Tag Archives: Defined contribution plan

Fanning the faint flame for better workplace pensions

Posted on March 3, 2016 by

Over the next few weeks, Britain’s various IGCs (and baby IGCs) will be reporting on the state of the insurers and the non-insured SIPP providers from an independent viewpoint. I have berated some of  the IGC Chairs for being confused … Continue reading →

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If the deal is good – why not shout about it? Guest Blog From Ralph Frank

Posted on September 9, 2015 by

Pension savers in the UK benefit, and have done so for some time, from tax relief on their contributions.  This perk has been a key driver in incentivising these savers to defer a portion of their earnings for later in … Continue reading →

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Nobody’s scared!

Posted on October 30, 2014 by

“Velvet glove- iron fist -my arse!” As one Liverpudlian patriarch might have put it. I very much doubt that many employers see the doling out of three £400 penalty notices by the Pension Regulator as a wake-up call to get auto-enrolling. … Continue reading →

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Do you want to be a Pension PlayPen Agent?

Posted on October 7, 2014 by

If you fancy helping your clients to get the right workplace pension to suit their payroll and provide best outcomes for their staff, you should register as an agent at http://www.pensionplaypen.com/register . Helping your clients to use our service doesn’t … Continue reading →

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Diagnosing the real cost of DC

Posted on February 15, 2013 by

A problem with buying  “bundled” DC services is finding out what’s really going on under the bonnet. I recently blew my power steering pump , I wanted to know what had happened but the pump was in a sealed unit – no warning … Continue reading →

Posted in annuity, dc pensions | Tagged , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

The Regulator’s right to be cautious about mastertrusts

Posted on January 12, 2013 by

Over the past two years we’ve seen a number of multi-employer occupational schemes spruced up for auto-enrolment. We’ve seen a number of insurers and asset managers set up as the providers of master trusts. We’ve had a few financial advisers … Continue reading →

Posted in actuaries, annuity, auto-enrolment, club pension, dc pensions, governance, NEST, Payroll, pensions | Tagged , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Why the DC “game is up” for the active fund managers

Posted on November 24, 2012 by

Like landed salmon , they flap around on the bank, hoping they may get thrown back in the water. Continue reading →

Posted in auto-enrolment, corporate governance, dc pensions, de-risking, infrastucture, Management, pensions, Personal Accounts | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Too important to hide;- why the Government has to investigate pension default charges

Posted on August 8, 2012 by

LCP, the pensions consultancy, yesterday published its first DC Fees Survey and very good it is too. It confirms what we knew, that the investment fees and charges for some DC funds are not transparent, that they can be as much as 100% … Continue reading →

Posted in actuaries, annuity, auto-enrolment, Bankers, Change, corporate governance, customer service, dc pensions, de-risking, happiness, Henry Tapper blog, NEST, pension playpen, pensions, Popcorn Pensions, Treasury | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Japanese Knotweed – the spread of passive defaults.

Posted on June 23, 2012 by

While investment consultants ponder the fifty shades of grey of diversification, I ponder just who , outside a small number of “experts” is prepared to take a decision on the default investment option of a company’s defined contribution pension scheme. This question … Continue reading →

Posted in dc pensions, Financial Education, NEST, pensions, Popcorn Pensions, Retail Distribution Review | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

NEST’s been gelded by the ABI – this is the result!

Posted on June 15, 2012 by

Here is a case study that will be of interest to Gregg Mcclymont MP  @greggmcclymont  and those campaigning for “remasculating” NEST. As I’ve said before NEST is a pension eunuch. It cannot accept transfers, accomadate chunky contributors or pass on the benefits … Continue reading →

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