Tag Archives: Actuary

Why the USS got itself into trouble ( Mike Otsuka).

Posted on May 6, 2018 by

Mike Otsuka’s extraordinary diligence in understanding the pension scheme he is a member of, is an example to us all. In this article he delves into the archives and uncovers some disturbing statements. They shed light on the current “unaffordability” of … Continue reading →

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The value of geography

Posted on March 10, 2018 by

I am not a geographer, I didn’t get the O-level – a little like Hilary Salt, I thought it something that PE teachers taught to fill in their curriculum. Geography has come a long way – when I was at … Continue reading →

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If Tesla did pensions…

Posted on March 1, 2018 by

Hi!, I’m Oliver Payne and being the good Actuary that I am, I could not write something like this without first stating the caveats. So let me clarify a few things: this should not be considered Actuarial advice, the views … Continue reading →

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

Why some transfer values may be just TOO HIGH!

Posted on September 7, 2017 by

Earlier this year I wrote a blog “why some transfers are ridiculously high” which set out to explain how DB transfer values are calculated and why they are at present at historical highs. My friend and colleague Alan Smith presented the … Continue reading →

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Austerity keeps life “nasty, brutish and short”.

      An actuary friend of mine writes to me If we adjust the State Pension Age ahead of time, then it depends on assumptions for future improvement – (as adjustments follow a formula). And right now as you know … Continue reading →

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The pension transfer debate can’t be left to experts!

Posted on May 28, 2017 by

I’m a big fan of outright hostility on social media, especially if it is directed at me. I don’t rate myself as anywhere near as good as Paul Lewis – who is the master at absorbing and developing such hostility … Continue reading →

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You want to know the difference between RPI and CPI – from an expert?

Posted on May 13, 2017 by

Sometimes twitter just says wow! This is one of those times! Oh this is excellent. I mean seriously excellent. @TheActuaryMag @ProfPensions https://t.co/aJluICOIdk — Mike Harrison (@HigherEdActuary) May 12, 2017   Response to Department for Work and Pensions consultation on Security … Continue reading →

Posted in actuaries, pensions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

A Christmas present for UK pension plc

Posted on December 15, 2016 by

The Pension Protection fund published its monthly update on Tuesday. The news slipped out quietly (as good news generally does). The aggregate deficit of the 5,794 schemes in the PPF 7800 Index is estimated to have decreased over the month to … Continue reading →

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“The pension transfer lottery” – thoughts from a PlayPen lunch.

Posted on December 6, 2016 by

At a consumer level, the absurdity of pension deficit volatility, seemed to me abstract and notional. But yesterday’s Pension Play Pen lunch changed that.  One of our party reported that the value of his cash equivalent transfer value (CETV) changed … Continue reading →

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“Blindsided!”-investment consultants caught by FCA’s rabbit punch

Posted on November 19, 2016 by

Nobody saw it coming. I went to a conference of investment consultants earlier in the month, the FCA’s Market Review was not on the agenda of any of the day’s sessions. But the FCA’s proposal to make a MARKET INVESTIGATION REFERENCE … Continue reading →

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