Tag Archives: annuity

Why DB pension promises may need a credit rating.

Posted on February 25, 2015 by henry tapper

How do you rate the creditworthiness of your scheme’s funding? Trustees of defined benefit schemes now have to properly assess the employer’s ability (and willingness) to fund the promises made to the members of the scheme. The assessment helps them in negotiations with the … Continue reading →

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The Pension PlayPen guide to your pension freedoms

Posted on February 20, 2015 by henry tapper

From April the unpopular tax rules that meant most people had to buy an annuity will change. Pensions are having a makeover which will give you better choices and more freedom. But to take advantage of this makeover, you need … Continue reading →

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The enormous importance of Legal and General

Posted on February 1, 2015 by henry tapper

  If one insurer has done more than any other for workplace pensions it is Legal & General. For early stagers like Marks & Spencer they opened a master trust , they were the first insurer to adopt clean 50bps … Continue reading →

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Why advisers aren’t getting paid for auto-enrolment

Posted on January 30, 2015 by henry tapper

    Amidst the back slapping as we pass 5m auto-enrolled into workplace pensions you hear little rejoicing from financial advisers. The majority we speak to are avoiding auto-enrolment for one reason- they can’t get paid for what they do. … Continue reading →

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Is NEST best?

Posted on January 27, 2015 by henry tapper

Back-slapping all round NEST launched its third Insight into the state of the UK auto-enrolment project yesterday. This was a land grab for AE glory. At the front of the pack was Joanne Segars whose NAPF hosted the event. Hopefully … Continue reading →

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What do I do with my defined benefit pension?

Posted on January 26, 2015 by henry tapper

  Many people have defined benefit rights (commonly called “frozen pensions”). Some people continue to build up defined benefit pension rights, most are in Government backed schemes. A large number of people are enjoying pensions from theses defined benefit schemes. … Continue reading →

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How did IFAs end up payroll experts?

Posted on January 25, 2015 by henry tapper

  In 2011 I started getting interested in payroll. Having read the automatic enrolment regulations it seemed I’d have to if my firm was to help employers. In 2012 and 2013 and 2014 I was named among the top 50 … Continue reading →

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Crushed by falling bond yields – great guest blog by Ralph Frank

Posted on January 22, 2015 by henry tapper

Mainstream assessments of the state of investment markets tend to focus on the equity market.  The level of the FTSE 100, S&P 500, Dow and/or Nikkei is deemed to be an indicator of the health of savers’ investment portfolios and/or … Continue reading →

Posted in actuaries, Bankers, CDC, defined aspiration | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

All I want is easy access (baby)!

Posted on January 20, 2015 by henry tapper

Easy Action When Marc Bolan wrote Solid Gold Easy Action in 1972, it was a smash hit , I was ten and I spent my savings to buy it But I can’t get no satisfaction All I want is easy action, … Continue reading →

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Why we will have to wait for our freedom.

Posted on January 13, 2015 by henry tapper

A prospect of market failure The sentence may have been over-turned but the prisoner is not free. At best he can wander the prison yard but the prison gates remain locked and even when they open , the pension will … Continue reading →

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