Monthly Archives: November 2017

To Belfast with love

Posted on November 20, 2017 by henry tapper

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 →

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The nastiest, hardest problem in finance

Posted on November 19, 2017 by henry tapper

  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 , , , , , | 4 Comments

How will the Chancellor balance the pension books?

Posted on November 19, 2017 by henry tapper

  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 →

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“The belly of the beast” – Con Keating and the Investment Association

Posted on November 18, 2017 by henry tapper

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 , , , , | 2 Comments

A brave and timely response to UUK’s proposals

Posted on November 18, 2017 by henry tapper

  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 , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Getting away from it all

Posted on November 17, 2017 by henry tapper

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 →

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Taylor – the Full Monty or a stitch-up?

Posted on November 16, 2017 by henry tapper

  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 →

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What does a successful pension scheme look like? Derek Benstead

Posted on November 15, 2017 by henry tapper

  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 →

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Pension Advice; it’s all about getting paid.

Posted on November 15, 2017 by henry tapper

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

Posted on November 14, 2017 by henry tapper

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 →

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