Monthly Archives: April 2015
“Astonishing” – “yes you are”!
Nigel Farage; “astonishing!” Nicola Sturgeon; “yes you are!” Last night’s debate provided the best quip of the election so far and it came from Nicola Sturgeon who out Faraged Farage for incredulity. This of course was Cameron’s reason for not … Continue reading
The freedom to transfer your pension benefits
The freedom to transfer pension benefits has since the 5th April been denied to millions of those with deferred pensions. If you are a member of an unfunded Government pension scheme (any scheme other than the Local Government schemes), they … Continue reading
Advance Australia Fair!
I have never been to Australia, I should go I know, but we have Earl’s Court. My good friend Jim Hennington has recently returned to his native Oz after a few years over here teaching us some tricks on how to … Continue reading
One week on- how was “freedom” for you?
More questions than answers The Pension PlayPen met as usual in the Counting House to discuss our experiences of Pension Freedom to date. The consensus – more questions than answers. Call volumes to the insurers have over-shadowed what the Government … Continue reading
Posted in advice gap, pensions
Tagged Conservatives, freedoms. pension playpen, Labour, Lunch, pensions, Tories, Treasury
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Probably the worst flagship tax ever?
George Osborne says his proposed tax break for high value homes is about “values”, it is no such thing. This policy is about votes. What is going on with the conservatives on tax? They have become obsessed with the “retail … Continue reading
Posted in auto-enrolment, Change
Tagged accountancy, George Osborne, HMRC, inheritance tax, Labour Party, OBR, pensions, Tax, tax giveaway, Treasury
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Why are we so unproductive?
News is out that Britain produces in five days what the French produce in four Robert Peston has written a series of articles on this over the past few days. Here is the gist of it. on the basis of … Continue reading
How do we know our works pensions are working?
I’m watching formula one and the race management programs that are as much a feature of a race as the driving. It is possible to win or lose a race in the pits , it’s not often that drivers win … Continue reading
Posted in pensions
Tagged choice, decision, pensions, performance measurement, workplace Pensions, works pensions
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The greatest sporting weekend of the year?
The race is on to show your true sporting credentials on twitter. My twitter timeline was invaded by the likes of Pensions Sam Notts (3rd from bottom) v Yeovil (bottom) this weekend, big big game! @henryhtapper — Sam Brodbeck (@sambrodbeck) April 10, … Continue reading
Posted in Blogging, pensions, Yeovil Town
Tagged BNY Mellon, Boat Race, Business, Investing, Investment, Lewis Hamilton, Mourinho, Paul Sturrock, richie benaud, social media, Society, Tony McCoy, Yeovil Town #ytfc
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It’s pension freedom time- time to disrupt the market – guest blog by Chris Radford
There has been much discussion in the press and the pensions industry about George Osborne’s new Pension Freedoms that come into force this week. The debate fluctuates from how the freedoms could create a whole series of new mis-selling scandals to … Continue reading
“How were those freedoms for you?” – Two events to help us find out!
The press offices of all the major insurers have been busy printing announcements of how they have seen a tenfold increase in enquiries about pension benefits this week. Pension Wise has been open for bookings and Michelle Cracknell and the TPAS … Continue reading