Tag Archives: Blog

Can pensions be more playful (please)!

Posted on April 18, 2017 by

  I’ve waded through a number of IGC chair reports this Easter weekend and a smile has seldom  been on my lips. With the exception of the Virgin Money report, I hardly felt I knew who I was talking to. Ironically, … Continue reading →

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Plugging phoney deficits does no good!

Posted on January 14, 2017 by

We have become fixated with phoney pension deficits, now a British pension consultancy is suggesting we can plug phoney deficits with real money, the dividends that support “other people’s pensions. This is what we think of the phoney deficits. Our … Continue reading →

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“Sunspots” (Con Keating)

Posted on January 11, 2017 by

Although not at this week’s Pension PlayPen lunch, Con asked for an account of the conversation; I mentioned that those in the room were pleased that schemes owning large amounts of index-linked gilts, had enjoyed bumper returns last year. It … Continue reading →

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End of the road for LDI?

Posted on January 10, 2017 by

Thanks to those brave souls who braved “Southern”, the tube strike and filthy weather to attend yesterday’s lunch which asked “has LDI had its day?”. One answer to that question was clear, I learnt that the top performing asset class … Continue reading →

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Self sufficiency – another idiocy! (Con Keating)

Posted on December 29, 2016 by

  The idea that DB pension schemes should be self-sufficient, funded to such a level that they are capable of paying all pensions when due from their own resources is now rather popular. It is also completely idiotic, as the … Continue reading →

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Fundamental concern with pension regulation.

Posted on December 28, 2016 by

Con Keating on the political economy of UK pension scheme regulation John Woods’ paper “The political economy of UK pension scheme regulation” should be read closely, and repeatedly in both the FCA and the DWP, and used to inform their … Continue reading →

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Pensions and the Media

Posted on December 14, 2016 by

We like to think that the media works well with the pension industry, but it’s a relationship based on our money, not on mutual respect. In this article I look at how the media really view pensions, concluding we have … Continue reading →

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How mean is my valley? Why have we given up on pension prosperity?

Posted on October 31, 2016 by

  Britain is one of the great economic powerhouses of the world. We are a strong nation that should be most confident in ourselves and our capacity to manage our own future. In the past few days we have seen … Continue reading →

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Protecting the member’s promise (Tim Sharp of TUC speaks up)

Posted on October 27, 2016 by

Tim sits with us on the Transparency Task Force; he’s a force for good as the TUC’s person in the pension hot seat. These are strong words from a quiet man; the member needs an advocate and Tim and the … Continue reading →

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Pensions Regulator on Pensions Bill (like)

Posted on October 24, 2016 by

  This blog’s from Andrew Warwick-Thompson who is Policy Director at the Pensions Regulator. As he’s had a lot of say in how the Pensions Schemes Bill was created, I’d expect him to like it. All the same – it’s … Continue reading →

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