Category Archives: Retirement

Hats off to Steve Webb for our new pensions system!

Posted on January 15, 2013 by henry tapper

It’s good to see the publication of the DWP’s white paper Security in Retirement – towards a new pension system. It announces an initiative first promoted by Frank Field in the late 1990s but thought then “unthinkable”;. While I agree with … Continue reading →

Posted in auto-enrolment, pension playpen, pensions, Public sector pensions, Retirement, steve webb | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

“Comply or explain” – will “bottom up” regulation work for pensions?

Posted on January 13, 2013 by henry tapper

“Comply or Explain” is a phrase that crept into the “corporate governance” lexicon after the 1992 Cadbury report. The idea’s that rather than demand compliance with Government standards, regulators give companies the option to comply or explain why they haven’t. … Continue reading →

Posted in auto-enrolment, club pension, corporate governance, customer service, Fiduciary Management, Financial Education, napf, NEST, pension playpen, pensions, Retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , | 11 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

“Pensions aren’t dead yet!” January pension play pen lunch

Posted on January 8, 2013 by henry tapper

At an unusually passionate lunch, notable for the absence of the principal villain, Michael Johnson, the Play Pen set about putting pensions to rights. For those not in the loop, the Telegraph posted an article espousing the views of the aforementioned Johnson which … Continue reading →

Posted in actuaries, Bankers, pension playpen, pensions, Popcorn Pensions, Public sector pensions, Retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 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

All change on pensions – a positive outlook for 2013!

Posted on December 30, 2012 by henry tapper

Neasa MacErlean has written a great article in the Independent which you can read here. I was asked to collaborate on one or two sections and I’m quoted as inciting members of workplace savings plans to up the ante and make sure that … Continue reading →

Posted in annuity, auto-enrolment, dc pensions, Retirement, Treasury | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Right direction – wrong speed! Defining a “good” workplace pension.

Posted on December 8, 2012 by henry tapper

I like the rhetoric, what the DWP and tPR are saying is going in the right direction, I hope they can keep their foot to the floor so that companies and trustees staging next year can get it right first time. Continue reading →

Posted in dc pensions, Management, napf, Payroll, pension playpen, pensions, Retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Government 9 v Pensions 0 (HT 4-0 (Brown 3 NAPf 1(og)) 2nd half Osbourne (5))

Posted on December 5, 2012 by henry tapper

Today was billed as the biggest showdown between the pension bigwigs and the Chancellor since Gordon‘s tax raid in 2007. In between meetings I tried to keep up with events from Westminster and it seemed the second half of the … Continue reading →

Posted in annuity, auto-enrolment, infrastucture, napf, pension playpen, pensions, Public sector pensions, Retirement | 1 Comment

RDR and AE – what future for commissions and advisor-charging?

Posted on December 3, 2012 by henry tapper

Every week we get a few more enquiries from concerned employers who are being told by their pension advisers about the changes coming next month from the Retail Distribution Review. There is variation on the theme but the overall message is clear. Pensions “advice” is … Continue reading →

Posted in actuaries, auto-enrolment, club pension, dc pensions, de-risking, FSA, Payroll, pensions, Retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Succinct and to the point

Posted on November 22, 2012 by henry tapper

“Digital communications” have moved from Silicon Valley into our coat pockets in a decade. Continue reading →

Posted in auto-enrolment, pensions, Popcorn Pensions, Retirement, social media | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment