Monthly Archives: September 2017

Time for bosses to get value from Workie!

Posted on September 10, 2017 by henry tapper

There is plenty of crowing in policy circles about the success of auto-enrolment. The headlines are certainly good with nearly 9m new savers and over 1m new employers due to have staged by October. The public has taken to Workie … Continue reading →

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The world of the inactive investor

Posted on September 9, 2017 by henry tapper

  Of all my amateur enthusiasms, my interest in how to invest my money is perhaps the silliest. The economist’s hat sits ill upon my head, my capacity to second guess market trends is zero. So I’m always pleased to … Continue reading →

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Transparency as disinfectant

Posted on September 8, 2017 by henry tapper

Wherever possible – organisations should aspire to be transparent in their dealings, sharing information with all stakeholders. Bank wins by being straight with customers Making information difficult to access causes problems. My friends at Quietroom tell the story of how, … Continue reading →

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Why some transfer values may be just TOO HIGH!

Posted on September 7, 2017 by henry tapper

Earlier this year I wrote a blog “why some transfers are ridiculously high” which set out to explain how DB transfer values are calculated and why they are at present at historical highs. My friend and colleague Alan Smith presented the … Continue reading →

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What do we tell our members?

Posted on September 6, 2017 by henry tapper

    Yesterday’s keynote speech from David Farrar at the Professional Pension DC Conference contained some important messages. I wasn’t the only person in the room picking up a new tone on disclosure. The quote is a close approximation to … Continue reading →

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Con Keating’s letter to Frank Field

Posted on September 6, 2017 by henry tapper

Today is Con’s 70th birthday. Here he is in irrepressible form, standing up for USS and giving another elder statesman some sensible advice. An Open Letter to the Right Honourable Frank Field, MP By email. Re: Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) … Continue reading →

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Undermining confidence in USS; to no good purpose.

Posted on September 5, 2017 by henry tapper

  I read John Ralfe’s comments in this report in Times Higher Education and thought of Sir Toby Belch’s comment to Malvolio. Dost thou think, because thou art virtuous, there shall be no more cakes and ale? Sir Toby Belch … Continue reading →

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Pension Play Pen lunch – “April 18th – a nudge too far?”

Posted on September 4, 2017 by henry tapper

It’s one of the key questions for the next 6 months. Will the cost to employers  of the ramp from 1 to 2% of bank earnings, combined with the introduction of the National Living Wage – bump up the business … Continue reading →

Posted in auto-enrolment, pensions | 1 Comment

What future – if we cannot rely on universities in twenty years time?

Posted on September 4, 2017 by henry tapper

When I wrote my blog yesterday, I had not read the USS consultation document which contains the basis of the triennial valuation it has just completed. I was writing “over” the FT article written by Jo Cumbo which (as usual) presented … Continue reading →

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Don’t make the teachers pay

Posted on September 3, 2017 by henry tapper

  I am  sad to read that “academics face a big rise in their pension payments”. That’s the headline in the FT and it may be true. Another set of spurious numbers? The University Superannuation Scheme has completed it’s three … Continue reading →

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