Category Archives: EU Solvency II
To get better pensions we need to share risk
Yesterday, Steve Webb announced he was to review the level of protection that needed to be provided to private pensions in payment. His intention is to help the solvency of defined benefit schemes which might need to reserve less for future guarantees. He is … Continue reading
Posted in annuity, corporate governance, dc pensions, de-risking, EU Solvency II, Fiduciary Management, Management, NEST, pensions, Retirement
Tagged CDC, Defined benefit pension plan, Derek, Dutch, Employment, pension, Standard Life, Steve Webb, trustee
9 Comments
Who made that choice for you?
Put the question “why are pensions guaranteed?” into google and you will not get an answer. I reckon it’s because no-one asks the question. Why is nobody asking the question? Is someone guaranteeing the value of your house? Is there … Continue reading
Posted in annuity, auto-enrolment, corporate governance, customer service, EU Solvency II
Tagged Contract, Dutch, pension, Pound sterling, Question, Steve Webb, United States, Wikipedia
13 Comments
Popcorn pensions
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 Business, Canada, Defined benefit pension plan, Employment, Human Resources, Ken Dodd, regulation
11 Comments
Sorting the pensions of the “squeezed middle”.
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 Government, Insurance, Open Market Option, pension, Pensions Management Institute, Retirement, Single-stream recycling, Solvency II, Stream, Tom McPhail, Treasury
10 Comments
What’s in store for UK pensions in 2012?
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
What will Europe do to our pensions?
Europe will, given half a chance, screw up our pensions. I don’t want that to happen. Well done Cameron for digging in your heels.
Posted in EU Solvency II, mallowstreet
Tagged Allianz, BRIC, Britain, Cameron, German, Germany, Holy Grail, Solvency II
1 Comment
DC Risk sharing aux etats de Jersey
A year ago I wrote of the NAPF 2010 gig as our train departed Lime Street. I’m writing as my train pulls out of Piccadilly-Joanne may be aboard. I hope she’s not bought another first class ticket as this train has been … Continue reading
Posted in annuity, EU Solvency II, mallowstreet, pension playpen, Retirement, Salford Quays, Treasury
Tagged Actuary, Crapauds, Derek Benfield, Flybe, Jersey, Manchester, pension, States of Jersey
14 Comments
Small businesses wanting to avoid small pensions
In September we sent out 80,000 e-mails to companies in the UK with between 5 and 100 staff, the sort of companies that will be obliged to auto-enrol their staff between 2014 and 2015 and are today obliged to offer their staff a … Continue reading
Posted in annuity, corporate governance, dc pensions, EU Solvency II, Facebook, NEST, Retirement, social media, Treasury
Tagged Actuarial science, Business, Employment, Financial adviser, Financial services, Higham, National Employment Savings Trust, pension, Pension Regulator, Pensions Trust, regulation, Stakeholder pension scheme
16 Comments
Insurers find comfort in Boardroom Benefits
Earlier in the week I mentioned I was highly sceptical about corporate wrap platforms. They have become the holy grail for a magic circle of insurance companies whose business models are increasingly focusing on pandering to the boardrooms of fellow corporate … Continue reading
Posted in corporate governance, dc pensions, de-risking, EU Solvency II, Martin Lewis, pensions
Tagged bribery act, Business, corporate governance, Cyberbury, dc pensions, de-risking, Distribution (business), Employee benefit, Employment, EU Solvency II, Financial services, FTSE 100, FTSE 100 Index, Insurance, Martin Lewis, McKinsey & Company, moneysavingexpert, Pension new, Pensions, pensions, PWC, Small and medium enterprises
2 Comments
IFEs not IFAs
If you’ve followed my posts over the past few days, you’ll l know I’ve referred to a debate between advisers, insurers, pension managers and trustees which started out discussing the ethics of incentivizing enhanced transfer values and has moved toi discussing how and when advice … Continue reading
Posted in annuity, corporate governance, dc pensions, de-risking, EU Solvency II, Liability Driven Investment, pensions, Retail Distribution Review, Retirement, Treasury
Tagged annuity, corporate governance, dc pensions, de-risking, Economics, Employment, EU Solvency II, Financial adviser, Frank Field, Human Resources, Independent Financial Adviser, Liability Driven Investment, National Employment Savings Trust, pension, pensions, Peter Flanagan, Politics, Proto-Indo-European language, Retail Distribution Review, Retirement, Treasury, trustee, Trustees
18 Comments