Tag Archives: GAD
The Government’s pension stealth tax
What are we to make of the disenfranchisement of Stagecoach from rail contracts? I am extremely concerned by this statement , reported in the Financial Times Stagecoach said its recent bids had been non-compliant “principally in respect of pensions risk”. … Continue reading
Schools staring into a pension “abyss”
Contrary to indications that the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) employer contributions for 2019-20 would be set at 19.1%, schools have now been told that the figure from September 2019 will be 23.6%. The Teachers Pension Scheme, along with all … Continue reading
“Spanish steps” – ideas on pension funding from Jon Spain.
Jon Spain is an eccentric brilliant actuary who has worked for many years worked at the Government Actuary’s department. I am proud he has asked me to provide a précis of his response to Charles Cowling’s Sessional Paper to the Institute … Continue reading
Innovative pensions for the mass of us!
In its Retirement Outcome Review (interim report), the FCA were clear on evidence of a problem The blame lies not with thick consumers but with lack of competition If competition is not working effectively and consumers make uninformed retirement income decisions this could lead to … Continue reading
Actuaries – many ears here to listen!
I am glad that I had a go at the actuarial experts arguing in the FT. It didn’t change the way people behaved yesterday – (although several hundred people appear to have spent time reading it) – but it solicited … Continue reading
A pensions dashboard brings its own risk.
A need for pension I am keen not to pour cold water on the pensions dashboard, but I am not having it promoted as the game-changer to savings behaviour. The pensions dashboard is what Martin Clarke, the Government Actuary, refers to … Continue reading
Andy Young OBE
Andy Young – an outstanding actuary! One of the less sung OBE’s awarded in this year’s honours was to Andrew Young. Andrew is a friend of mine and a friend to this blog. I am not sure that is this … Continue reading
GAD shows you can’t take “company” out of “company pensions” #TATA
So the mysterious volte face by the Government over the Tata Steel pensions rescue package is a mystery no more. The FT, led by super-snooper Jo Cumbo have unearthed the GAD submission to the DWP consultation on solutions to the … Continue reading
“10 years too early, 10 years too late” – CDC stands on on an empty platform
Nearly eight years ago, the Government Actuary ‘s Department produced a paper that effectively killed CDC. It argued that CDC could not be relied upon to deliver benefits with the same certainty as our DB system and that there was no … Continue reading
When you’re 64… buy the state pension! (girls buy even earlier!)
I chaired and spoke at a number of retirement income seminars last month – you may have been at one. While I was encouraged by the engagement and education of the audience in financial products, I was frustrated by the scope … Continue reading