Tag Archives: Defined Contribution

Pensions in the grand scheme of things

In the “grand scheme of things” – pensions will go on “In the grand scheme of things” is a very much over-worked phrase. It’s up there with “all will come out in the wash” as a means of dismissing today’s … Continue reading

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DRAWDOWN TAX; I’m as free as a bird (in a cage)

  I’m as free as a bird can be when “freedom” is defined and confined by HMRC. “Me” as case study; I have a pension pot which wealth managers call “big” but can only supply me with an income of £15,000 … Continue reading

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Let’s put an end to pension transfer privilege.

“Sexy cash” legitimised? A few years ago , Sir Steve Webb, then our pension minister, stood in front of the PLSA and berated Boots and its pension scheme for tempting members out of the pension scheme with cash incentives. He … Continue reading

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Good and bad news for Tata’s pension scheme

BSPS members down but not out The deal facing members of the British Steel Pension Schemes(BSPS)  isn’t great , but it’s a whole lot better than that predicted. What’s clear is that there won’t be much future accrual of defined … Continue reading

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“The Gold Star DC Pension Plan” – awaiting conception!

    That good chap Jonathan Stapleton     who runs mags for Incisive has asked me for my view on what makes for a gold star DC pension scheme. I’ve submitted 150 words which I hope will find their way into a … Continue reading

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Floundering in the dark – the PP DC Conference

De profundis It was a beautiful day and it was a great hotel. But I left the Professional Pensions Defined Contribution Conference profoundly depressed. Perhaps I needed  lux in tenebris (see the progress that is being made elsewhere). The problems created … Continue reading

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The forgotten victims of commission

While the arguments about the abolition of commission for auto-enrolment pensions (from April 2016) are clear-cut, the fate of policies which aren’t used for auto-enrolment – isn’t. This is particularly the case for commission based occupational pension schemes. This week, … Continue reading

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The freedom to transfer your pension benefits

The freedom to transfer pension benefits has since the 5th April been denied to millions of those with deferred pensions. If you are a member of an unfunded Government pension scheme (any scheme other than the Local Government schemes), they … Continue reading

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Will pension freedoms be the death of Defined Benefit?

  I thought it was the last supper (or at least the last pension playpen lunch). We had twelve men around the table (no women) and there was sombre expectation as we considered the impact small changes in tax legislation … Continue reading

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Are workplace pensions “risk-free” to employers?

If you think workplace savings plans are “risk free” to employers – think again; “value for money” changes that Continue reading

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