Tag Archives: ABI

“Lest we forget” – can we sweep legacy under the table?

      Yesterday, I wrote about why a good chunk of the personal pensions sold before 2000 (and a few after) were poor value for customers. The pensions were sold with “a lifetime of advice inside”, scandalously, the advice … Continue reading

Posted in pensions | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

To laugh or to cry? – the ABI’s review of legacy charges.

Nearly a year and a half on from the publication of the OTT’s damning report on workplace pension provision, the ABI have proudly announced that Frontier Economics have reported on the charges their members have been making on our DC … Continue reading

Posted in pensions | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

“I will look unto the hills” – for help with my DC pot!

    As the days click by and Outlook starts filling up for April  2015, I ask myself what help is on its way for those without the means for a drawdown SIPP or the inclination to purchase an annuity. … Continue reading

Posted in CDC, drawdown, DWP, pensions | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Post budget capacity challenge for insurers

    Scottish Widows boss Toby Strauss has told the Telegraph that his company is already facing a capacity crunch as it digests the impact of legislative changes over the past two years and faces the challenges of 2015. The … Continue reading

Posted in annuity, auto-enrolment, brand, pensions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

We knew we were cheating our clients.

  Mark Wood (now of JLT and formerly of the Prudential) is calling on insurers to relax the early exit penalties on pension contracts set up in the “bad old days” when commission was paid in advance for premiums paid … Continue reading

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Putting financial bloggers in their place

    Yesterday was interesting. I was shortlisted for Pensions Personality of the year  –  thanks to all who voted Pension Play Pen was shortlisted for technology solutions provider of the year – please vote here Another media awards event , the ABI … Continue reading

Posted in advice gap, Blogging, journalism, Martin Lewis | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Should we give the ABI one last chance on charges?

We need change and though this document sees the ABI moving in the right direction- this document stops short of showing the insurers are yet to “get it”.
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Posted in actuaries, advice gap, annuity, auto-enrolment, brand | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Three cheers for the fearless ABI

The current disaster that is happening week after week under our noses is avoidable (with alternative products), can be mitigated (with available advice) and is preventable (with proper regulation).
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Posted in advice gap, annuity, auto-enrolment, pensions, smelly, steve webb | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Diagnosing the real cost of DC

A problem with buying  “bundled” DC services is finding out what’s really going on under the bonnet. I recently blew my power steering pump , I wanted to know what had happened but the pump was in a sealed unit – no warning … Continue reading

Posted in annuity, dc pensions | Tagged , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

The dam is full – manage the sluices

It can’t be much fun at the ABI these days. The FSA are investigating mis-pricing of annuities, the OFT are studying the distribution insurers use for pensions and just about every consumerist from Gregg McClymont to the NAPF are calling … Continue reading

Posted in actuaries, annuity, customer service, David Pitt-Watson, de-risking, pension playpen, pensions | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments