Monthly Archives: April 2017
Get thee to Yate!
1.1 And there dwelt in South Gloucestershire, near the towns of Thornbury and Yate a man named Steve; 1.2 and Steve was godly and loved of all who knew him for he had done great deeds in Westminster – … Continue reading
What a “strong mandate” means for pensions.
Since the range of outcomes considered by the bookies ranges from “strong” to “weak” conservative majority, I’m putting my money on the Liberals getting an overall majority (only 25-1 with William Hill). That seems the likeliest alternative outcome and I’ve … Continue reading
Posted in pensions
Tagged auto enrolment, EET, higher rate tax, pension, Pension Dashboard, self-employed, Tax, Technology, TEE
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Pensions before politics!
It must be odd to hear your job is up for grabs in six weeks time. Even with a 10,000 majority, Richard Harrington MP – our Pensions Minister – must have been a little flustered by the announcement from … Continue reading
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Tagged Brighton, estate agents, football, Pensions Dashboard, Property, property rights, simon kirby, Treasury, watford
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“Vantage is value” – but relative to what? Hargreaves Lansdown’s IGC report
I’m pleased that after a really poor first IGC report, the Hargreaves Lansdown IGC have taken producing their 2017 report, more seriously. A smooth operator If there was such a thing as a premium workplace pension, the Hargreaves Lansdown (HL) … Continue reading
Posted in IGC, pensions
Tagged corporate vantage, Hargreaves Lansdown, IGC, pension, pensions, Technology, Tom McPhail, Value for Money
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Can pensions be more playful (please)!
I’ve waded through a number of IGC chair reports this Easter weekend and a smile has seldom been on my lips. With the exception of the Virgin Money report, I hardly felt I knew who I was talking to. Ironically, … Continue reading
Posted in IGC, pension playpen, pensions, Personality
Tagged Blog, Engagement, Facebook, Fun, IGC, instagram, Linked in, pension playpen, snapchat, social media, twitter
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Virgin Money IGC report;- now that’s the way to do it!
Last year’s report from Virgin Money was the best I read and this year’s report looks like it might make it a notable double. The Virgin Stakeholder Pension comes under severe scrutiny The report does not pull its punches, … Continue reading
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Tagged IGC, pension, pensions, Sir David Chapman, Value for Money, Virgin Money
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The Old Mutual IGC – “impotent and bed rid”
Last year I was enthusiastic about the Old Mutual Wealth (OMW) IGC. I am afraid my enthusiasm has turned to world-weary scepticism that the IGC packs a punch sufficient to push much forward for the members of the various … Continue reading
Meeting the Pensions Minister
Tomorrow (18th April) I get to meet the Pensions Minister, which I’m excited about. I’d written to Richard Harrington a few weeks ago, after an amendment to the Pension Schemes Bill had been thrown out. I’d helped the Labour Party … Continue reading
Posted in pensions
Tagged auto enrolment, governance, IGCs, Pensions Minister, Richard Harrington, workplace Pensions
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A pensions dashboard brings its own risk.
A need for pension I am keen not to pour cold water on the pensions dashboard, but I am not having it promoted as the game-changer to savings behaviour. The pensions dashboard is what Martin Clarke, the Government Actuary, refers to … Continue reading
Posted in advice gap, pensions
Tagged ABI, FinTech, GAD, Government, John Cridland, Martin Clarke, pension, Pensions Dashboard, Treasury
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Fidelity – a cold fish of an IGC report.
Reading the Fidelity IGC report, I struggled to find the missing ingredient that would make me want to read the next one. Reading it again, I think it may be “passion”. The report is stunningly correct, Fidelity is the only … Continue reading