Category Archives: Consolation

The trusted word

Posted on January 3, 2014 by

This is the model for what we are doing with Pension PlayPen, an attempt to harness the energy and credibility of a linked in group, the probity of an actuarial practice and the needs of advisers, employers and regulators to see through a great endeavour, the wholesale adoption of funded workplace pensions into our business culture.
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Posted in actuaries, advice gap, Consolation, First Actuarial, Linkedin, mallowstreet, poetry, Retirement, welfare, workplace pensions | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Imaginary terror exposed

Posted on August 30, 2013 by

The decision by the House of Commons not to agree (even in principle) to Britain’s military intervention in Syria was surprising and uplifting. There will be three immediate consequences. 1. We will not open yet another front on the war … Continue reading →

Posted in Change, Consolation, Syria, welfare | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The Vision of the Plowman

Posted on August 18, 2013 by

The “Vision of the Pension Plowman” is a bastardisation of the title of a 14th century english Poet (William Langland’s) great poem, “the Vision of Piers Plowman”. In this great book, the Plowman falls asleep by a stream and dreams … Continue reading →

Posted in Consolation, defined aspiration, Henry Tapper blog, pension playpen, poetry, social media, welfare | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Time for action on pension fund costs.

Posted on August 13, 2013 by

It is in everyone’s interest to clean up pensions. Whether you are a fiduciary or a practitioner, whether you regulate or run a trade body, if you want a healthy respected industry in 20 years, you need to change your attitude/practice/tolerance now.
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Posted in actuaries, brand, CDC, Consolation, pensions, target date funds | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Pension agnostic?

Posted on February 18, 2013 by

An “agnostic” is someone who knows he cannot know and so gives up trying to find out. You hear the phrase “pension agnostic” bandied around at the moment, mainly from the providers of ancillary services that help companies auto-enrol. If you key … Continue reading →

Posted in actuaries, Consolation, corporate governance, dc pensions, defined aspiration, Fiduciary Management, Financial Education, First Actuarial, hargreaves lansdowne, pension playpen, pensions, Retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Never mind the width – feel the quality!

Posted on January 15, 2013 by

  In the heyday of occupational pension provision, offering membership to a company pension scheme sent a clear message to staff that the company was confident in its future and cared for its human resource. When defined benefit schemes were first … Continue reading →

Posted in auto-enrolment, Consolation, dc pensions, Financial Education, pensions | Tagged , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

More cobblers from investment experts on DC pensions

Posted on October 31, 2012 by

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

“The older I get, the less I trust my pension!”

Posted on September 30, 2012 by

An interesting observation from Gerry Barwell in 140 characters When I interview consumers on AE/ wider pensions – the barrier of mistrust is significant. Less so in the young but for 40+ Which gives us the opportunity to speculate on … Continue reading →

Posted in actuaries, annuity, auto-enrolment, CDC, Consolation, pensions, Personal Accounts, Popcorn Pensions, Retail Distribution Review, Retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

The 6 People You Need in Your Corner

Posted on July 18, 2012 by

I voted for the Taskmaster Continue reading →

Posted in Consolation, leadership, Management, social media | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Born to overrun – Springsteen dancing in the park

Posted on July 14, 2012 by

Last night Hyde Park hosted  80,000 mesmerised spectators who stood in the rain and listened to Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band ,  joined by Sir Paul McCartney – the legend. Here’s the video footage of the two singing “I saw her standing … Continue reading →

Posted in Bankers, Consolation, Greece, happiness, pension playpen, springstee, Springsteen, The Racket of the Lambs | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments