Monthly Archives: June 2015

Common sense needed on transfers

Posted on June 30, 2015 by

Whether you’re moving house or moving money, the process is fraught. We are no closer to pots following member than when the “portable personal pension” was established in 1987. The friction involved in moving money from scheme to scheme, fund … Continue reading →

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Glastonbury – Johnny’s still alive.

Posted on June 29, 2015 by

  There was a touching moment in Patti Smith’s set on the final day of Glastonbury. I’d always thought that Land was about the Johnny’s suicide, I’m glad that Johnny (and Rock and Roll) survive In the late 70’s, “Horses”, … Continue reading →

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Should workplace pensions have a duty of candour?

Posted on June 29, 2015 by

We seem to have learned nothing from the Office of Fair Trading report on workplace pensions. In case you’ve forgotten, the OFT reported they’d never encountered such  poor purchasing as with employers purchasing pensions for their staff. What has been … Continue reading →

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Why due diligence is soooooooo important!

Posted on June 28, 2015 by

  Yesterday I wrote about pension charges and the difference between poor practice and malpractice . At some point the value for money swing-ometre  tips into rip-off territory and it’s almost always when those managing its costs of a scheme, stop acting … Continue reading →

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Bad practice or malpractice?

Posted on June 27, 2015 by

Johnson hath spoken! Michael is one of the few people who owes the financial services industry nothing. His voice is independent and trustworthy and his latest contribution to the debate on how we fund our retirement is welcome Pensions are … Continue reading →

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The Plowman gets off his high-horse!

Posted on June 26, 2015 by

Yesterday I published an article that allowed me to get off my high horse about “informed choice” and think pragmatically about how small employers are going to go about choosing a pension. I reckon most people like choice , but … Continue reading →

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The lady’s not for turning.

Posted on June 26, 2015 by

For reasons that weren’t particularly obvious , a random group crammed into a much too small committee room in the House of Lords on Wednesday night for a round table with the new pensions minister. It was a hot day that … Continue reading →

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Getting it right on choice – a pragmatic view.

Posted on June 25, 2015 by

People like choice but are afraid of taking decisions. This paradox has puzzled pension people for a long time. People think that having 170 fund choices on their personal pension is good news, but 90% of us make no choice … Continue reading →

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In the long run…… (guest blog from Ralph Frank)

Posted on June 25, 2015 by

There is a widely-held view that the longer the holding period for an investment, the more volatile the asset that can be invested in.  There seems to be two beliefs contributing to this headline view: The more volatile the price … Continue reading →

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Boring money.

Posted on June 24, 2015 by

Yesterday , financial journalist and founder of the Platforum Holly Mackay, launched a new company “Boring Money”. I like that phrase, work is boring, money is boring- there is a natural synergy there. It’s not done to talk about either in interesting … Continue reading →

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