Monthly Archives: November 2017

Stefan, Henry and Rich go to Parliament.

Stefan Zait, Rich Caddy and I  have been invited to go to Westminster and give oral evidence to the DWP Select Committee about the support given to BSPS members in their Time to Choose Al Rush will inform us with the IFA’s … Continue reading

Posted in BSPS, pensions | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Jealous of your parents? Screw their pension!

  The Government are to bundle up the outstanding student debt and sell it to pension and hedge funds. Simple message to kids, if you love your parents, pay your debt; if you want to screw them-don’t. Remember kids, your … Continue reading

Posted in pensions | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Defining the benefit of CDC – Con Keating on “CDB”.

The pension experts have great fun rubbishing Frank Field’s inquiry into CDC. Here’s why Frank says he’s doing it. “What the select committee is aiming for is to retain some of the best features of company schemes in a different age when employers … Continue reading

Posted in pensions | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Honest endeavour stops scammers in their tracks.

Darren Reynolds and his firm Active Wealth have been restrained by the FCA from carrying out pension transfer business for the foreseeable future. Active Wealth’s business plan was to take leads generated by Celtic Wealth through promotions such as the notorious … Continue reading

Posted in pensions | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

“Best of TPAS-Best of MAS”; here’s your starter for 10!

Best of TPAS – best of MAS It’s good to hear that people with money problems will now get a “best of MAS/best of TPAS” service, ( what this press release is alluding to).   The Money Advice Service (MAS) and … Continue reading

Posted in pensions | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

When will they ever learn? (The CDO is back)

The FT reports (with its usual light touch ) that the collateralized debt obligation is back and being used by Global Pension Funds (and hedge funds) as an alternative to junk bonds. I question whether in its “authentic” (CLO) or … Continue reading

Posted in economics, investment, pensions | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

We do not restore confidence on our own – we do it together

Today we see the launch of the Government’s new industrial strategy.  Five Live’s “Wake up to Money” program came from the white heat of a Coventry industrial research plant. Last week Nigel Wilson called for us to put back the Capital into Capitalism … Continue reading

Posted in pensions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Con Keating’s vision for CDC

Recently the TUC published a study, commissioned from and executed by the Pensions Policy Institute, of the variability of DC outcomes. They consider the fund performance and (annuitized) pension income for individuals retiring in each of the years 2000 – … Continue reading

Posted in pensions | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

A time of trust – not guarantees.

About the time that I was ranting to TISA about the complacency with which we are dismantling the retirement promises made to those who were promised a DB pension based on the years they worked with the company;- this happened! … Continue reading

Posted in CDC, DWP, FSA, Music, pensions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Is the USS really in crisis?

Professor Dennis Leech is Emeritus Professor of Economics at Warwick University. This week has seen the University Employers threaten to withdraw sponsorship for future DB accrual, the University Union announce intended strike action and the DWP Select Committee ask fundamental questions about … Continue reading

Posted in pensions, USS | Tagged , , , , , , | 16 Comments