Monthly Archives: February 2013

Pension agnostic?

Posted on February 18, 2013 by henry tapper

An “agnostic” is someone who knows he cannot know and so gives up trying to find out. You hear the phrase “pension agnostic” bandied around at the moment, mainly from the providers of ancillary services that help companies auto-enrol. If you key … Continue reading →

Posted in actuaries, Consolation, corporate governance, dc pensions, defined aspiration, Fiduciary Management, Financial Education, First Actuarial, hargreaves lansdowne, pension playpen, pensions, Retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

The growing epidemic of stats misuse

Posted on February 17, 2013 by henry tapper

Hilary Salt is founder of First Actuarial plc. She is currently the Actuarial Post’s Actuary of the Year. Late in 2011 she was asked to contribute a piece to the Independent’s Battle of the Ideas. This is what she wrote . Twenty years ago, … Continue reading →

Posted in actuaries, Martin Lewis, Music, pensions, Trades Union Congress, Treasury | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Lord make AE simple – but not yet!

Posted on February 16, 2013 by henry tapper

The title refers to Augustine’s prayer “lord make me chaste, but not yet”. It came to mind as I read concern from “industry spokespeople” over the DWP’s announcement to simplify the Auto-Enrolment regulations in time for the staging of the … Continue reading →

Posted in auto-enrolment, Payroll, pensions, Retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Diagnosing the real cost of DC

Posted on February 15, 2013 by henry tapper

A problem with buying  “bundled” DC services is finding out what’s really going on under the bonnet. I recently blew my power steering pump , I wanted to know what had happened but the pump was in a sealed unit – no warning … Continue reading →

Posted in annuity, dc pensions | Tagged , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

People get ready!

Posted on February 13, 2013 by henry tapper

If “wave one” so far looks a success, what about waves 2 and 3 and what can the employers preparing to stage in late 2013 and onwards learn? Continue reading →

Posted in auto-enrolment, brand, Financial Education, First Actuarial, Payroll, pensions | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Poor execution – a pigsty – not a playpen

Posted on February 12, 2013 by henry tapper

A researcher I was speaking to yesterday asked whether I considered the bad practices associated with the poor execution of trades by fund managers as criminal fraud. His argument was that indirect benefits such as the receiving of rugby tickets from … Continue reading →

Posted in David Pitt-Watson, dc pensions, First Actuarial, governance, pensions, Retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Bothered about your pension wealth?

Posted on February 11, 2013 by henry tapper

In the past few days I’ve had some fruity exchanges with Tom McPhail of Hargreaves Lansdowne about when people should start getting interested in managing their pension pot. Tom’s view is “as soon as savings begin, mine “when you can be bothered”. Hargreaves … Continue reading →

Posted in auto-enrolment, Bankers, dc pensions, Financial Education, First Actuarial, governance, hargreaves lansdowne, one pound fish, pensions | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

“Thought leadership” – perish the thought!

Posted on February 10, 2013 by henry tapper

Anyone who markets themselves as a thought leader ought to shut up – (pension plowman 2013) I was tweeted the message “shut up” by a twitter robot yesterday which made me consider whether I should be annoying people with my … Continue reading →

Posted in auto-enrolment, dc pensions, First Actuarial, leadership, pensions | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

It’s a wrap trap – but who’s been caught?

Posted on February 9, 2013 by henry tapper

If you thought you were sick of pensions, imagine  the nausea of the life company CEO. If you are such a beast and reading this, you are probably are American or European and your company brought into the UK a few years back … Continue reading →

Posted in auto-enrolment, dc pensions, Financial Education, First Actuarial, NEST, pensions | Tagged , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

100% horse!

Posted on February 8, 2013 by henry tapper

When you pick up a packet from a shelf- the chances are you looking at the brand. If you are looking at the supermarket‘s own brand– you are making ca call on the probity and governance of the supermarket. If … Continue reading →

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