Monthly Archives: August 2023
For better pensions we need better buyers.
Let’s be clear what this headline is saying and what it’s not saying. What it is saying. The headline, based on research by Chris Sier and Clearglass, tells us that UK pension funds are over-paying for investment management. That’s because … Continue reading
Should DB transfers be paid “at the trustee’s discretion”?
The FCA is finally working out a tenable position on the taking of DB transfer values. I suspect that it now considers anyone who would rather have a pension pot rather than a pension “vulnerable”. Which is a pretty … Continue reading
The silliness of pension transfer values
Anyone who can make sense of this graph needs to have a very warped sense of value. It represents the value to an actuary of a £10,000 pa pension due to a 64 year old member of a DB scheme … Continue reading
Marginal improvements in fund management won’t float pension’s boat.
In this blog, I argue that fund management is one lever but not the key to solving systemic problems in pensions and the wider economy. Consolidation of funds may bring marginal improvements to the economy and fund performance, but the … Continue reading
What has the Pensions Regulator ever done for us? – Robin Ellison
For those not able to make the Pension PlayPen coffee morning today, here – in his own words- is the gist of his remarks. You can follow them in bullets on the powerpoint and we will be posting the video … Continue reading
AgeWage’s mansion house consultation responses
We’ve been thinking a lot about the consultation papers that have been issued following Jeremy Hunt’s Mansion House speech. Some of the consultations are responses, some calls for evidence and some seem to be genuinely moving towards a change in … Continue reading
Fraser Smart – greatly loved and sorely missed.
In the saddest of news, we learned today, that Fraser Smart died last Wednesday at too young an age Fraser was married to Sarah, Chair of the Pensions Regulator and his devoted companion during his recent battle with cancer. He … Continue reading
Tax no-one , promise nothing – Labour’s power-grab.
Reading George Parker’s round up of the shadow Chancellor’s recent public statements , it’s pretty clear that Labour’s economic strategy is currently about making as little disturbance as possible as their boat glides smoothly on its way. Reeves confirmed Labour … Continue reading
The case against the Pension Regulator; Robin Ellison 10.30 am today.
I’m looking forward to chatting with Robin at next Tuesday’s Pension PlayPen coffee morning. You can be part of the conversation by logging into or registering at http://www.pensionplaypen.com. The direct link to the webinar is here <https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_MDkxNmUxOTgtMDcwOC00M2EyLWE3OGYtYWVlOTM1NTU5ODk0%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%22733793a9-e9e3-4238-95c9-e3e2e46fca6a%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%2239b1b8b9-6d36-44d5-bf9e-64e1dfb760d5%22%7d> Robin and the … Continue reading
Pension ESG, a new battleground for US culture wars.
Can you sue your pension fund for investing with due consideration to ESG principles? That’s the question being argued in the courts between a group of members of the New York City defined benefit pension fund and their pension scheme. … Continue reading