Monthly Archives: March 2018

DIY Pension Diagnostics – (a data dream)

Posted on March 31, 2018 by

  Most of us know how hard it is to see a Doctor these days, and how easy it is to get medical help online. Most people I know will consult the internet rather before ringing the surgery. If only … Continue reading →

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

Why consumers need better choices; (explaining CDC to a merchant banker)

Posted on March 30, 2018 by

We need to find new ways to explain CDC to a wider audience – even merchant bankers! Continue reading →

Posted in CDC, pensions | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

Don’t blame advisers for non-advised drawdown!

Posted on March 29, 2018 by

“Savers accessing the burgeoning non-advised drawdown market are failing to engage with information, investing in unsuitable investments and risking running out of money in retirement, an FCA probe has found”. – John Greenwood – Corporate Adviser. You can read the … Continue reading →

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

Is a ban on contingent fees “RDR 2”?

Posted on March 28, 2018 by

Firstly an apology, some of my readers yesterday, considered the analogy between the fate of Syrian cities and UK pension schemes distasteful. I write a lot, I don’t always get it right – I don’t mean to offend- but sometimes … Continue reading →

Posted in pensions | 4 Comments

Why I love and loath libertarians; my tribute to Malcolm Small

Posted on March 27, 2018 by

Today is Malcolm Small’s funeral and I – and I hope others – will be descending on Bath this evening for the service and the wake. I didn’t know Malcolm well, I knew him badly. We quarrelled a lot, as … Continue reading →

Posted in pensions | Tagged , | 3 Comments

There’s nothing democratic about genocide. FCA should stop “contingent charging” today.

Posted on March 27, 2018 by

The FCA have published two papers on transfers A policy paper CP 18/6 “Improving the quality of pension transfer advice and A consultation paper  CP 18/7 “advising on pension transfers”. The upshot of which is that The FCA has gone back to … Continue reading →

Posted in BSPS, de-risking, Henry Tapper blog, pensions | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Are DB pensions benefiting from CETV de-risking?

Posted on March 26, 2018 by

  It’s a fair question for a blogger to ask. I don’t have the answer and suspect that you’d get a different reply depending on who you asked. Here are the facts According to Hymans Robertson , The total value … Continue reading →

Posted in annuity, Big Government, BSPS, pensions | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

“Too prudent for its own good” – how under-risking DB schemes causes new problems.

Posted on March 25, 2018 by

Someone , somewhere on the multiple threads surrounding USS, has asked me if I think that transfers out of USS are likely to be the next miss-selling scandal.  I think it unlikely, and to explain why, I need to explain … Continue reading →

Posted in actuaries, advice gap, annuity, pensions | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Three seasons of boating on Lady Lucy

Posted on March 24, 2018 by

  I am in love with the river Thames, all my money goes into boats – (apart from the horse!). Over the weekend, I’ve been organising the boating schedule for Lady Lucy. Last year I had over 400 guests on … Continue reading →

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“If not ACAS – who?” No end in sight to the USS dispute.

Posted on March 24, 2018 by

The dispute between the University employers (UUK) and their teaching staff (UCU), shows no sign of resolution. Indeed, with students breaking for their Easter holidays, impulsion for a settlement has now reduced. There would have been little teaching done over … Continue reading →

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