Tag Archives: Government

9 days that shook the (pension) world.

  It began with the budget and ended with an FCA probe on Zombie funds. On the way we have had an 111 page paper that provides an ongoing framework for pension governance , bans pension commission and caps provider … Continue reading

Posted in pensions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

We have scotch’d the snake not killed it – three years to sort out hidden charges

  We have scotch’d the snake, not kill’d it: She’ll close and be herself, whilst our poor malice Remains in danger of her former tooth. Macbeth Act 3 Scene 2   Of all the vested interest groups, the fund managers … Continue reading

Posted in advice gap, Change, dc pensions, Henry Tapper blog, napf, pensions, steve webb | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Annuity reform- payroll needs to be in the front seat!

Yesterday I wrote about the positives of the proposed abolition of compulsory annuitisation for the life insurers active in the UK pensions market. Today I want to share thoughts on payroll, who are always the last to be consulted and the … Continue reading

Posted in advice gap, annuity, auto-enrolment, Bankers, Payroll, pensions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Why we expect insurers to bounce back stronger (from these reforms)

  I’ve just read yesterday’s press release from PWC’s Jonathan Howe commenting on the pension reform announced in this year’s budget. “There is no doubt that the changes present very significant challenges to life insurers with a heavy reliance on annuity business, … Continue reading

Posted in advice gap, auto-enrolment, CDC, Financial Education, First Actuarial, Payroll, pension playpen, pensions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Think first – sell later

Think first – sell later- a dictum to be followed in the next 12 months Continue reading

Posted in actuaries, advice gap, annuity, Financial Education, pensions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

“Annuities George, what took you so long?”

We have failed 1.5m annuitants- what took us so long? Continue reading

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

Annuity – RIP

  I guess the moment I heard the news on the scrapping of compulsory annuities will stick in the memory like the moment I heard of the death of Elvis/Lennon and Princess Di. All morning we’d heard the helicopters hovering … Continue reading

Posted in auto-enrolment, pension playpen, pensions, Popcorn Pensions, St Paul's | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Tomorrow’s heroes; these are the folk who will solve the AE Capacity crunch

  We’ve been doing some planning at Pension PlayPen towers . Most of our thinking is concentrated on this graph. We predict the capacity crunch at April 2015 which is the point when demand for auto-enrolment services and workplace pensions … Continue reading

Posted in accountants, auto-enrolment, Payroll, pension playpen, pensions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

I’m in- who’s out?

  I’m serving up a dish which may have gone cold in your inbox or may not have reached you at all. Personally I’m not concerned about opt-out rates, even if they crept above the 9% generally advertised. That Ceridian … Continue reading

Posted in advice gap, auto-enrolment, Bankers, brand, Change, corporate governance, Payroll, pensions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

How pensions are impacted by the bank bonus culture

State Street need something better than the “need and greed” culture that fostered these frauds and Mastertrusts and IGCs need something better than the toothless response to these excesses Continue reading

Posted in Bankers, State Street, target date funds | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment