Monthly Archives: October 2018

The Treasury could make muppets of us all!

Posted on October 31, 2018 by henry tapper

  With something like 50m as a target customer base, the Treasury’s announcement that they will be allocating £5m to the Pensions Dashboard , suggests it is worth around 10p per tax-payer next year. My maths might be deficient , … Continue reading →

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“GMP equalisation” – will the geeks inherit the earth?

Posted on October 30, 2018 by henry tapper

Few pension experts expect GMP equalisation to change people’s lives. The Daily Express’ headline “Millions of women to share pension windfall” is plain wrong. GMP equalisation can benefit men as well as women. The Express, reckon 8,000 out of 235,000 … Continue reading →

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Was that “do-nothing” budget good or bad for pensions?

Posted on October 30, 2018 by henry tapper

We are naturally conservative, resisting change while demanding improvements. We cannot have it both ways! Maintaining the status quo – as yesterday’s budget did, will please those who hate tinkering but displease those who see the current system as broken. … Continue reading →

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Do academics have special rights of pleading?

Posted on October 29, 2018 by henry tapper

Peer review is the evaluation of work by one or more people of similar competence to the producers of the work. It constitutes a form of self-regulation by qualified members of a profession within the relevant field. Peer review methods … Continue reading →

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Young people thinking about money

Posted on October 28, 2018 by henry tapper

I’ve been asked to pontificate on how we should make pensions relevant for the young, in 750 words. My audience won’t be young and nor am I. In every sense of the word, this is a paternalistic project. If I’m … Continue reading →

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Financial Economics = Scorched Earth

Posted on October 27, 2018 by henry tapper

John Kiff rolled his tank onto my lawn this morning. Well he can roll it off again and take his flamethrowers with him. For in the long march back from Moscow, Kiff, Ralfe & Co are doing their best to … Continue reading →

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GMP equalisation – what a waste of time and money

Posted on October 27, 2018 by henry tapper

I’m too close to the Lloyds Banking Group two year legal case against its trustees to venture opinion on the rights or wrongs of the legal decision. I simply hope that the judgement turns out to be the least worst option. … Continue reading →

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Pre-budget apprehension

Posted on October 26, 2018 by henry tapper

There is nothing like the threat of losing a tax-break to get people to value it. The Annual Allowance is under threat, so the Money Purchase Allowance, there are some still worried about higher rate tax-relief on contributions. In my … Continue reading →

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Some odd things about partial transfers.

Posted on October 25, 2018 by henry tapper

There’s a debate going on between Al Rush, Jo Cumbo, Steve Webb and a number of others with regards partial transfers from defined benefit schemes. Want to go 50:50 with a “final salary” pension transfer? Ford will soon let employees … Continue reading →

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The blog I’d like to write – but Nick Cave wrote it first!

Posted on October 24, 2018 by henry tapper

The Red Hand Files ISSUE #5 / OCTOBER 2018 WARREN AND ME, IN THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART, MEXICO CITY, DISCUSSING THE WISDOM OF REFORMING GRINDERMAN. Dear All, Now that there are well over a thousand questions – all of … Continue reading →

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