Tag Archives: Insurance

Seen but not read – passing the buck with a disclaimer

We are all familiar with small print that were it read would make sure no one would have time to take the necessary decision. We have learned to read selectively. Continue reading

Posted in corporate governance, dc pensions, de-risking, Martin Lewis, pensions, Retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

It’s the legacy, stupid!

If we really care about retirement outcomes, we have to think about this stuff and the £20bn of unclaimed (orphaned) pensions that are hanging around in the back cupboards of life companies and occupational pension schemes alike. Continue reading

Posted in annuity, corporate governance, customer service, dc pensions, de-risking, Liability Driven Investment, Martin Lewis, pensions, Treasury | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Champagne down the drain

Many thanks to those who came, and those who wanted to come but couldn’t – not the easiest of days to get about.

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Posted in annuity, dc pensions, de-risking, mallowstreet, Martin Lewis, Retail Distribution Review, Retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

None of my business

I went to a meeting last week at the end of which the pension manager I was speaking with asked “I can see why this matters but why are you bothering?”. A very sensible question as it happened since the commercial … Continue reading

Posted in annuity, dc pensions, de-risking, pension playpen, pensions, Retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Martin Lewis and the “real world”

And if you’ve ever heard Martin on the radio then you’ll know that he is a lot cleverer and does a lot more good than many of us would care to admit.

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Posted in Martin Lewis, pensions, Retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

A pound spent on pension’s as good as salary – the new golden rule

I published a blog recently on the need for the DWP to take notice of the real concerns of the ASA. It got some  really interesting comments made on various sites mainly opposing the ACA’s pessimism. Interestingly the pessimism of the actuaries mirrors … Continue reading

Posted in annuity, corporate governance, dc pensions, Fiduciary Management, pension playpen, pensions, Retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Be aware – IFAs at work!

In order for employers to get value from their employee benefit plans they had better be absolutely sure that they are delivered by advisers that need carry no wealth warning!
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Posted in corporate governance, dc pensions, de-risking, Retail Distribution Review, Retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Scheme Pensions aren’t the magic bullet -yet

There seems to be irrational exuberance among some parts of the IFA community that a new solution is round the corner to what are seen to be the poor “at retirement” options presented by conventional annuities or the new drawdown (under … Continue reading

Posted in NEST, pensions, Retail Distribution Review | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 21 Comments

Buy now while IFAs last?

Commission comes at a cost and a cost that is rarely counted Continue reading

Posted in corporate governance, Retail Distribution Review, Retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Culling seals

I  have a new phrase in my vocabulary which relates to the activities of financial institutions that take advantage of the inertia of customers. I cannot tell you about the context in which I learned about this phrase as I am … Continue reading

Posted in customer service, dc pensions, de-risking, pension playpen | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment