Monthly Archives: August 2018
Why funds should be free!
My friend Robin Powell has produced a series of disruptive info graphics around comments he’s garnered following Fidelity’s announcement of “free funds”. He’s also written a good blog on the subject. Of course “free funds” is a disruptive idea and … Continue reading
Posted in advice gap, hedge funds, pensions
Tagged #TEBI, Fidelity, free, free funds, Funds, Hedge Funds, Ondex trackers, Robin Powell
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AgeWage submission to the WPC on Pension Transparency
I am submitting evidence on behalf of AgeWage, a company set up to help people work out if they are getting value for money from their pensions (and pension advice). I am a Director of First Actuarial and Founder of … Continue reading
Posted in pensions
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Do pension customers get value for money from financial advisers?
This is the last of eight blogs I’ve written in response to the Work and Pensions Select Committee’s inquiry into Pension Transparency. Today’s exam question is “Do pension customers get value for money from financial advisers?” and the quick answer … Continue reading
Posted in pensions, WPC
Tagged advice, Chive, Financial adviser, HL, IFA, internet, pensions, RDR, SJP, Technology
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Do IGC’s improve our value for money?
This is the 7th and penultimate blog , addressing the Work & Pensions Select Committee’s questions on pension transparency. This time the exam question is Are Independent Governance Committees effective in driving value for money? My short answer is that … Continue reading
Posted in pensions, WPC
Tagged IGC, L&G, Marketing, pensions, Prudential, Royal London, Technology, VFM, WPC
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How easy is it to leave a bad pension plan?
This is the 6th of 8 blogs I’m writing which address the questions asked by the Work and Pensions Select Committee. Today’s exam question is If customers are unhappy with their providers’ costs and investment performance/strategy, are there barriers to … Continue reading
Posted in pensions
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How important is investment transparency to savers?
This is the 5th of a series of eight blogs addressing the eight questions posed by the WPC. Today’s exam question is How important is investment transparency to savers? A short answer is ” a lot more important than most … Continue reading
Posted in advice gap, pensions, WPC
Tagged chris sier, Fidelity, Hargreaves Lansdown, IGC, pensions, Transparency
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How can savers be encouraged to engage with their savings?
This is the 4th of eight blogs considering the questions put to us by the Work and Pensions Select Committee. Today’s exam question… How can savers be encouraged to engage with their savings? Quick answer; either we can convince … Continue reading
Posted in auto-enrolment, pensions, WPC
Tagged auto enrolment, Dashboard, digital, Engagement, IGC, nudge, Savings, trustee, WPC
7 Comments
Should we be empowering consumers or regulating providers?
Well we’re on to question three – all the proposed eight blogs will be sent to WPC as our evidence – when I mean “our”- I mean mine – and the thoughts of anyone who cares to comment. So here’s this morning’s exam … Continue reading
Posted in pensions, WPC
Tagged auto enrolment, CDC, FCA, pensions, TPR, workplace Pensions, WPC
2 Comments
Workplace pensions – value for money?
This is the second of eight blogs answering the questions set out in the Work and Pension Select’s inquiry into transparency in pensions. The idea is that this blog, together with comments from anyone who chooses, will go to … Continue reading
Posted in advice gap, pensions
Tagged DWP, FCA, IGC, NEST, People's Pension, TPR, trust, workplace Pensions
6 Comments
Opacity pays! Shock revelation from Pension PlayPen lunch
In a top-secret pension playpen lunch – details of which have been leaked to the Pension Plowman – key industry figures agreed that opacity pays! Despite the WPC call for responses to its transparency paper, the secretive group are understood to … Continue reading