"A couple might scrape together a combined private capital base of £240,000 provides only around £9,600 to £11,000 per year…
Aitken is most concerned with life insurers/assurers. Warren Buffett invested in non-life insurers for their distinctive economics, particularly the investment…
Agreed - though the contribution rates into private sector DB when we were accruing was often less than deficit payments…
my point is a simple one. Apart from DB pension provision in the U.K. is a disgrace Individual Median Pension…
Monthly Archives: August 2025
Swan Festivals can still be free – with ukulele
Last night I was with Windsor Ukulele in the cowshed of the Swan Pub. They were rehearsing, we were having another free jamboree. I’ve been given a bit of ribbing by the er “younger” generation for slagging off the rip-off … Continue reading
Intervention by Altmann and Bowles to save investment trusts for DC pensions
It is inevitable that in drafting pension legislation as ambitious as the Pension Schemes Bill, mistakes are inadvertently made. It seems a mistake has been made stopping investment companies (investment trusts) from being part of the decumulation funds we look … Continue reading
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Tagged 'investment trusts, Altmann, bowles, Investment companies, Pensions Schemes Bill, Stone
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An odd thing happening in America with “Tontine” pensions.
Last Friday the USA , under Trump made it clear that things were changing Privately quoted assets, even Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies on the way but most extraordinary (vi) income strategies including longevity risk-sharing pools. In Britain we’d interpret this … Continue reading
I am no clearer understanding Bitcoin but I love the video and the chat!
We had Sam Roberts of Cartwright (supported by Ian McKnight from the audience) and Josh Spence of Goddard Perry, to explain to us the value of Bitcoin. Here is the video The question that remains in my mind is “is … Continue reading
PensionsOldie and the risks of closed personal pensions.
There are a string of comments on my recent blogs suggesting that 7% would be a sensible conversion rate for DC pots defaulting to retirement income. But Pensions Oldie sees potential problems of making promises without protecting you from people … Continue reading
“Bitcoin and Pensions” – really? This morning 10.30 am
Coffee Morning – Bitcoin & Pensions …Really?? CPD included Type – Online When – Tuesday 12th August 2025 at 10:30am You are cordially invited to join us for this morning’s Coffee Morning event where we enter the world of Bitcoin! We … Continue reading
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Tagged bitcoin, Cartwright, GPC, Josh Spence, pension playpen, Pensions, Sam Roberts
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Do we need a guidance guarantee? Will VFM and the Pension Dashboard do?
In 2014, the pension freedoms came with a Guidance guarantee. It is still in place but little used. It has been overtaken by the pension platform and most recently by the decumulation defaults introduced by the Pension Schemes Bill. The … Continue reading
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Tagged flexibility, increases, pension, rates, Security, Value for Money
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The Rolls Royce of pensions is now owned by American private equity
The FT report on the FT through Lee Harris and Martin Arnold. Demand for Penson Risk Transfer (PRT) deals is expected to reach £500bn by 2033, according to estimates from consultancy LCP. Insurers specialising in the arrangements have, meanwhile, become prime takeover … Continue reading
A DB Trustee gives us an history lesson on tax free cash
As a DB trustee, I sometimes wondered where the 25% tax free lump sum came from. Apparently it started back in an Edwardian age, when civil servants were granted a lump sum at retirement in return for a lower pension … Continue reading
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Tagged Business, Derek scott, Financial services, Pensions, Retirement, tax free cash
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Why don’t we treat our savings plans as pensions? – I wonder!
People think of pensions as the state pension and the things that people who work for the Government or are in their fifties and older, got from companies. They do not think of workplace pensions as providing them with retirement … Continue reading
The image of pension professionals putting on their stout boots to face the snow is a good reminder that preparation…