Category Archives: Retirement

Reading through the palm of my hand

Posted on February 19, 2013 by henry tapper

To suppose that we will be purchasing financial services  in 2014 as we did five years ago or even today could be a mistake. Walk down your high street and the only discretionary businesses are social clubs (coffes shops hairdressers and nail bars) – oh … Continue reading →

Posted in brand, customer service, dc pensions, Management, pensions, Retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Pension agnostic?

Posted on February 18, 2013 by henry tapper

An “agnostic” is someone who knows he cannot know and so gives up trying to find out. You hear the phrase “pension agnostic” bandied around at the moment, mainly from the providers of ancillary services that help companies auto-enrol. If you key … Continue reading →

Posted in actuaries, Consolation, corporate governance, dc pensions, defined aspiration, Fiduciary Management, Financial Education, First Actuarial, hargreaves lansdowne, pension playpen, pensions, Retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Lord make AE simple – but not yet!

Posted on February 16, 2013 by henry tapper

The title refers to Augustine’s prayer “lord make me chaste, but not yet”. It came to mind as I read concern from “industry spokespeople” over the DWP’s announcement to simplify the Auto-Enrolment regulations in time for the staging of the … Continue reading →

Posted in auto-enrolment, Payroll, pensions, Retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Poor execution – a pigsty – not a playpen

Posted on February 12, 2013 by henry tapper

A researcher I was speaking to yesterday asked whether I considered the bad practices associated with the poor execution of trades by fund managers as criminal fraud. His argument was that indirect benefits such as the receiving of rugby tickets from … Continue reading →

Posted in David Pitt-Watson, dc pensions, First Actuarial, governance, pensions, Retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

NEST Insight; what the 11m+ “unpensioned” think.

Posted on January 31, 2013 by henry tapper

NEST has produced a chunky report that “takes the temperature of automatic enrolment”. This promises to be the first of a series and as the first has five years of accumulated insights to lay before us. I thoroughly recommend it … Continue reading →

Posted in auto-enrolment, corporate governance, customer service, David Pitt-Watson, First Actuarial, leadership, Liberal Democrats, napf, NEST, Payroll, pensions, Personal Accounts, Retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Taking meaningful investment choices off the shelf

Posted on January 25, 2013 by henry tapper

  I’m  pleased to hear that NEST is planning to explain its investment plans that everyone can understand.I visited their offices last week and spoke with their chief investment officer about this. I hope that as part of this explanation , he’ll … Continue reading →

Posted in auto-enrolment, club pension, dc pensions, de-risking, London, NEST, pensions, Popcorn Pensions, Retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Dear OFT….

Posted on January 24, 2013 by henry tapper

I see you are looking into pensions and will be completing a “market study” by August that  will focus on value for money and the size of pension pot savers end up with at retirement. I hear it will look … Continue reading →

Posted in auto-enrolment, dc pensions, First Actuarial, NEST, pensions, Retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , | 18 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

Why we must get resolution on pension charges

Posted on January 22, 2013 by henry tapper

We shouldn’t underestimate the task the 14 members of the ABI have set themselves in promising to fully disclose charges and costs (see previous blog). 14 insurers have made the pledge but there are many insurers that haven’t nor are … Continue reading →

Posted in Henry Tapper blog, Horse racing, pensions, Popcorn Pensions, Retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Seven things to know about the new state pension!

Posted on January 15, 2013 by henry tapper

        These charts have been kindly donated by Citywire and their New Model Adviser team (to whom we should be very grateful). Each one of them surprised me. I dedicate this little blog to one of my heroes, Barbara Castle. If we … Continue reading →

Posted in auto-enrolment, club pension, NEST, pension playpen, pensions, Retirement, steve webb | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments