Category Archives: governance

Bothered about your pension wealth?

Posted on February 11, 2013 by henry tapper

In the past few days I’ve had some fruity exchanges with Tom McPhail of Hargreaves Lansdowne about when people should start getting interested in managing their pension pot. Tom’s view is “as soon as savings begin, mine “when you can be bothered”. Hargreaves … Continue reading →

Posted in auto-enrolment, Bankers, dc pensions, Financial Education, First Actuarial, governance, hargreaves lansdowne, one pound fish, pensions | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Light in the lifestyle tunnel!

Posted on February 7, 2013 by henry tapper

The way in which your DC pot magically turns from investing in shares to investing in cash and Government bonds is called lifestyle and it involves hundreds of transactions in 60+ months before you buy your pension. All of these transactions involve … Continue reading →

Posted in actuaries, dc pensions, defined aspiration, First Actuarial, governance, Henry Tapper blog, life insurance, NEST, pensions, target date funds | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

From aubergines to Amazon- the unstoppable Vivi Friedgut

Posted on January 23, 2013 by henry tapper

I had been hoping to make an Amazon bulk purchase of Vivi Friedgut’s book “Money Smarter- a Family Guide” but have been frustrated by the book’s  being virtually sold out. It’s turning into a phenomenon and is on the verge of breaking into Amazon’s top … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, auto-enrolment, Bankers, dc pensions, Financial Education, governance, leadership, Linkedin, mallowstreet, pension playpen, pensions, Retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Call out the instigators

Posted on January 18, 2013 by henry tapper

The Office of Fair Trading has decided to get stuck into workplace pensions. Pension people fight grimly on like  townspeople uner siege in the 100 years war. The OFT is the  invincible siege engine wheeled to the gates. In August this year,  the OFT … Continue reading →

Posted in auto-enrolment, David Pitt-Watson, dc pensions, governance, Payroll, pension playpen, pensions, Retail Distribution Review | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

The Regulator’s right to be cautious about mastertrusts

Posted on January 12, 2013 by henry tapper

Over the past two years we’ve seen a number of multi-employer occupational schemes spruced up for auto-enrolment. We’ve seen a number of insurers and asset managers set up as the providers of master trusts. We’ve had a few financial advisers … Continue reading →

Posted in actuaries, annuity, auto-enrolment, club pension, dc pensions, governance, NEST, Payroll, pensions | Tagged , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

ABI finally comes clean on pension charges

Posted on January 11, 2013 by henry tapper

Here, not before time, is the ABI’s capitulation in the face of pressure from Government, opposition, the NAPF and all right-thinking people in pensions. Special thanks go to Gregg and his team on the Labour pensions bench! The agreement is … Continue reading →

Posted in actuaries, annuity, auto-enrolment, FSA, governance, Henry Tapper blog, mallowstreet, pensions, Treasury | Tagged , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

It’s charges not contributions that are on the “race to the bottom”!

Posted on December 31, 2012 by henry tapper

I’ve been reviewing the 2013 charging options available to advisers using Scottish Widows – “Corporate Pensions; RDR and charging shape options”. The document gives advisers numerous options to pass on fees to members of their workplace pension plans. I wonder whether … Continue reading →

Posted in actuaries, annuity, auto-enrolment, dc pensions, governance, pensions, Public sector pensions, Retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

The RDR has scotch’d the snake not killed it!

Posted on December 31, 2012 by henry tapper

the FSA has “scotched the snake not killed it”. Continue reading →

Posted in actuaries, governance, Martin Lewis, pensions, poetry | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The still small voice ..and Trenton Oldfield

Posted on December 18, 2012 by henry tapper

The British nation took a dislike to Trenton Oldfield earlier in the year, we don’t take kindly to Australian nutters messing with our institutions, especially the public school  kind who claim to speak for our disenfranchised . I blogged about him when he … Continue reading →

Posted in auto-enrolment, Change, defined aspiration, governance, happiness, Occupy London, Olympics, Olympics 2012, Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race, religion | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment