Here, not before time, is the ABI’s capitulation in the face of pressure from Government, opposition, the NAPF and all right-thinking people in pensions. Special thanks go to Gregg and his team on the Labour pensions bench! The agreement is … Continue reading →

Posted in actuaries, annuity, auto-enrolment, FSA, governance, Henry Tapper blog, mallowstreet, pensions, Treasury | Tagged , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

2 cheers for the Regulator’s new clothes

Posted on January 11, 2013 by henry tapper

Not before time, the Pension Regulator is getting to grips with its responsibilities to protect members of UK DC plans. I am pleased that the Regulator is getting involved (one cheer) and I’m pleased that they are concentrating on outcomes (two … Continue reading →

Posted in actuaries, annuity, Australia, auto-enrolment, pension playpen, pensions, Retail Distribution Review, Retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , | 15 Comments