Category Archives: Value for Money

USS; are UCU and UUK missing the big picture?

Posted on November 15, 2020 by henry tapper

This is nonsense. If universities can’t pay the required #USS DB contribution, then simply move to DC, which was of course the original plan. Universities backed down in the face of strikes https://t.co/rYtU1azGjM via @timeshighered — John Ralfe (@JohnRalfe1) November … Continue reading →

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Value for Money may just have had its eureka moment.

Posted on July 9, 2020 by henry tapper

The story so far… 2014 – the OFT conclude that we are rubbish at buying pensions 2015 – FCA requires big insurers providing workplace pensions to set up IGCs (and most of the rest GAAs) 2016- IGCs start producing statements … Continue reading →

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For workplace pensions value for money means……..

Posted on June 29, 2020 by henry tapper

    One of the questions in the FCA’s consultation on value for money is whether its definition is ok or whether we can find a better one. This is our definition Pension value for money’s measured by the amount … Continue reading →

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Squeaky-bum-time for start-ups

Posted on May 3, 2020 by henry tapper

Plenty of promises! Running a start-up at this moment is spooky. The Government promises support. but each new product seems to apply to someone like you – but not you! We haven’t furloughed anyone because what we do – help … Continue reading →

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Zurich’s IGC’s Chair makes a statement -just!

Posted on April 6, 2020 by henry tapper

I wasn’t quite sure , reading Anna Bradley’s chair statement that I wasn’t on my blog. The photos of the IGCs look like they were taken on an iphone, neither of which detracts much from what is a good – … Continue reading →

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Contractors can’t have their cake and eat our pensions too

Posted on October 9, 2019 by henry tapper

  The Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed have condemned Lloyds Banking Group’s decision to either scrap contractors or force them into umbrella companies. I think this unfair on Lloyds and unfair on the tax-payer. As anyone in reward … Continue reading →

Posted in advice gap, auto-enrolment, pensions, Value for Money | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A good week for transparency

Posted on November 8, 2018 by henry tapper

It’s been a good week for transparency, with the FCA’s publication of the IDWG’s final report.  Chris Sier and his team have created the opportunity for investors to properly understand the total cost of intermediation when buying assets through a … Continue reading →

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How to run a pension at 1/30th the cost of the pension charge cap.

Posted on January 8, 2018 by henry tapper

  How much does it cost to actively manage Alecta, Sweden’s largest workplace pension provider? The answer, according to Magnus Billing – is 0.024% of the funds assets each year. That’s less than 1/30th of the 0.75% cap imposed by … Continue reading →

Posted in advice gap, pensions, Value for Money, workplace pensions | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The incoherence of UUK’s attitude towards risk – Mike Otsuka

Posted on January 4, 2018 by henry tapper

Low risk is intolerable when shared by 350 institutions but high risk is fine when borne by workers individually USS’s current troubles, and UUK’s proposed solution, reflect an incoherent attitude toward risk on the part of our employers. Their responsibility … Continue reading →

Posted in pensions, USS, Value for Money, welfare | Tagged , , , , | 10 Comments

With value for money – figures speak louder than words.

Posted on October 16, 2017 by henry tapper

The pen may be mightier than the sword but the spreadsheet trumps both. Last week, JLT published some projections which showed that if the performance differential between lousy and top pension providers continued – you’d be able to buy a … Continue reading →

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