Category Archives: defined ambition

Pensions Resurgent! The merit of the CWU’s proposals to the Royal Mail

Posted on March 16, 2017 by

For the third day I am returning to the CWU’s proposals to the Royal Mail which I now consider the most important break through in pension scheme design we have seen in Britain this century. I base this on three … Continue reading →

Posted in actuaries, advice gap, David Pitt-Watson, dc pensions, defined ambition, defined aspiration, pensions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Of nuclear deterrents, sledgehammers and nuts – (DWP Select on DB)

Posted on December 21, 2016 by

The 90 page report on the state of our defined benefit pension schemes is published this morning. From first to last it is the work of Frank Field, it begins with BHS and ends with BHS, the confrontation with Philip … Continue reading →

Posted in defined ambition, DWP, pensions, Pensions Regulator, workplace pensions | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“The Gold Star DC Pension Plan” – awaiting conception!

Posted on October 14, 2016 by

    That good chap Jonathan Stapleton     who runs mags for Incisive has asked me for my view on what makes for a gold star DC pension scheme. I’ve submitted 150 words which I hope will find their way into a … Continue reading →

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Tax-subsidies on retirement advice; a waste of public funds!

Posted on September 5, 2016 by

The Government intends to extend tax breaks on pensions to allow those with pension pots to use them to pay for advice. The details are in this consultation document. The fundamental premise is that taking financial advice on retirement matters … Continue reading →

Posted in advice gap, consultant, dc pensions, de-risking, defined ambition, pensions | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Good retirement outcomes depend on collective solutions

Posted on July 17, 2016 by

The FCA have called for evidence on the likely success of our current “at retirement” strategy, this response is consistent with what this blog has been saying for some years, collective problems need collective solutions, the market is not enough, … Continue reading →

Posted in CDC, David Pitt-Watson, dc pensions, defined ambition, defined aspiration, FCA, pensions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Companies count the cost of pension freedoms

Posted on October 26, 2015 by

Pension freedoms are … creating a human resources burden, the CBI said, as company leaders try to ensure their older staff do not spend their pension pots early and face hanging on to their jobs when they should have retired. “Even … Continue reading →

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Whose risk is it anyway?

Posted on May 18, 2015 by

No matter how we look at it – we do not- and will not- live in a command economy. That means we have to take decisions for ourselves rather than be told how to live our lives. If you want … Continue reading →

Posted in CDC, dc pensions, defined ambition, Management, Money Advice Service | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Why DB pension promises may need a credit rating.

Posted on February 25, 2015 by

How do you rate the creditworthiness of your scheme’s funding? Trustees of defined benefit schemes now have to properly assess the employer’s ability (and willingness) to fund the promises made to the members of the scheme. The assessment helps them in negotiations with the … Continue reading →

Posted in de-risking, defined ambition, Pension Freedoms, pension playpen, pensions, Pensions Regulator | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

How far can guidance go?

Posted on January 7, 2015 by

Guidance Technology? I am interested by Guidance Technology, it is at the core of http://www.pensionplaypen.com. As we use it, Guidance Technology narrows down options available to people to a shortlist that is clearly differentiated. For an employer to choose the … Continue reading →

Posted in advice gap, consultant, defined ambition, defined aspiration, pension playpen | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

“To meet the needs of those in the middle” – what pension consultancy should be about!

Posted on November 2, 2014 by

The Advert On Tuesday I am sitting on a panel with good friends; Otto Thoresen, author of the Thoresen report; Mathew Arends, Partner at Aon Hewitt, Duncan Buchanan president of the Society of Pension Consultants. The session will be chaired … Continue reading →

Posted in actuaries, advice gap, auto-enrolment, dc pensions, defined ambition, drawdown, Payroll, pension playpen, pensions, Retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments