Tag Archives: Employment

How can auto-enrolment help those that most need it?

  This morning I’m off to the House of Commons to discuss this question with some policy people, Prospect Magazine, my friends Alex Rowson of QTAC and Darren Philp of People’s Pension  and Nigel Wilson, the CEO of Legal & … Continue reading

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

Why financial education can only go so far….

You know when you have a guilty thought and you can’t share it with anyone. And then, quite by chance, someone repeats that thought back at you – and you feel relieved, ashamed and a little bit angry all at … Continue reading

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

People’s Pension announces one-off fee – world comes to an end!

If you were to read some of the reactions to the announcement yesterday by People’s Pension that they would be charging employers either £500 or £300 to set up a pension with them, you’d think that some intermediaries had just … Continue reading

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

“TEEN-AGE kicks” – incentivising sensible spending in retirement

“A teenage dream’s so hard to beat.. Just say those words and I’m thinking  1978, radio under the pillow – John Peel show – 11pm. But I could relive the TEEN- AGE kicks in a few years time, if that … Continue reading

Posted in pensions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

When is a fiduciary independent?

It’s a question asked by Karen Wake on twitter @JosephineCumbo @henryhtapper @DominicLindley @greggmcclymont So … what is "independent"? We might be chasing a tornado here — Karen Wake (@pensionmonkey) October 29, 2015 I’m not into chasing tornadoes so I’ll try … Continue reading

Posted in trustee | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

There is only one thing in life worse than being talked about……Guest blog by Ralph Frank

The pensions freedoms announced in the 2014 Budget are claimed to have made defined contribution (“DC”) pensions more effective in helping people retire.  This view is set out in the 2015 CBI/Mercer Pensions Survey, ‘A view from the top’.  The … Continue reading

Posted in Payroll, pensions, Pensions Regulator | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Helping employers with pensions – you don’t have to be an IFA!

Since RDR in January 2013, the number of IFAs operating in Britain has more than halved from 50 to 24,000. The ban on commission or its sibling “consultancy charging” has made it all but impossible for IFAs to make money … Continue reading

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

Should the FCA oversee mastertrusts?

That was the question that was asked by one of the panellists at the launch of the PPI’s “Comparison of the regulatory frameworks for DC pensions. I am listed as one of the people providing input to the production of … Continue reading

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

PLSA to be of help?

  Yesterday , the good egg that is Jonathan Stapleton forwarded me the PLSA’s press release announcing their initiative to help small business’ understand workplace pensions. The Pitch is straightforward “The Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association knows pensions inside out … Continue reading

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

If not CDC – what?

CDC – flawed in conception Steve Webb told me that when he spoke with Andrew Young, the former Government Actuary for the DWP, Andrew advised him to “think big”. Steve did and he will be remembered not just for the … Continue reading

Posted in CDC | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment