Monthly Archives: November 2017
To Belfast with love
I’m off to Belfast today to talk with Brian Spence and the Dalriada trustees. They’ve been billed the Regulator’s Rottweiler and I didn’t do much for their brand by dubbing them “Rentokil”. My day-out is partly to build commercial links … Continue reading
The nastiest, hardest problem in finance
For all the emotion surrounding transfer values, it’s worth taking a step back and ask the simple question “should I stay or should I go”. In July, John Ralfe wrote what (for me) is still the best summary of the situation … Continue reading
Posted in BSPS, pensions
Tagged BSPS, CETV, decisions, Gavin Henson, John Ralfe, pensions
4 Comments
How will the Chancellor balance the pension books?
Those who see pensions as the fat underbelly of Government spending undoubtedly include the Treasury, who are busy sifting through their options this weekend in readiness for the Chancellor’s Autumn budget on Thursday. One of the rituals of modern … Continue reading
Posted in pensions
3 Comments
“The belly of the beast” – Con Keating and the Investment Association
Con Keating is not everybody’s cup of tea, but he’s mine – especially when he’s after transparency. This shows him with a timely warning to those who think leaving transparency in the hands of the Investment Association is a good … Continue reading
Posted in actuaries, advice gap, pensions
Tagged Con Keating, Funds, Investment Association, Portfolio Turnover Rate, Transparency
2 Comments
A brave and timely response to UUK’s proposals
I was wondering how to react to news that the UUK (the employers of university staff) is proposing to axe future Defined Benefit accrual into the USS. Anger or sorrow seemed the two main candidates as I flew back last night. I was … Continue reading
Posted in advice gap, pensions, Trades Union Congress
Tagged defined benefit, Hilary Salt, John Ralfe, pensions, UCU, USS, UUK
7 Comments
Getting away from it all
Ten days ago, Al Rush and I were steaming down the motorway in Al’s £850 Jaguar to Port Talbot. When we got there met some steel workers and some retired steelworkers and people who ran the rugby club and we met … Continue reading
Taylor – the Full Monty or a stitch-up?
I was asked to comment on the impact of the Taylor Report on Payroll at the Reward Autumn Update. Though I had been promised a script from Matthew Taylor himself, it never turned up – maybe I was stitched … Continue reading
Posted in pensions
Tagged auto enrolment, gig-economy, Matthew Taylor, pensions, PPI, self-employed, Zurich
1 Comment
What does a successful pension scheme look like? Derek Benstead
On Monday night, I attended an actuarial sessional in Staples Inn. This may sound dangerously close to masonry. It was a worthy use of two hours- though it is actuaries only and I suffered (I kept my mouth shut … Continue reading
Pension Advice; it’s all about getting paid.
I have read and listened to a lot about professional integrity. Having been an IFA and being now a fee-based consultant, I know that the first thought you go to bed with (and wake up with) is “how am I going to get … Continue reading
Posted in BSPS, dc pensions, de-risking, pensions
4 Comments
L&G; a smooth operator with an open IGC
For an Independent Governance Committee to work, there must be a means for it to interact with its membership in a meaningful way. L&G – uniquely to my knowledge – offer policyholders of their workplace pension the opportunity to come to … Continue reading
Posted in IGC, pensions
Tagged auto enrolment, dermot coutier, FCA, IGC, L&G, LGIM, pensions, Transaction costs, Transparency, workplace Pensions
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