http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/1042965.stm  !   25 years ago!

I have had a lot of fuming from my older friends over comments about “wrinklies moaning” (probably a misrepresentation of what Government is saying about the Pension PlayPen but certainly something that brings us together!)

Here is Jnamdoc who I sense is “mature”! He points out that intergenerational solidity is rather better than pulling up the drawbridge! The social contract exists between young and old and as soon as you try and exclude one part of society, the contract falls apart!

Surely the point is that the relationship is symbiotic? A pension is but bits of paper wrapped around regulations (more words). Its all part of the social contract, or, another form of (more dignified) social security

The source of income to meet those ‘promises’ comes from and only from the productive sector of the demographic. Economics and history tells us we must invest in and reward those callow youths to enable them to generate the economic output needed to pay our pensions. History tells us also that if we do not the youths will re-write the social contracts in their favour by fair or foul means.

As to ‘the old wrinklies’, we know that also amongst our number are many of the leading thinkers and influencers driving change in our industry for the good and for the many. We should take it as a huge compliment that Gov’t even feels the need to disparage us. They tried the same tactic over the LDI debacle, labelling us ‘dinosaurs’ who didn’t understand these new ways of doing things, and very well that worked out too !

We’re not shackled by the short term electoral biases or political masters, and bring perspectives shaped by experience, knowledge and actual delivery, for the many.

There are many things that fall away in the second half of your life , some physical , some mental. But there are things that grow with you as you age and maturity comes from experience. We should not exclude young people from the Pension PlayPen meetings nor should they choose to exclude themselves. It is quite remarkable how many good discussions have happened because of the clash of young energy and older maturity.

Thanks Jnamdoc and thanks to all who are shaping the Pension PlayPen into what it should be, a society that gives a voice to everyone and access to cross-generational conversations you are unlikely to have elsewhere.

A big thanks to all who’ve been contributing to the discussions we’ve had on this blog and in our Tuesday mornings. May there be many more – you cannot learn experience, you can just have it!