Tag Archives: austerity

People don’t want to be #engaged or #educated – keep it simple and fun!

Posted on December 28, 2018 by

I enter into the final days of the year, hoping to hear less of the e-words in 2019. “Education” has been appropriated by the financial community as a way to endorse a value set that suits the financial community. Put … Continue reading →

Posted in advice gap, pensions | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

2018 – goodbye and good riddance

Posted on December 24, 2018 by

HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE WHO READS THIS BLOG 2018 was a mixed year for those looking for better pensions. On the plus side, we are finally getting auto-enrolment. The predicted increase in opt-outs didn’t happen, when member contributions tripled, we … Continue reading →

Posted in christmas, pensions | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

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 →

Aside | Posted on July 21, 2017 by | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The great austerity experiment is over

Posted on July 2, 2016 by

Tucked away on my news feed is a report of a speech made in Manchester by the architect of “austerity”, George Osborne. For those of us who have enjoyed the prosperity that our economic recovery has brought, austerity may seem … Continue reading →

Posted in pensions | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Can the Government tough it out with #WASPI?

Posted on January 8, 2016 by

The Government were defeated on a back benchers debate 158 votes to 0. The vote was over the introduction of changes to the state pension age for women, resulting from legislation introduced in 2011. The Government’s response appears to be … Continue reading →

Posted in pensions, WASPI | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Austerity, WASPI and the middle way.

Posted on January 7, 2016 by

This morning George Osbourne has taken the opportunity to remind us that any enthusiasm we might have generated from his upbeat autumn statement should be tempered by the prospect of austerity to come. Osborne points to China , to political … Continue reading →

Posted in pensions | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Can we afford financial services in times of austerity?

Posted on February 5, 2015 by

  Thomas Philippon , the celebrated economist, gave a lecture on Tuesday Morning as part of London University’s Leading Minds series. The gist of his talk is that the cost of financial services (the collective name for everyone who is an … Continue reading →

Posted in FCA, Fiduciary Management, Financial Conduct Authority, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments