Monthly Archives: September 2017
Time for bosses to get value from Workie!
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
The world of the inactive investor
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
Posted in pensions
Tagged armchair, Fiduciary, Future World, IGC, inactive, Investor, L&G, LGIM
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Transparency as disinfectant
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
Posted in accountants, actuaries, advice gap, pensions
Tagged Transfer, Transparency, USS
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Why some transfer values may be just TOO HIGH!
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
What do we tell our members?
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
Posted in pensions
Tagged chris sier, disclsure, DWP, FCA, occupational, pensions, trustees, utility
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Con Keating’s letter to Frank Field
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
Undermining confidence in USS; to no good purpose.
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
Pension Play Pen lunch – “April 18th – a nudge too far?”
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
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What future – if we cannot rely on universities in twenty years time?
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
Posted in actuaries, advice gap, Henry Tapper blog, pensions
Tagged first actuarial, Frank Field, pensions, ppf, self suffeciency, trustees, Universities, USS
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Don’t make the teachers pay
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
Posted in accountants, actuaries, advice gap, pensions
Tagged Actuarial, chicken licken, Frank Field, pensions, Teachers, USS, valuation
7 Comments