Category Archives: Big Government
“Nine years ago today, the Budget nearly killed me” – Guy Opperman
This blog is about and by Guy Opperman – our pensions minister; it’s re-published with his permission. It was first published April 26th here Today’s date is etched on my memory, and it will be forever. On Tuesday … Continue reading
Let’s not slide back into the swamp!
After what they must consider a “decent period”, the insurers and the bankers have reappeared from the slimy depths like Grendel out to wreak revenge on consumers protected too long by Europe. The insurance and pensions industry is calling for … Continue reading
Posted in Bankers, Big Government, Brexit, pensions
Tagged ABI, Beowulf, Brexit, FCA, Grendel, Grendel's mother, Lloyds Banking Group, Mifid II, Solvency II
1 Comment
Three little pots went to market
The point of this blog is to show 1. One way of avoiding the damaging impact of the MPAA on future saving 2. The depth of knowledge needed to make good at retirement decisions (especially where there is no adviser … Continue reading
Posted in advice gap, age wage, Big Government, pensions
Tagged HMRC, MPAA, pension pots, pensions, pots, Tax, Three pot rule, TPAS, Tricial pots
3 Comments
We almost got a pensions dashboard….
It now seems unlikely that parliament will complete reading the Pensions Bill. The Bill introduces compulsion on employers to provide data to a pensions dashboard and it gives CDC the green light, at first for the Royal Mail and later … Continue reading
Posted in annuity, Big Government, pensions
Tagged CDC, Dashboard, Guy Opperman, Pension Dashboard, pensions
Leave a comment
Re-deploying our pension winners!
Webb for Regulator? This rumour has sparked a twitter storm among those who think Steve Webb is conflicted in potentially exercising the powers of the Pensions Regulator on policies he initiated as pensions minister. Exclusive: Sir Steve Webb, the former … Continue reading
Posted in Big Government, Blogging, pensions
Tagged Altmann, FCA, McClymont, pensions, TPR, Webb
2 Comments
Why pensions must bank on change! We need Open Pensions not a data monopoly.
Bounding on stage like he’d just won the 3.15 at Hexham, Guy Opperman exclaimed The occasion – a Prospect discussion called “Banking on Change; the discussion “what open banking could mean for you”. On an evening where BREXIT was whistling … Continue reading
Posted in advice gap, Bankers, Big Government, Blogging, pensions
Tagged Guy Opperman, Open Banking, pensions, Prospect
Leave a comment
The dashboard is dead – long live dashboards!
The following statement was made by Simon Kirby, then a Treasury Minister , in my presence on 12th September 2016 I think there are three main principles that must underpin (the dashboard’s) whole design. Firstly, it will need to be open. No single … Continue reading
Posted in advice gap, age wage, auto-enrolment, Bankers, Big Government, pensions
Tagged AgeWage, Beau Brummel, FinTech, Pension Bee, Pension Dashboard, Pension Tech, pensions, simon kirby
Leave a comment
Thinking the unthinkable – Frank’s at it again!
For a third inquiry in a row, Frank Field and the Work and Pensions Committee (WPC) – are asking difficult questions that need proper answers. Firstly they asked if the pension freedoms were working – a question that led to … Continue reading
Frank Field helps us spend our pensions
Here is the main recommendation of Frank Field and the Workplace Pension Select Committee’sfinal report of its inquiry into Pension freedom and choice published today. We recommend every pension provider offering drawdown is required, by April 2019, to offer a default … Continue reading
Posted in advice gap, auto-enrolment, Big Government, pensions
Tagged CDC, Frank Field, Mid life MOT, NEST, pensions, Pensions Dashboard, Work and Pensions Selecto Comittee
2 Comments
Are DB pensions benefiting from CETV de-risking?
It’s a fair question for a blogger to ask. I don’t have the answer and suspect that you’d get a different reply depending on who you asked. Here are the facts According to Hymans Robertson , The total value … Continue reading
Posted in annuity, Big Government, BSPS, pensions
Tagged de-risking, DWP, FCA, Hyman Robertson, LCP, ONS, pensions, Train crash
1 Comment