Category Archives: annuity
The ground moving under us.
What I like about August is that it gives you a little space. Nothing much gets done because at least one decision maker is away and we’re all waiting for September. The French just forget about working in August. Because … Continue reading
Posted in advice gap, annuity, pensions, Pensions Regulator
Tagged advice, alignment, auto enrolment, change, EET, FAMR, Pension Freedoms, pensions, Retirement, Strategy, strategy group, Tax, TEE
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GARs – a simpler way out for insurers…
This blog offers insurers a simple way out of the problem they have with Guaranteed Annuity Rates- it means paying the reserved for value of the policy rather than the (lower) investment value of the contributions. By way of explanation.. … Continue reading
Posted in annuity, EU Solvency II, investment, London, Pension Freedoms, pension playpen, pensions, Pensions Regulator
Tagged advice, Annuity Rates, defined benefit, Equitable Life Assurance Society, Equity, Guaranteed Annuity Rates, Ros Altmann, Royal London, The Equitable, Transfer values
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Is commission really dying?
There has been nothing that has so harmed the image of pensions over the past thirty years as the deception of commission. I don’t want to use phrases such as “lack of transparency” or words like “opacity” words like these … Continue reading
Posted in annuity, Payroll, pension playpen, pensions
Tagged advisers, annuity, auto enrolment, Business, Commission, DWP, FCA, Freedoms, Human Resources, pension, Pension new, pension playpen, pensions, Retirement, the deception
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Let’s not get caught with our trousers down (again).
The reason we have NEST and its £400m debt to the tax-payer is that the private sector refused to commit to supporting auto-enrolment ten years ago. If the organisations like Legal & General, Standard Life and Aviva , could have … Continue reading
Posted in annuity, CDC, Pensions Regulator
Tagged ABI, Actuarial science, annuity, auto enrolment, Business, CDC, collective drawdown, dc pensions, decumulation, Drawdown, Employment, Financial services, financial services industry, Government, IA, Mick Mcateer, NAPF, National Employment Savings Trust, NEST, Pension new, pension playpen, pensions, Retirement, Steve Webb, Target Pensions
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When you’re 64… buy the state pension! (girls buy even earlier!)
I chaired and spoke at a number of retirement income seminars last month – you may have been at one. While I was encouraged by the engagement and education of the audience in financial products, I was frustrated by the scope … Continue reading
Posted in actuaries, annuity
Tagged DWP, GAD, IFA, Income, Inflation, Longevity, Old age, old age pension, Retirement, retirement income, Single state pensin, state pension, state pensions
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“How were those freedoms for you?” – Two events to help us find out!
The press offices of all the major insurers have been busy printing announcements of how they have seen a tenfold increase in enquiries about pension benefits this week. Pension Wise has been open for bookings and Michelle Cracknell and the TPAS … Continue reading
Dissemblance and dissolution
Britain’s most famous advert was produced by Ridley Scott for Hovis, it put my town Shaftesbury on the map for many people. A fake Hovis loaf still sits at the top of Gold Hill up which the young … Continue reading
Posted in annuity, Matisse cut-outs, pensions
Tagged Gold Hill, Government, Hockney, LGPS, pensions, Shaftesbury, St edward king and martyr
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Knowing the “money” in “value for money”.
At last we may get to know what we really pay for the management of our funds so we can work out it it’s worth it. Continue reading
Posted in accountants, actuaries, annuity, investment, pensions, Pensions Regulator, risk
Tagged ABI, Business, call for evidence, calue, charges, costs, Defined benefit pension plan, DWP, Employment, FCA, Financial services, fund management, Government, IA, Insurance, Transaction costs, transfers, Value for Money
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The long walk to pension freedom
There is a walk to pension freedom – it needn’t be that long if we can get advice right. Continue reading
Posted in annuity, pensions, Pensions Regulator
Tagged Citizens Advice, FCA, Freedom, House, IFA, pension, pension freedom, pension transfers, TPAS
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How Government can ensure capacity for good pensions advice and provision
There are concerns over whether the UK has enough spare power capacity over the coming years. So to ensure the lights stay on the government is offering electricity producers a “capacity payment”, which is a payment simply for having power … Continue reading