Monthly Archives: December 2013

A race to the top?

Posted on December 12, 2013 by henry tapper

We will not get this problem sorted out in a meeting room in the DWP, though the DWP can clear the decks and allow us to operate with a clean sheet of paper. Continue reading →

Posted in actuaries, annuity, CDC, Change, dc pensions, de-risking, defined aspiration, happiness | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Defined Ambition – the way to properly sort UK pensions

Posted on December 11, 2013 by henry tapper

Defined  ambition is no more or less than  this; it is  a way of turning round systemic problems with our pensions. For DB it is about salvaging something from the wreckage created by the unfettered growth in guaranteed benefits that … Continue reading →

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At last – a gameplan for annuities

Posted on December 10, 2013 by henry tapper

  The Financial Services Consumer Panel has published a report into the current state of the UK retail annuity market. It is not a glamorous document, it examines the way the market is working and concludes it it not working very … Continue reading →

Posted in advice gap, annuity, auto-enrolment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

DA should be at top of the agenda – and it isn’t.

Posted on December 8, 2013 by henry tapper

I have been reading the Government’s Defined Ambition paper again. Many might ask “what’s the point?”. The point is this; DC is broken and needs fixing, DB is broken and needs fixing, DA is the answer, but so far the consultation … Continue reading →

Posted in actuaries, annuity, auto-enrolment, CDC, David Pitt-Watson, dc pensions, de-risking | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

From old to new – minimising disruption from pension reform

Posted on December 7, 2013 by henry tapper

This post puts forward a new paradigm  for 2014 , based on  adjustments to the 2013 mindset. My assumptions are;- We are about to enter a new world where trail commission, active member discounts and higher cost investment defaults play no … Continue reading →

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In praise of young actuaries – #Momentum13

Posted on December 6, 2013 by henry tapper

Momentum is an event organised by the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries for nearly or newly qualified actuaries, I was there yesterday speaking on the Future of Pensions. Being around talented committed people who have yet to lose the bright … Continue reading →

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Why insurers, not pension schemes, have taken the infrastructure challenge

Posted on December 4, 2013 by henry tapper

The announcement this morning of  the National Infrastructure Plan (NIP) includes the government selling off its 40% stake in the Eurostar rail service. In all, about £375bn of investment in energy, transport, communications, and water projects is planned. You can … Continue reading →

Posted in auto-enrolment, Bankers, brand, dc pensions, de-risking, defined aspiration | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment