Tag Archives: FABI

FABI says “no no” to the deficit yo-yo!

The First Actuarial Best-estimate Index (FABI) continues on a more predictable flight. An actuary speaks! Rob Hammond, who oversees the number crunching behind FABI says: “Yo-yo deficits do nothing to restore people’s confidence in their pensions. FABI paints a truer … Continue reading

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“Sunspots” (Con Keating)

Although not at this week’s Pension PlayPen lunch, Con asked for an account of the conversation; I mentioned that those in the room were pleased that schemes owning large amounts of index-linked gilts, had enjoyed bumper returns last year. It … Continue reading

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Is there really a “fail” at the Royal Mail?

  The Royal Mail is consulting with its staff on closing its final salary scheme to future accrual. This is a public consultation, the Royal Mail are putting it to their staff that an increase of pension contributions to 50% … Continue reading

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Transfer heaven or transfer hell?

Saturday kitchen’s binary dilemma informs on the “stampede” for a defined benefit transfer value (CETV). Those who still have this option have been offered as much as 40 times the prospective pension as cash payable to an approved pension. With … Continue reading

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FABI – taking the crisis out of pensions!

It is now three months since we launched our First Actuarial Best estimate Index (or FAB Index for short). It has generated a significant amount of interest amongst our clients and across the wider pensions industry – and has even … Continue reading

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The Alice in Wonderland world of pension deficits.

FTSE grows, deficits up? The first business day of the month is pension horror month where JLT announce new angles on the disastrous state of our Defined Benefit schemes. Deficits actually fell last month but JLT still managed to report … Continue reading

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Of nuclear deterrents, sledgehammers and nuts – (DWP Select on DB)

The 90 page report on the state of our defined benefit pension schemes is published this morning. From first to last it is the work of Frank Field, it begins with BHS and ends with BHS, the confrontation with Philip … Continue reading

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Shift to bonds chokes health of UK pension funds!

One of the best things about working for First Actuarial is our resolute refusal to see the world any way but our way! As common sense (pragmatism) is what guides us, we are happy to have the courage of our … Continue reading

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A Christmas present for UK pension plc

The Pension Protection fund published its monthly update on Tuesday. The news slipped out quietly (as good news generally does). The aggregate deficit of the 5,794 schemes in the PPF 7800 Index is estimated to have decreased over the month to … Continue reading

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“Breaking ranks” with a pernicious orthodoxy.

  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

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