Category Archives: Politics

Why I’m against this pension commission

Posted on April 1, 2015 by henry tapper

I am stuck in the middle of Scotland, it is April and I am snowed in high above Loch Rannoch. Tired of walking through blizzards I am attending to my e-mails which includes a missive from my friend Steve (the Pension) … Continue reading →

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

Can we afford financial services in times of austerity?

Posted on February 5, 2015 by henry tapper

  Thomas Philippon , the celebrated economist, gave a lecture on Tuesday Morning as part of London University’s Leading Minds series. The gist of his talk is that the cost of financial services (the collective name for everyone who is an … Continue reading →

Posted in FCA, Fiduciary Management, Financial Conduct Authority, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Meaninglessly big data.

Posted on January 29, 2015 by henry tapper

I don’t like this infographic, it just appeared on my twitter feed to attract me to an article that would lead me to the conclusion that I was helpless and needed the assistance of some organisation to create me a … Continue reading →

Posted in Change, Management, pensions, Politics | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

“Greeks bearing no gifts” -Eamonn O’Connor on the power of a “pair of two’s”.

Posted on January 28, 2015 by henry tapper

My friend Eamonn O’Connor, who is busy setting up City Noble, had time to share this little nugget. Far too subtle for this blog and a pearl before the Plowman’s swine Eamonn! Plenty of posturing in Euroland at present:  the … Continue reading →

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Haven’t employers done their bit?

Posted on January 1, 2015 by henry tapper

Employers have a right to feel put upon. I hear that the Pensions Minister is disappointed that large employers are not interested in delivering pension freedoms to retiring staff. If he believed that employers were prepared to take on responsibility … Continue reading →

Posted in advice gap, auto-enrolment, Financial Education, pension playpen, pensions, Pensions Regulator, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

People seeking safety at any price?

Posted on November 25, 2014 by henry tapper

  I was annoyed to listen to one of the Bank of England’s Chief Economists Andy Haldane tell the BBC’s Robert Peston that people were seeking safety at any price. Passing the buck on to the “cautious consumer” may play … Continue reading →

Posted in actuaries, advice gap, Bankers, Mark Carney, pensions, Politics, Retirement, reward | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Keeping the vultures at bay (pension liberation)

Posted on October 5, 2014 by henry tapper

This message hit my inbox this  morning from the indomitable Angie Brookes A new campaign has been launched to warn people of the dangers of pension liberation and the fraudsters who are peddling this junk. Pension Life – http://www.pension-life.com – … Continue reading →

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Don’t get fooled by the phoney pension giveaway

Posted on September 30, 2014 by henry tapper

The phoney give-away The most accurate measure for the success of private pensions in the UK is the replacement ratio; a measure of what percentage of people’s pre-retirement income is replaced by savings specifically for retirement. Steve Webb and the … Continue reading →

Posted in annuity, Politics, Public sector pensions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Why IFA’s have nothing to fear and everything to gain!

Posted on September 17, 2014 by henry tapper

  This morning I am chairing Money Marketing’s AE Invitational in Swindon. These will be my opening comments to the audience of invited IFAs who I’m looking forward to spending the morning with.   ” When I started selling insurance, … Continue reading →

Posted in advice gap, auto-enrolment, pensions, Pensions Regulator, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“Educated beyond their intelligence”

Posted on September 8, 2014 by henry tapper

Denis Skinner’s recent gibe at Tory Ministers ,and George Osborne in particular, is brilliant (even if the phrase was coined by another). For me- it will be a defining epithet for the coalition- it sums up the best and worst … Continue reading →

Posted in Personality, Politics, St Paul's | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments