Category Archives: corporate governance

Rich Hedgehogs, poor clients

Posted on January 11, 2012 by henry tapper

From the Economist HEDGE-fund managers are the smartest investors around. With keen eyes and sharp brains, they spot and exploit inefficiencies in the markets. Or at least that is what the industry tells its clients. There is no doubt that hedge-fund … Continue reading →

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Popcorn pensions

Posted on January 10, 2012 by henry tapper

I was sitting in Kentucky Fried Chicken with my friend Mr Peter Shellswell last week. We were eating the salad in case you are wondering. Popcorn chicken and gravy is my fave but we’d decided to be good. Continue reading →

Posted in auto-enrolment, corporate governance, customer service, dc pensions, de-risking, EU Solvency II, Fiduciary Management, mallowstreet, pension playpen, Retirement, social media | Tagged , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Pension Equality? Don’t make me laugh.

Posted on January 7, 2012 by henry tapper

Great news, – a group of civil servants (the National Audit Office) have decided to audit the work of another group of civil servants (the Pension Regulator) reporting to another group of civil servants (the DWP). The point of the audit is … Continue reading →

Posted in annuity, Bankers, corporate governance, dc pensions, de-risking, Liberal Democrats, Martin Lewis, NEST, pension playpen, pensions, Retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Sorting the pensions of the “squeezed middle”.

Posted on January 5, 2012 by henry tapper

There are three distinct streams among those old enough to work and young enough not to, Stream One is for  those who can look forward to retirement with a degree of confidence because their employer is guaranteeing it. They are primarily … Continue reading →

Posted in annuity, Bankers, corporate governance, dc pensions, de-risking, EU Solvency II, Fiduciary Management, FSA, Henry Tapper blog, Liability Driven Investment, Martin Lewis, NEST, pensions, Personal Accounts, Retail Distribution Review, Retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Don’t tell me what to do – give me advice!

Posted on January 2, 2012 by henry tapper

In a recent polldaddy poll I asked whether people would pay for advice to get information, find out their options or to be told what to do. 60% of people wanted options , 30% wanted to be told what to do and 10% … Continue reading →

Posted in corporate governance, customer service, dc pensions, de-risking, pensions, Retail Distribution Review, Retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

ABI and the OMO- guest blog by Alan Higham

Posted on December 23, 2011 by henry tapper

ABI Consultation Paper on OMO Code of Conduct Posted on December 23, 2011 by Alan Higham The ABI has finally been pressed into taking some meaningful attempt to improve the outcomes people have at retirement. The ABI has a number … Continue reading →

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My five big challenges for twenty twelve

Posted on December 22, 2011 by henry tapper

If I thought I’d be here twelve months ago I wouldn’t have bothered. I’d have gone straight to jail, not passed go and not collected my £200. I reckon most of us would have preferred to be on the subs … Continue reading →

Posted in annuity, Bankers, corporate governance, customer service, dc pensions, NEST, Retirement, Salford Quays, social media, Treasury | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

(S)hell’s well at Christmas

Posted on December 21, 2011 by henry tapper

Popped into a Shell garage this morning – big sign tells me that I get 2 p off a litre if I buy a fourpack of Red Bull. I fancy giving a fourpack to my colleague and chum Peter Shellswell (real name) who survives on Morrisons own label energy drinks. … Continue reading →

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I have seen the future of DC (part 84)

Posted on December 20, 2011 by henry tapper

The future for DC may well be a fund manager’s future but it’s a fund manager with big ears and a small mouth who is most likely to win.
Continue reading →

Posted in annuity, Bankers, corporate governance, customer service, dc pensions, de-risking, Fiduciary Management, NEST | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

What’s in store for UK pensions in 2012?

Posted on December 19, 2011 by henry tapper

Artificially depressed interest rates drive up DB deficits and depress annuities but the pressure on life companies and pension schemes to adopt Solvency II recedes as the UK  distances itself from Brussels. The price of the settlement on public sector pensions is … Continue reading →

Posted in annuity, corporate governance, dc pensions, EU Solvency II, NEST, OECD | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments