Tag Archives: Britain

“We grow old, we grow old” – a budget day blog

It’s budget day. I was asked to be a commentator on a budget briefing this afternoon but I’m not good on economics – more interested in nuts and bolts. All the same, it’s useful sometimes to stick your head up and … Continue reading

Posted in dc pensions, doctors, Henry Tapper blog, pension playpen, pensions, Treasury | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Taking meaningful investment choices off the shelf

  I’m  pleased to hear that NEST is planning to explain its investment plans that everyone can understand.I visited their offices last week and spoke with their chief investment officer about this. I hope that as part of this explanation , he’ll … Continue reading

Posted in auto-enrolment, club pension, dc pensions, de-risking, London, NEST, pensions, Popcorn Pensions, Retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Why we don’t need to fear a pension “advice gap”.

Last night it was the House of Lords, this morning it was a Parliamentary Select Committee. Both were concerned that an “advice gap” has been created that will mean poor people do not get financial advice on retirement planning. The argument goes that … Continue reading

Posted in auto-enrolment, dc pensions, NEST, pension playpen, pensions, Popcorn Pensions | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

People with long eyes

“People with long eyes” This is what some native Americans called the scientists setting up a telescope in the mid-west desert; the phrase gave Lucy Winkett’s sermon at the St Paul’s Schools John Colet Day its theme. I sat and listened with long ears … Continue reading

Posted in Bankers, Church of England, leadership, Management, Occupy London, St Paul's | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Can Britain afford Proper Pensions? Play Pen Lunch 01/10/12

The discussion focussed on the question “can Britain afford proper pensions” which broke into three questions. 1  What makes a pension proper? 2. What is the true price of funding for pensions? 3. What are the consequences of not pre-funding … Continue reading

Posted in pension playpen | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

William and Kate

I feel very sorry for William over the publication of the photos of his wife bare chested. Most especially for the not so distant memory of his mother. I feel sorry for Kate too but she has a lesser burden. If William … Continue reading

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TESCO extra pensions

I’ve followed Tesco’s progress towards the staging of auto-enrolment closely this week. I think we are at a tipping point in pension provision in Britain, a point which could see the return of pensions that do what they say on … Continue reading

Posted in auto-enrolment, dc pensions, Henry Tapper blog, leadership, Payroll, Retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , | 218 Comments

I’m so bored with the U-S-A!

There’s nothing like a bad loser – this from the guys who gave us the Atlanta and  Los Angeles fiascos!   LONDON — Be careful if you run into Brits for the next little while: They’re under a spell.  Specifically, they … Continue reading

Posted in Nothe, Olympics, Olympics 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Our Golden Olympic girls from Somerset and the Mod God!

Thank goodness that we have a gold medal – Britain felt constipated without one . The experience of watching Glover and Stanning  win gold  was better than a long-expected bowel movement. Stanning’s from Yeovil and Glover’s a ..Glover… and she went to school … Continue reading

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Stop moaning Britain!

I am in Manchester , it is raining- Jenny K is tweeting there’s no such verb  as “to medal”, the pensions world is indignant but I have the sun strapped over my shoulder and shout out “cheer up, stop moaning and enjoy the … Continue reading

Posted in Change, dc pensions, London, Olympics, Olympics 2012, pension playpen | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment