Category Archives: defined aspiration

“Evolution not revolution” as important for what it omits as what it says.

Posted on November 16, 2019 by henry tapper

My view when I started this morning’s blog #Poole #Dorset #NovemberToMember pic.twitter.com/wpLW4EIcjy — Pension Plowman (@henryhtapper) November 16, 2019  I finished reading “Evolution not revolution – five years of freedom” sensing something had been missing. That something has just come … Continue reading →

Posted in age wage, dc pensions, defined ambition, defined aspiration, pensions | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Convince or collapse – the options for small DB schemes in the next decade.

Posted on August 13, 2019 by henry tapper

    We stand on the cusp of the third decade of the 21st century. That decade is likely to see small DB schemes collapse into consolidators or stand firm with renewed conviction. I wonder if I will still be … Continue reading →

Posted in CDC, dc pensions, de-risking, defined ambition, defined aspiration, pensions | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

“Why Michael Johnson’s so wrong!” – Con Keating

Posted on June 5, 2018 by henry tapper

Michael Johnson’s letter to Frank Field & Co on CDC (reproduced in full here) was a real disappointment. I had expected more; a new and closely reasoned critique, passionately believed, perhaps. What I got was a tired and repetitive rehearsal … Continue reading →

Posted in annuity, blockchain, CDC, defined ambition, defined aspiration, pensions | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

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

Posted on March 16, 2017 by henry tapper

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

Good retirement outcomes depend on collective solutions

Posted on July 17, 2016 by henry tapper

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 henry tapper

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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Crushed by falling bond yields – great guest blog by Ralph Frank

Posted on January 22, 2015 by henry tapper

Mainstream assessments of the state of investment markets tend to focus on the equity market.  The level of the FTSE 100, S&P 500, Dow and/or Nikkei is deemed to be an indicator of the health of savers’ investment portfolios and/or … Continue reading →

Posted in actuaries, Bankers, CDC, defined aspiration | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

How far can guidance go?

Posted on January 7, 2015 by henry tapper

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

It’s not just pension taxation that’s changing- products are!

Posted on October 20, 2014 by henry tapper

Pension PlayPen’s Submission to the Parliamentary Committee reading the Pension Schemes Bill Continue reading →

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The great pensions rotation

Posted on July 2, 2014 by henry tapper

“Everything dies honey that’s a fact, and everything that dies some day comes back” – Bruce Springsteen DB died the day they guaranteed indexation. DA will be born the day they take that guarantee away. Ring out the old, ring … Continue reading →

Posted in dc pensions, de-risking, defined ambition, defined aspiration, FSA, pension playpen, pensions, Pensions Regulator | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment