Tag Archives: Consultants

Managing means knowing what to measure

Posted on June 17, 2020 by

  One of the most interesting (and challenging) parts of running a blog is in encouraging and moderating comments. This site gets quite few (real) comments, but sometimes the comments are as insightful as the blogs they comment on. Such … Continue reading →

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

CMA investment probe shock; the big three breathe again!

Posted on July 19, 2018 by

It shows the distance between the consumer and the investment consultant that all but a handful of readers will know what this headline refers to. To the general public, the Competition and Markets Authority’s probe into the opaque world of … Continue reading →

Posted in advice gap, pensions | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Alright LCP and First Actuarial – here’s my ESG challenge to you!

Posted on April 20, 2018 by

I’d alert readers to an excellent thought piece by LCP consultant, Sam Cobley. You can read it here. Sam ponders why, while every trustee and IGC chair is now commenting on Responsible Investment and Environmental, Social and Governance issues. So few … Continue reading →

Posted in actuaries, First Actuarial, pensions | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

The herd mentality that leads us to DC

Posted on March 8, 2018 by

Luke 8:32-33 A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs, and he gave them permission. When the demons came out of the man, they went into … Continue reading →

Posted in pensions, USS | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

How small schemes can win (with no surrender)!

Posted on October 22, 2017 by

I’m listening to Bruce Springsteen – “no retreat, baby no surrender” A useful note about “the consolidation opportunity” sits in my inbox. It’s from Con Keating who had been studying the ONS data on how pension schemes invest their money.  He … Continue reading →

Posted in advice gap, napf, pension playpen, pensions, Pensions Regulator | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

So you want to pay your own pension costs- do you?

Posted on September 25, 2017 by

A new twist to the Pension Transfer Debate has been introduced by Willis Towers Watson (WTW) at a seminar last Tuesday at their London offices. At the event, consultants reported a ripple effect caused by the surge in members transferring out. WTW … Continue reading →

Posted in pensions | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

“Breaking ranks” with a pernicious orthodoxy.

Posted on December 12, 2016 by

  In a significant interview with the FT, Michael Higgins, former chair of the Pension Regulator and chair of a £12bn pension trust argues that valuing pension liabilities using the gilt yield is leading to a …. “significant misallocation of resources — … Continue reading →

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

Is pension salary sacrifice an answer?

Posted on September 29, 2015 by

After the ruck created by articles in the FT and the Daily Express, I’ve heard several pension experts tell me that if we did not have employer contributions, all the issues around net-pay and relief at source would go away. … Continue reading →

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

“We are as concerned as we can afford to be”

Posted on June 27, 2014 by

The DWP has now presented the draft bill that will enable Defined Ambition pensions to be set up, probably from this time in 2016.  While lawyers pour over the clauses, it’s worth considering the responses the Government received to the ideas … Continue reading →

Posted in David Pitt-Watson, dc pensions, defined ambition, defined aspiration, drawdown, pensions, Pensions Regulator, Public sector pensions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment