Tag Archives: Deficit

Pensions are the poorer for Putin and Truss

Posted on January 5, 2023 by henry tapper

“From February’s Russian invasion of Ukraine to the gilt market meltdown in October, 2022 pension schemes find themselves in a much healthier position than at the start of the year”. So here’s to economic incompetence and state sponsored terror https://t.co/qtQTHDerbI … Continue reading →

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

Why pensions need a shift from a deficit to a surplus mindset.

Posted on March 29, 2022 by henry tapper

This blog is written as a tribute to Stefan Zaitschenko whose positive mindset has meant that his fellow pensioners have been awarded a bonus of £57m. Stefan thinks positively about pensions and is an example to us all. From deficit … Continue reading →

Posted in pensions | Tagged , , , , , | 10 Comments

Sam Marsh tweets about the (non-existent) 2021 USS valuation

Posted on September 10, 2021 by henry tapper

Sometimes twitter throws up a thread that draws you from tweet to tweet in a way that a long blog can’t. This thread from Sam Marsh is an example. It is an exercise in controlled fury at the ineptitude of … Continue reading →

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Pension Deficits (and Surpluses) – where do you stand on #FABI ?

Posted on June 17, 2018 by henry tapper

Rather than kick off with  the FAB index this month, I thought to promote the response it’s publication this morning has received. On the one hand there is Paul Lewis, who (for me) stands  for common sense and the ordinary person. … Continue reading →

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

With “good risk” , we can push the sky away.

Posted on June 4, 2018 by henry tapper

    This from City AM’s Josh Mines The pension deficit of the UK’s 350 largest companies tumbled by a huge £16bn over the course of May, figures out today have shown. In just one month, the FTSE 350 pension … Continue reading →

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

Why the USS got itself into trouble ( Mike Otsuka).

Posted on May 6, 2018 by henry tapper

Mike Otsuka’s extraordinary diligence in understanding the pension scheme he is a member of, is an example to us all. In this article he delves into the archives and uncovers some disturbing statements. They shed light on the current “unaffordability” of … Continue reading →

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

“Is CDC the viable alternative to DB?” Con Keating is on the case

Posted on October 27, 2017 by henry tapper

  Con is on the Labour party’s pension policy group. I’m a Tory party member. We agree on this, we need innovation. In this article , Con explains how the principles behind CDC could enable some employers to carry on … Continue reading →

Posted in CDC, pensions | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

TPR- the price of pensions can fall as well as rise.

Posted on October 12, 2017 by henry tapper

The Pensions Regulator appears to have forgotten one of the fundamental laws of gravity-  “what goes up, must come down”. In consumer finance this translates into “the value of investments can fall as well as rise” and in the case of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bankers, pensions | Tagged , , , , , | 10 Comments

First Actuarial- proud to work for you!

Posted on September 30, 2017 by henry tapper

  I had a nice surprise over breakfast; whizzing through my emails I found that while I’ve gone on holiday, they’ve issued a FAB press release! 50:50 claim by PLSA is “dangerously misleading” says First Actuarial First Actuarial chastises the … Continue reading →

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

Is the University Superranuation Scheme suffering fantasy deficits?

Posted on July 31, 2017 by henry tapper

First the big picture Universities aren’t going away, nor are the people who teach in them, administrate them and provide the infrastructure that keeps them going. Many of our universities have survived wars, plagues, great fires as well as many … Continue reading →

Posted in accountants, actuaries, advice gap, pensions, Public sector pensions | Tagged , , , , | 14 Comments