Monthly Archives: January 2025

Defined Benefit Pension Funding – Iain Clacher & Con Keating

Defined Benefit Pension Funding Iain Clacher & Con Keating The article  appears in the Securities Institute Review which is the house magazine of the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investment (CISI) It is here  In a range of conference presentations, … Continue reading

Posted in pensions | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Value for Money should be measured by “pensions” not “wealth”

Thanks to my friends at Optimum Pensions for this marvellous puff, it includes a picture of me 20 years ago but the quote is bang up to date. “Australian pension” is an oxymoron when applied to Superfunds, A Superfund is … Continue reading

Posted in pensions | 2 Comments

Should shareholders challenge unnecessary de-risking of DB pensions?

Yesterday we heard from John Towner, today we hear from Pensions Oldie. Pensions Oldie must not be unmasked ( a condition of publication) but he is known to me as a kind gentleman whose views are articulated with a depth … Continue reading

Posted in pensions | 2 Comments

Pensions (not annuities) are in his DNA! Can I change John Towner’s mind?

John Towner is in charge of L&G bulk annuities and you might expect me to take issue with him as I see bulk annuities too often as value destroyers. I have written recently of my disproval of L&G for creating … Continue reading

Posted in pensions | 1 Comment

Why cycleways can be killers (a personal tale)

Through my door in my Blackfriars flat comes a leaflet that asks me to comment on a proposal to build a cycleway from Aldgate to Blackfriars. I am grateful to comment. On 15th of November I cycled on the CS7 … Continue reading

Posted in pensions | 7 Comments

Are pension funders turning against insured annuities?

  This time last year I was reading about 2024 being a bumper year for buy-ins and buy-outs. The link’s to an excellent WTW report which is partially a marketing document for the months to come. It was published in … Continue reading

Posted in pensions | Tagged , | 4 Comments

West Hollywood – could it wake up the world?

Those of us not immersed in the Hollywood epic may be asking why a natural disaster that has resulted in a relatively small number of casualties is grabbing all the attention. The answer may be in this brilliant picture, posted … Continue reading

Posted in pensions | 2 Comments

How strong is Britain’s DB funding? The video trustees and sponsors should not ignore

  I expect that this issue will continue to receive minimal attention on this from the consultancy teams advising trustees on funding, from the press which is generally driven by he consultants and from the majority of pension experts who’s … Continue reading

Posted in age wage, pension playpen | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

A blog to put stout boots on pension people facing the snow

    The month is moving on and so must I. Today I will leave my rehabilitation in Shaftesbury – Dorset.  Outside my mother’s house there is snow  and I anticipate problems that probably won’t happen. I see similar problems … Continue reading

Posted in pensions | 1 Comment

Keating asks do ONS numbers predict a bleaker path for DB schemes?

The following slides have been described as “academic”, “hard” and “dry”. I do not publish them to promote this blog in sensational style. Yesterday Con Keating talked us through the numbers with a stern discipline. The video is yet to … Continue reading

Posted in pensions | 1 Comment