Monthly Archives: January 2017
A suffocating man craves the foulest stench.
Such is the pressure on trustees and sponsors of our defined benefit schemes to appear solvent, that they welcome the transfer of their potential pensioners to “cash” as a suffocating man breathes fetid gas. It is within the capacity of … Continue reading
Posted in advice gap, pensions
Tagged accountants, CETV, defined benefit, Discount rate, suffocation, transfers
6 Comments
Pension Wise+Pension Dashboard=?
You’ve probably seen the splurge of advertising for Pensions Wise, as it eases towards a new brand. Odd! Someone’s got a budget to burn! In a couple of months we’ll have a new brand and a whole load more rules … Continue reading
Posted in pensions
Tagged advice, Guidance, Margaret Snowden, Pension Dashboard, pension reform, Pension Wise, Treasury
4 Comments
DB pensions; experts are the problem, people are the answer.
The best thing (for me) about going to the international Longevity Centre’s launch of their study of DB deficits was John. I’d seen him when I walked into the committee room in the House of Lords, he had his … Continue reading
Posted in pensions
Tagged experts, FABI, ILC, ILC-UK, John, People, PPF7800, Trevor Llanwarne
6 Comments
Insuring too much for living too long
I went to an interesting debate this morning about the DB deficit crisis (what crisis?). A number of interesting things emerged, such as a statement that a pension scheme cannot get a real return on its investments. I looked at … Continue reading
Posted in pensions
Tagged buy-in, buy-out, ft, Hymans Robertson, ILC, ILC-UK, Insurance, jo cumbo, LDI, Longevity, Technology
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The speech we should have heard in May
What struck me , listening to Theresa May’s speech to the diplomats last night, was how we could have done with this clarity before the vote. Six months is a decent period for “post-event rationalisation” and John Godfrey and … Continue reading
Posted in pensions
Tagged BREXIT #Brexit #MAY, Cameron, Eton, immigration, John Lewis, Lesley Griffiths, Osborne, Referendum, Selma, Selma Bridge, Trump
2 Comments
Basing View -the business park the future forgot.
Basing View is Basingstoke’s unforgotten, unloved legacy from the 1970s. Basingstoke and Deane council, Hampshire County Council and Basing View marketing seem determined that it will remain marooned in a time gone by. From time to … Continue reading
“Famine or feast pensions”- demand advice is better spread.
Where you work not how you work determines your pension prospects. If you choose to work for a blue chip company or for the Government you can expect at worst a high contribution to a workplace pension and at best a … Continue reading
Posted in accountants, actuaries, advice gap, auto-enrolment, pensions
Tagged advice, auto enrolment, consultancy, DB, dc, DWP, famine, feast, Pension Schemes Bill, pensions, regulation, workplace pensins
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Over-consulting ; not a victimless crime!
I was “distressed” to read of a new way of extracting fees from the sponsors of DC pensions, the value for money review/assessment. http://tinyurl.com/ju4ppnp Ok – I wasn’t distressed – I was cross! Value for Money is not as complicated … Continue reading
We don’t believe in “experts” anymore
The phrase in the title is a favourite of my boss – Hilary Salt – if you read this on holiday in California – Nothing convinces me more that experts are not to be trusted than my being called a … Continue reading
Posted in pensions
Tagged Donald Soper, Donald Trump, Exclusion, Exclusivity, experts, Hilary Salt, Lesley Griffiths, Methodism, pensions
4 Comments
How can payroll bureaux profit from auto-enrolment?
I’ve recently been asked by the leading payroll trade publication to answer some questions. I’ve enjoyed thinking about them and have set out my answers below. I’m not a payroll manager and I don’t run a bureau – I’m not … Continue reading
Posted in accountants, auto-enrolment, Payroll, pensions
Tagged accountant, auto enrolment, book keeper, Payroll World, pension, Technology, Workie, workplace pension
1 Comment