Monthly Archives: July 2019

The impact of NDAs on pension outcomes

Posted on July 23, 2019 by

NDAs (non disclosure agreements), have been much in the news in the past week. The government says it will crack down on the use of workplace “gagging clauses” to cover up allegations of harassment, discrimination and assault. Many businesses use … Continue reading →

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How are our retirement savings actually doing?

Posted on July 22, 2019 by

    As indicated in the picture above, pension providers treat inquiries about past performance as carcinogenic. They do not go out of the way to tell us the value we’ve got for our money. I wonder how many people … Continue reading →

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Have pension freedoms really lost us £4bn?

Posted on July 21, 2019 by

So many of us warned at the time that pension ‘freedoms’ were a BAD idea. We were right. Ironic then that a former pension minister who so favoured it (annuities bad, cash good) is quoted in this Times investigation bemoaning … Continue reading →

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Is Direct Investment the way forward for pension savers?

Posted on July 20, 2019 by

  It’s a third of a century since Sid spread the word about the bargain of buying British Gas shares.  The dream of a shareholding democracy flickered, spluttered and was finally snuffed out by funds. Nowadays – direct investment in … Continue reading →

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Three reasons why we don’t need DB transfers

Posted on July 19, 2019 by

Of all the pension freedoms, the freedom to take a cash equivalent transfer value (CETV) from a defined benefit scheme came first and has done most damage to the pensions system Introduced by Norman Fowler in 1987 alongside the personal … Continue reading →

Posted in advice gap, pension playpen, pensions | 6 Comments

Preparing for getting old

Posted on July 18, 2019 by

  An excellent report launch. Thank you to our panel, Chair, report sponsors & event hosts. And to our guests https://t.co/l3LIXZB4vG @PeoplesPension @SOLLAadvice @dwppressoffice @dwppressoffice @DWP @MoneyPensionsUK @traverssmith @age_uk @WEALTHatwork @tish8515 @mac290964 pic.twitter.com/GFagDp3Ckb — Pensions Policy Inst (@PPI_Research) July 17, … Continue reading →

Posted in advice gap, pensions | 2 Comments

“Your pay-rise is a pension rise”

Posted on July 17, 2019 by

  I often “wake up to money” but not to this! In a discussion about when we last got a pay-rise, one listener mailed in that her boss told her “your pay-rise is a pension rise” It’s the first time … Continue reading →

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Pensions for all -not just the public sector

Posted on July 16, 2019 by

Although I’m pleased that pension promises to the Firemen and Judges are to be extended to all public sector employees, I’m sorry for the millions of private sector employees now in DC savings plans whose reasonable expectations were for a … Continue reading →

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Are DC trustees worth the money?

Posted on July 15, 2019 by

  It seems churlish to take up your Monday morning with matters of pensions governance, what with the cheers at Lords, Silverstone and Wimbledon sill ringing round the country but I will! My blog yesterday set out the case for … Continue reading →

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The DC Trust – a pension appendix

Posted on July 14, 2019 by

The appendix Nobody knows exactly why we have an appendix, but removing it isn’t harmful. Appendicitis typically starts with a pain in the middle of your tummy (abdomen) that may come and go. (NHS inform). I feel much the same about … Continue reading →

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