Category Archives: Bankers

No win no fee – one way to clean up asset management

I met yesterday with a Swiss firm whose business is to reduce the investment costs for large investors (typically with €500m +). The model is simple, no retainer – they receive 50% of the savings from their work. They are a … Continue reading →

Posted in Bankers, Change, corporate governance, David Pitt-Watson, dc pensions, de-risking, Fred Goodwin, FSA, Management, napf, pension playpen, pensions, RBS, redington, Retirement, twitter | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Is this what your savings are paying for?

We have another Twickenham home international coming up, look out for your favourite analyst , he’ll be in one of the glass-fronted boxes . Continue reading →

Posted in Bankers, FSA, Twickenham | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Bothered about your pension wealth?

In the past few days I’ve had some fruity exchanges with Tom McPhail of Hargreaves Lansdowne about when people should start getting interested in managing their pension pot. Tom’s view is “as soon as savings begin, mine “when you can be bothered”. Hargreaves … Continue reading →

Posted in auto-enrolment, Bankers, dc pensions, Financial Education, First Actuarial, governance, hargreaves lansdowne, one pound fish, pensions | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

From aubergines to Amazon- the unstoppable Vivi Friedgut

I had been hoping to make an Amazon bulk purchase of Vivi Friedgut’s book “Money Smarter- a Family Guide” but have been frustrated by the book’s  being virtually sold out. It’s turning into a phenomenon and is on the verge of breaking into Amazon’s top … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, auto-enrolment, Bankers, dc pensions, Financial Education, governance, leadership, Linkedin, mallowstreet, pension playpen, pensions, Retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Who invited banks into schools?

What do the FT, Vivi Friedgut and Martin Lewis have in common? Answer; a common wish to keep banks out of schools! Why have I posted that stupid photo to this blog? Answer; because it demonstrates comparable imbecility of allowing banks … Continue reading →

Posted in annuity, Bankers, corporate governance, Financial Education, smelly, Student debt, zopa | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

“Pensions aren’t dead yet!” January pension play pen lunch

At an unusually passionate lunch, notable for the absence of the principal villain, Michael Johnson, the Play Pen set about putting pensions to rights. For those not in the loop, the Telegraph posted an article espousing the views of the aforementioned Johnson which … Continue reading →

Posted in actuaries, Bankers, pension playpen, pensions, Popcorn Pensions, Public sector pensions, Retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Don’t put your swaptions on the stage Mrs Redington!

This post has been prompted by the very progressive @redingtontweets feed which recently asked it’s excited readership (Well me!) Would you be interested in a lower return on your #DC#pension in exchange for a perpetual floor of 80% of your #asset value? … Continue reading →

Posted in actuaries, auto-enrolment, Bankers, pension playpen, pensions, redington, social media | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Do investment consultants need qualifications?

failure cannot be attributed to poor investment consultancy, more to an absence of investment consultancy where it matters Continue reading →

Posted in actuaries, auto-enrolment, Bankers, corporate governance, dc pensions, de-risking, Financial Education, Liability Driven Investment, mallowstreet, pensions | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

More cobblers from investment experts on DC pensions

I am afraid I have to report yet more moronic thinking from the investment community showing their  disconnect with the ways and means of everyday folk. Example one is from Lyxor, who used to be called Societe Generale until they screwed … Continue reading →

Posted in auto-enrolment, Bankers, club pension, Consolation, dc pensions, defined aspiration, happiness, Liability Driven Investment, mallowstreet, NEST, pension playpen, pensions, Personal Accounts, Public sector pensions, with-profits | Tagged , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Why we need to say “NO” to pension guarantees!

On Monday the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries delivered a paper stating that it would be able to deliver a system of lock-in guarantees at a price of less than 1% pa of the fund that could be used by … Continue reading →

Posted in actuaries, annuity, auto-enrolment, Bankers, club pension, corporate governance, customer service, David Pitt-Watson, dc pensions, defined aspiration, EU Solvency II, FSA, happiness, Liability Driven Investment, NEST, pension playpen, pensions, Personal Accounts, Retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , | 15 Comments