Category Archives: Trades Union Congress

Unions are unlocking the door to proper pensions

Posted on September 10, 2018 by henry tapper

Today I’ll be a delegate and tonight I’ll be chairing a meeting at the TUC conference.  It’s actually a fringe meeting which means anyone can come along – you don’t have to be a delegate. Below are the details if you … Continue reading →

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Trade Unions; a necessary agent of change in our pension system

Posted on May 20, 2018 by henry tapper

  Turn to your weekend FT , you happy capitalists, and you will find two stories relating to monopoly of the big four accountants. The first is a comment piece by John Plender where he looks at why Government has … Continue reading →

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The democratisation of risk?

Posted on January 26, 2018 by henry tapper

I can’t say I’d heard this phrase before Bruce Porteous of Aberdeen introduced it into conversation at yesterday’s Westminster Business Forum. The only reference I can find to it on the web is a sneering jibe at “Cowboys in Superland” … Continue reading →

Posted in CDC, pensions, Trades Union Congress, trustee | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Trojans – don’t trust that horse!

Posted on January 25, 2018 by henry tapper

The TUC on Carillion Pensions. With the failure of Carillion, another corporate collapse leaves thousands of workers with uncertain futures and many may face reduced pensions.   There are questions to be asked about the state of Carillion’s myriad pension … Continue reading →

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A brave and timely response to UUK’s proposals

Posted on November 18, 2017 by henry tapper

  I was wondering how to react to news that the UUK (the employers of university staff) is proposing to axe future Defined Benefit accrual into the USS. Anger or sorrow seemed the two main candidates as I flew back last night. I was … Continue reading →

Posted in advice gap, pensions, Trades Union Congress | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Re-energising trusteeship (for a DC world)

Posted on November 28, 2014 by henry tapper

    My recent blog pointing out that DB trustees tend to make bad DC trustees has gone down like a lead balloon with certain DB trustees. I don’t think is surprising. The next question is whether we can find a … Continue reading →

Posted in annuity, Trades Union Congress, trustee | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Paying as you earn; the best way to save

Posted on March 29, 2013 by henry tapper

Monday will see the start of the benefits changes that will climax in the full introduction of the Universal Credit in a year’s time. This is not an article about these changes. But it takes it kicks off from a brilliant … Continue reading →

Posted in Change, dc pensions, Financial Education, Martin Lewis, Payroll, pension playpen, pensions, St Paul's, Trades Union Congress, wonga | Tagged , , , , , , , | 19 Comments

The growing epidemic of stats misuse

Posted on February 17, 2013 by henry tapper

Hilary Salt is founder of First Actuarial plc. She is currently the Actuarial Post’s Actuary of the Year. Late in 2011 she was asked to contribute a piece to the Independent’s Battle of the Ideas. This is what she wrote . Twenty years ago, … Continue reading →

Posted in actuaries, Martin Lewis, Music, pensions, Trades Union Congress, Treasury | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Is there a future for defined benefit pensions?

Posted on November 2, 2012 by henry tapper

The TUC has published a working paper written by my colleague Hilary Salt entitled “the future of defined benefit pensions provision” which is a very good read. You can reach it here. The wags among you may consider that you could … Continue reading →

Posted in dc pensions, de-risking, defined aspiration, Fiduciary Management, Financial Education, First Actuarial, NEST, pensions, Public sector pensions, Retirement, Trades Union Congress | Tagged , , , , , , , | 8 Comments