Category Archives: pensions

Is the mood music on DB transfers changing?

Posted on July 22, 2017 by

The irrational exuberance that characterised the FT’s pension transfer seminar in the spring may have marked a high-water mark in the rush to liberate. Martin Woolf and Merryn Somerset-Webb urged us to take our pension in our own hands (or … Continue reading →

Posted in pensions | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

It’s just not cricket – (that’s why we love it!)

Posted on July 22, 2017 by

I love cricket, played it very badly and still enjoy a bit of umpiring and scoring. I am a very hands-off cricket fan. That all changed last night when I sat on the Oval terraces and watched Surrey and Middlesex … Continue reading →

Posted in cricket, pensions | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Austerity keeps life “nasty, brutish and short”.


      An actuary friend of mine writes to me If we adjust the State Pension Age ahead of time, then it depends on assumptions for future improvement – (as adjustments follow a formula). And right now as you know … Continue reading →

Aside | Posted on July 21, 2017 by | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Radio times!

Posted on July 20, 2017 by

I’m really keen that more people spread the word about pension. One of the ways to do this is to do it yourself. I appreciate that many who read this will not have the independence that I enjoy (thanks to … Continue reading →

Posted in pensions | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Fair, right or honest? The new State Pension Age for Generation Y

Posted on July 20, 2017 by

If you were born between April 6th 1970 and April 5th 1978 and between 39 and 47, this affects you. You have just slipped one year back from your state retirement age, have another year’s National Insurance Contributions to pay … Continue reading →

Posted in pensions | 5 Comments

Why should employers give a damn about their staff’s retirement welfare?

Posted on July 19, 2017 by

It’s a straight question, a fair question and one that takes John Ralfe to ask! Why does an employer have any responsibility for employee’s financial future? https://t.co/6J7R6zdaqO — John Ralfe (@JohnRalfe1) July 17, 2017 In our subsequent conversation I introduce … Continue reading →

Posted in pensions | 2 Comments

How do you annoy a wealth manager?

Posted on July 18, 2017 by

Question; how do you annoy a wealth manager? Answer; ask him about his fund supermarket.   It may offend your local wealth manager (aka IFA) but that’s what Reuters call these funds platforms the FCA are investigating and if you believe Platforum, … Continue reading →

Posted in advice gap, pensions | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Who wins from platforms?

Posted on July 18, 2017 by

    I enjoyed reading the FCA’s Terms of Reference for its Platform Market Study, it posed many questions and I’m looking forward to the answers. Few investors properly understand what platforms are , what they do and  how much they … Continue reading →

Posted in advice gap, pensions | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Pension = Wage for life

Posted on July 17, 2017 by

Sloppy journalism confusing readers. A quick scan of the Daily Telegraph’s Money Pages leaves me hopeless at its hapless reporting of pensions. Somebody should sit down with the whole personal finance team and read them the riot act. Take Mike … Continue reading →

Posted in actuaries, advice gap, pensions | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

@ShareActionUK – so much with so little!

Posted on July 16, 2017 by

    t At the beginning of last week I went to the Institute of Directors to see various “think-tanks” congratulate each other on their thinking- typically carried out in plush Mayfair offices at the expense of a Foundation set … Continue reading →

Posted in pensions | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment