Category Archives: Retail Distribution Review

Cometh the hour;- the Regulator gets its man

Posted on March 16, 2013 by henry tapper

I’m really pleased that they have chosen as their new Executive Director for DC – Andrew Warwick-Thompson Continue reading →

Posted in auto-enrolment, dc pensions, FSA, NEST, pension playpen, pensions, Personality, Retail Distribution Review | 9 Comments

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

2 cheers for the Regulator’s new clothes

Posted on January 11, 2013 by henry tapper

Not before time, the Pension Regulator is getting to grips with its responsibilities to protect members of UK DC plans. I am pleased that the Regulator is getting involved (one cheer) and I’m pleased that they are concentrating on outcomes (two … Continue reading →

Posted in actuaries, annuity, Australia, auto-enrolment, pension playpen, pensions, Retail Distribution Review, Retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

The fundamental flaw with RDR and Auto-Enrolment

Posted on October 26, 2012 by henry tapper

Today I am in Hampshire in a posh hotel holed up with a bunch of hungover salesmen who for no obvious reason have hung around long enough to have become Sales Directors of the insurers and advisory firms they work for. … Continue reading →

Posted in auto-enrolment, pensions, Popcorn Pensions, Retail Distribution Review | 3 Comments

“The older I get, the less I trust my pension!”

Posted on September 30, 2012 by henry tapper

An interesting observation from Gerry Barwell in 140 characters When I interview consumers on AE/ wider pensions – the barrier of mistrust is significant. Less so in the young but for 40+ Which gives us the opportunity to speculate on … Continue reading →

Posted in actuaries, annuity, auto-enrolment, CDC, Consolation, pensions, Personal Accounts, Popcorn Pensions, Retail Distribution Review, Retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Why I support Labour’s attack on pension charges

Posted on September 30, 2012 by henry tapper

The reactions I’ve read to Ed Milliband‘s “all-out attack on pension charges” have been universally negative. They  range from Robert Burgon’s “open letter to Ed Milliband” condemning the lumping of good and bad together to the broadside from Otto Thorenson of the ABI (linked). All … Continue reading →

Posted in annuity, auto-enrolment, Bankers, David Pitt-Watson, dc pensions, defined aspiration, leadership, NEST, pensions, Personal Accounts, Retail Distribution Review, Retirement | 7 Comments

Savvy punters will drive down pension charges.

Posted on July 21, 2012 by henry tapper

Inefficient markets – don’t you just love ’em! We all love a bargain whether at the local boot or in the stock market. There was a time when I believed I could pick a stock or a horse and beat … Continue reading →

Posted in auto-enrolment, Bankers, dc pensions, defined aspiration, economics, Horse racing, leadership, Management, Martin Lewis, NEST, pensions, Retail Distribution Review | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

“Pensions people can trust” – a proper kick in the nuts.

Posted on July 17, 2012 by henry tapper

If we could only lift up our eyes from our spreadsheets and do some strategic thinking, we’d be grateful that Labour are trying to clean up our act. Continue reading →

Posted in annuity, auto-enrolment, dc pensions, defined aspiration, mallowstreet, pension playpen, pensions, Retail Distribution Review | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Is Steve Webb at war with personal pensions?

Posted on July 7, 2012 by henry tapper

I know a lot of people who like managing their money and study the fund pages of the newspapers as I study the form pages of the Racing Post. For them the Self Invested Personal Pension, the services of a … Continue reading →

Posted in auto-enrolment, dc pensions, defined aspiration, Popcorn Pensions, Retail Distribution Review, Retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Heard the one about the actuary, the investment consultant, the IFA and the lawyer?

Posted on July 3, 2012 by henry tapper

At precisely the same time, the Pension Play Pen debated the relative value of actuaries, investment consultants, lawyers and financial advisers to Britain’s future pensioners, but in two different towns. These lunches , which have been taking place since 2009, bring … Continue reading →

Posted in actuaries, Financial Education, FSA, pension playpen, Retail Distribution Review, social media | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments