Tag Archives: IGC

Telford’s finest – the ReAssure 2017 IGC report

Posted on April 24, 2017 by henry tapper

What UK Life insurer is based in Telford Shropshire? Answer – ReAssure And if you were in a workplace pension with Guardian, HSBC, Barclays Life, Alico and National Mutual, you are now one of their customers. They are the kind of pensions … Continue reading →

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The BlackRock IGC outsources to KPMG

Posted on April 23, 2017 by henry tapper

I’ve been waiting to review BlackRock’s IGC chair statements for a couple of weeks but all I could see was a link to a report marked “April 2016”. I carelessly pressed the link this morning to find a report marked April 2017.  … Continue reading →

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Cost disclosure now! No more workplace pension NDAs!

Posted on April 22, 2017 by henry tapper

Following Julius Pursaill’s excellent piece on value for money yesterday, I’m following up with some practical thoughts. The blog yesterday triggered a meeting with an IGC chair who probed me on the vfm scoring system that has been troubling me … Continue reading →

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Radical thoughts about “value for money” – from Julius Pursaill (aka mystery blogger)

Posted on April 21, 2017 by henry tapper

  Establishing a consensus on what “value for money” is, is proving too hard for the IGCs and Trustees, we need intervention from a “deus ex machina” (aka the FCA). Once we know the means to measure, I believe the … Continue reading →

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“Vantage is value” – but relative to what? Hargreaves Lansdown’s IGC report

Posted on April 18, 2017 by henry tapper

I’m pleased that after a really poor first IGC report, the Hargreaves Lansdown IGC have taken producing their 2017 report, more seriously. A smooth operator If there was such a thing as a premium workplace pension, the Hargreaves Lansdown (HL) … Continue reading →

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Can pensions be more playful (please)!

Posted on April 18, 2017 by henry tapper

  I’ve waded through a number of IGC chair reports this Easter weekend and a smile has seldom  been on my lips. With the exception of the Virgin Money report, I hardly felt I knew who I was talking to. Ironically, … Continue reading →

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Virgin Money IGC report;- now that’s the way to do it!

Posted on April 17, 2017 by henry tapper

  Last year’s report from Virgin Money was the best I read and this year’s report looks like it might make it a notable double. The Virgin Stakeholder Pension comes under severe scrutiny The report does not pull its punches, … Continue reading →

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The Old Mutual IGC – “impotent and bed rid”

Posted on April 17, 2017 by henry tapper

    Last year I was enthusiastic about the Old Mutual Wealth (OMW) IGC. I am afraid my enthusiasm has turned to world-weary scepticism that the IGC packs a punch sufficient to push much forward for the members of the various … Continue reading →

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Fidelity – a cold fish of an IGC report.

Posted on April 15, 2017 by henry tapper

Reading the Fidelity IGC report, I struggled to find the missing ingredient that would make me want to read the next one.  Reading it again, I think it may be “passion”. The report is stunningly correct, Fidelity is the only … Continue reading →

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Full of sound and fury…Aegon’s 2017 IGC

Posted on April 9, 2017 by henry tapper

  I hadn’t been aware that IGCs had been submitting their statements to win awards. But the first think I am taught about Aegon’s activities last year is that in 2016 the Aegon UK IGC was awarded the “Best Independent … Continue reading →

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