Monthly Archives: March 2017
FEAR+FRAUD. Does Geneva= Gibraltar? Are SIPPs the new QROPS?
This bog is about fear and how it can be used by the unscrupulous to frighten them into putting their retirement at risk. The unscrupulous fear-monger is the self-appointed UKPension Guru (Clive Skane-Davis) of Swiss Global Consulting; you can … Continue reading
The CWU pension proposals – your questions answered.
Yesterday’s article got a lot of interest and a number of people have asked for the technical details behind the CWU’s headlines; but first the headlines! All 130,000 Royal Mail staff could have access to DB accrual going forward Members … Continue reading
Pensions Resurgent! The merit of the CWU’s proposals to the Royal Mail
For the third day I am returning to the CWU’s proposals to the Royal Mail which I now consider the most important break through in pension scheme design we have seen in Britain this century. I base this on three … Continue reading
Posted in actuaries, advice gap, David Pitt-Watson, dc pensions, defined ambition, defined aspiration, pensions
Tagged CDC, CWU, David Pitt-Watson, Defined benefi, Eddy Truell, equities, Infrastructure, Linked in, pension, pensions, PIC, Royal Mail
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Governance – as easy as riding a bike?
I sometimes get unsolicited blogs sent me by friends. This one was sent me by Bob Compton, a regular commentator on here. It’s written by Michael Redston who combines an interest in cycling with pensions governance Introduction Innovative art … Continue reading
Setting your pension free to invest as it pleases.
Yesterday I wrote about the CWU’s proposals to keep the Royal Mail’s DB scheme open for all it’s 130,000 members. I then went to watch my equine investment portfolio perform at Cheltenham. Opening my inbox this morning I find it … Continue reading
Posted in pensions
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A with-profits pension for the posties.
One of the most encouraging stories I have read in a time appears in the FT this morning. The Communication Workers Union, who act for many of the Royal Mail Staff, currently facing a switch from a final salary DB … Continue reading
Posted in pensions
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Giving the self-employed their “pensions due”.
The budget announcement of a phased 2% increase in Class 4 National Insurance Contributions (NIC)s was generally considered bad politics but could it be good policy? In pension circles, any changes to NICs are regarded as interesting. They fund the … Continue reading
Posted in pensions
Tagged class 4, National Insurance, NIC, pensions, self-employed, Steve Webb, Technology
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Why Martin Bamford is right to stay an independent financial adviser
SJP – we have been here before Martin Bamford has produced an excellent piece explaining why everyone he knows “loves to hate St James’ Place” . It turns out that quite a few people Martin knows work for St James’ … Continue reading
Posted in advice gap, club pension, pensions
Tagged advice, IFA, Martin bamford, St James Place, Wealth
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Rutger Bregman’s “Utopia for realists”
I hadn’t heard of Rutger Bregman till this weekend and I still haven’t read his book “Utopia for Realists”. But I am drawn to a man who quotes the ideas of Thomas More , believes in a Universal Basic … Continue reading
Posted in pensions
Tagged DB taskforce, John Ralfe, pensions, realism, Rutger bregman, utopia
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Proud Dad, Proud Son – the way we treat our elders defines us!
The photo of my son and mother yesterday between consecutive football matches at Girton Cambridge. My mother had come up from Shaftesbury in Dorset for the day, my son played 3 games in the day. When all was finished … Continue reading
Posted in pensions
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