Tag Archives: Insurance

“My pension offer” – explaining CDC to a confused sceptic 12 years ago!

Posted on September 21, 2026 by henry tapper

This is a blog I published 12 years ago on 28th September 2014. It is now 12 years old and shows that the debate has been broadly the same for some time! Continue reading →

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A German retirement saving system moves from insurance to investment

Posted on August 31, 2026 by henry tapper

 

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We don’t opt in to paying for our old age care! Would you opt out of optional insurance?

Posted on August 11, 2026 by henry tapper

  There are awful things that beset the old. Dementia is our great mental fear.  There are long and frightening physical complaints that require care. There are people who die easily. People have state, public and private pensions and in … Continue reading →

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Sensible solutions to social care.

Posted on August 10, 2026 by henry tapper

The last time that the question being asked by Patrick Jenkins was being addressed by “financial services companies” (like Commercial Union) , was in the early days of the 1990s when as an IFA I discussed with mature clients investing … Continue reading →

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A debate on the morality of Standard Life buying into its pension scheme

Posted on July 27, 2026 by henry tapper

You may think it is a little lazy to make a blog out of other people’s comments made on a summer Sunday. But the comments are made by senior people who have experience either senior in insurance (Adrian Boulding) or … Continue reading →

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Capital punishment, 24 years on

Posted on June 27, 2026 by henry tapper

In 2002 a falling market nearly sank UK life insurers. Today the same crash would barely move them. Gordon Aitken Jun 23, 2026 Note: These are Gordon Aitken’s  personal views and do not constitute investment advice. See full disclaimer below. … Continue reading →

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A proper analysis of the disaster of QE on our pensions. – Pensions Oldie

Posted on November 13, 2025 by henry tapper

Yesterday, amid the early morning groan of a hospital ward , I penned a blog on the negative impact of QE and QT on Britain (though I touched on DB pension schemes and DC savers on a “glidepath”), it was … Continue reading →

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Insurers competing for pensions using leverage to boost annuities? Surely not.

Posted on November 6, 2025 by henry tapper

The bulk purchase annuity market comes under the scrutiny of the FT this morning. They are reporting what we have heard rumoured but have had no solid evidence of. The insurers say this has nothing to do with the leveraged … Continue reading →

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Brookfield owns the Utmost link between Equitable Life and Just.

Posted on September 11, 2025 by henry tapper

  Want an explanation? Brookfield are investing in Just, Brookfield are investing in Utmost and Utmost are the renamed Equitable Life. Utmost are what is known in offshore financial services as a “death insurance company” A death company? Utmost is … Continue reading →

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Are insurance companies getting it easy when taking on our pensions?

Posted on August 24, 2025 by henry tapper

  Pensions Oldie argues that risk management in the pensions world is radically different to that in insurance. Responding to an article where insurers themselves complain about the arrival of short term private equity money he comments. I don’t have … Continue reading →

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