Category Archives: Retirement

Scale and scalability- why L & G is the cuckoo in the Nest.

Posted on September 25, 2012 by henry tapper

NEST is a pensions white-elephant and at £300m, the most expensive animal in the zoo Continue reading →

Posted in auto-enrolment, dc pensions, Management, pensions, Personal Accounts, Retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Maybe consumer cynicism about pensions is right..

Posted on September 24, 2012 by henry tapper

I want to restore faith in a pensions system we were once proud of. Yesterday I wrote about the Plumbing and Mechanical Services Pension Scheme – which you can read about here. Today I am praising a brilliant pamphlet published by … Continue reading →

Posted in dc pensions, defined aspiration, Financial Education, Management, pension playpen, pensions, Retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Plumber’s Pensions are safe with Penny Plumb

Posted on September 23, 2012 by henry tapper

It’s been a funny week; my firm, First Actuarial, has “won” a number of awards but we don’t feel particularly elated. As one of my colleagues asked me “do we know what we did right?”. Rewarding people for doing outstanding … Continue reading →

Posted in actuaries, annuity, auto-enrolment, dc pensions, defined aspiration, pensions, Personal Accounts, Retirement | Tagged , | 8 Comments

Can pension saving really grow the economy?

Posted on September 6, 2012 by henry tapper

Putting a stealth tax on an employer’s wage bill of 3% and frog-boiling millions to reduce their take home by up to 4% doesn’t fit comfortably with a growth strategy for the economy. Less money to spend. Many regard UK pension policy … Continue reading →

Posted in auto-enrolment, dc pensions, de-risking, defined aspiration, happiness, Henry Tapper blog, NEST, Payroll, pension playpen, Popcorn Pensions, Retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Do self-employed “workers” know their pension rights?

Posted on August 30, 2012 by henry tapper

The self-employed have been marginal to Pension Reform. An obscure section of the 2008 Pension Act makes it possible for them to take part in NEST, however NEST do not advertise they can receive self-employed contributions and I’d be surprised if they have … Continue reading →

Posted in auto-enrolment, dc pensions, infrastucture, Management, Payroll, pensions, Personal Accounts, Retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

So you want better pensions?

Posted on August 28, 2012 by henry tapper

I’m going to Holland next week to talk to European Fund Managers about how they engage with the UK DC market, it could be a short presentation. Ironically, the Dutch  pension system is delivering 50% more pension – per pound … Continue reading →

Posted in annuity, auto-enrolment, Change, Management, Martin Lewis, pensions, Personal Accounts, Retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

TESCO extra pensions

Posted on August 24, 2012 by henry tapper

I’ve followed Tesco’s progress towards the staging of auto-enrolment closely this week. I think we are at a tipping point in pension provision in Britain, a point which could see the return of pensions that do what they say on … Continue reading →

Posted in auto-enrolment, dc pensions, Henry Tapper blog, leadership, Payroll, Retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , | 218 Comments

Does your pension scheme need advice?

Posted on August 14, 2012 by henry tapper

WARNING- THIS BLOG CONTAINS A SHAMELESS PLUG FOR OUR SERVICES! (transparent as always!) I’m travelling up to Nottingham this morning to talk to Employers and Trustees who are asking themselves “Does our pension scheme need advisers”. Meeting similar groups recently, the answers I’m … Continue reading →

Posted in actuaries, annuity, auto-enrolment, Change, customer service, dc pensions, de-risking, defined aspiration, Financial Education, FSA, happiness, leadership, Linkedin, mallowstreet, Popcorn Pensions, Retirement, social media, Treasury | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

The vanity sale

Posted on August 2, 2012 by henry tapper

A lot of companies struggle to differentiate what they do from what their competitors do. If they carry high overheads – posh offices, high payroll and big marketing budgets then there is no way price can be the differentiator. All too … Continue reading →

Posted in Bankers, Change, pensions, Retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

“Ambitious” pensions can save you from staging a disaster

Posted on July 31, 2012 by henry tapper

Organisations with 500 or more employees have been written to recently by the DWP with a reminder that in 2013 they have to “stage” auto-enrolment. Companies which historically provide and promote pensions to their staff will take all this in their stride But staging … Continue reading →

Posted in actuaries, auto-enrolment, corporate governance, dc pensions, defined aspiration, Retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments