Monthly Archives: May 2018
GDPR – a contrarian view
I was going to entitle this piece “f*#k GDPR” but I have too many people I like, who live that dream, to risk offence. But I’ll be glad after 25th May, not to have to spend 30 minutes a day, … Continue reading
Posted in Blogging, brand, journalism, pensions
Tagged Blog, compliance, GDPR, May 25, pensions
3 Comments
“Fund pays”. How platforms hide the bills till it’s too late.
I published a blog over the weekend , which is rather better for the comments it’s attracted. Indeed there’s an argument to read the comments and ignore the blog! The blog asked “what’s the point of platforms?”. I hadn’t expected … Continue reading
If we can’t measure CETV take up, how can we manage it?
There’s a well known phrase “if you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it”. The Government can’t measure the extent of DB transfers and I conclude that they can’t govern the transfer process until they do. Here’s the … Continue reading
Posted in advice gap, pensions
Tagged CETV, FCA, ft, pensions, professional pensions, TPR, Transfer
5 Comments
Trade Unions; a necessary agent of change in our pension system
Turn to your weekend FT , you happy capitalists, and you will find two stories relating to monopoly of the big four accountants. The first is a comment piece by John Plender where he looks at why Government has … Continue reading
What’s the point of these fund platforms?
This is a comment from an IFA on the recent history of retail investment platforms in the UK. I find AJ Bell about the best, but they too have their moments. Aviva – Rubbish Aegon – Rubbish ATS – Rubbish … Continue reading
TPR boxes clever with a TKO ( may yet be a final round).
It’s been a bad week and a good week for tPR. Lesley Titcomb was clearly fed up with being bashed over the head by Frank Field over Carillion, though Field must be suffering from repetitive strain injuries himself. There is … Continue reading
Pensioning employee’s sleep ( with thanks to Kate Upcraft)
Not for the first time, I’m very grateful to Kate Upcraft for highlighting a pensions issue that impacts thousands of carers – but appears to be completely off the radar of most pension people. Kate is a freelance payroll consultant … Continue reading
Posted in auto-enrolment, pensions
Tagged Accountancy Age, AE, HMRC, ICAEW, Payroll, pensions, SCCS, sleep, Tax
3 Comments
Pension schemes hold record surplus
First Actuarial reveals a record surplus in its First Actuarial Best estimate (FAB) Index. The FAB Index – which provides the aggregate position of the UK’s 6,000 defined benefit (DB) pension schemes calculated using the best estimate expected return … Continue reading
University pensions! – Stay collective! Stay open!
Another good day for pensions! Yesterday was a good day for the collective pension scheme in Britain. I had breakfast at Cicero’s offices in the Old Bailey (not the courts). I was able to hear our Pensions Regulator talk openly about … Continue reading
Posted in pensions, USS
Tagged CDC, CWU, DB WinRS, first actuarial, pensions, Royal Mail, UCU, USS, UUK
2 Comments
What now for the new BSPS and its members?
I was sent an announcement yesterday about the new British Steel Pension Scheme. It’s a complicated message and I’ve tried to add comments that explain what each paragraph means in a little easier way. My comments are in green. They … Continue reading