Tag Archives: John Ralfe

CDC guarantees nothing! If that freaks you out – CDC is not for you!

Posted on September 16, 2018 by

It being early on a Sunday morning, the coots playing around Lady Lucy and a wind rustling through the willows, I’m minded to turn my mind yet again to John Ralfe’s queries on CDC. Ok clever clogs. 10 easy #CDC … Continue reading →

Posted in CDC, pensions | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

“All based on FE” – 120 seconds of Ralfey trip-hop

Posted on August 11, 2018 by

John Ralfe is a very clever man. He is a Financial Economist. What he says and does is “all based on FE”. His brain is so big and his beard so perfectly cut that he has spawned a RalfeBot. RalfeBot is his … Continue reading →

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The Financial Scientologists

Posted on July 20, 2018 by

  Paul Lewis is absolutely right in attacking the dogmatism that religion creates. People may be spiritual, without imposing their views on others, but when someone’s dogma overtakes their sense of humanity, they become strangely inhuman. This is what accounts … Continue reading →

Posted in actuaries, Bankers, pensions | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Here be dragons – Z59; Con Keating

Posted on June 30, 2018 by

Many of the opponents of CDC pensions have argued that, if introduced, they should be tightly regulated, as they are “untried and untested”. Some have even suggested that the Dutch system of regulation, with its stochastic models, risk buffers and … Continue reading →

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Is calling a CDC pension a “wage in retirement” dishonest?

Posted on June 20, 2018 by

I got home from a fine evening with David Byrne at the Apollo, to a surprising assault from John Ralfe. It’s not surprising to be verbally assaulted by John on Twitter, but it was surprising that John, who had been … Continue reading →

Posted in pensions | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Pension Deficits (and Surpluses) – where do you stand on #FABI ?

Posted on June 17, 2018 by

Rather than kick off with  the FAB index this month, I thought to promote the response it’s publication this morning has received. On the one hand there is Paul Lewis, who (for me) stands  for common sense and the ordinary person. … Continue reading →

Posted in First Actuarial, pensions | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Something “DC” that John Ralfe and I agree on!

Posted on March 19, 2018 by

I sometimes think John and I will never agree, I am forever looking at the world half full and he “half empty”, where I see opportunity, he sees danger, where he sees certainty, I see parsimony. But when John posted … Continue reading →

Posted in annuity, pensions | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

When enough isn’t enough – thoughts on #NoCapitulation

Posted on March 14, 2018 by

Is the USS really in crisis? I was disappointed to read that the University strike isn’t over. But it isn’t and Jo Cumbo hits the nail  on the head. “Majority of members wish to reject the proposal as insufficient.” What … Continue reading →

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The nastiest, hardest problem in finance

Posted on November 19, 2017 by

  For all the emotion surrounding transfer values, it’s worth taking a step back and ask the simple question “should I stay or should I go”. In July, John Ralfe wrote what (for me) is still the best summary of the situation … Continue reading →

Posted in BSPS, pensions | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

A brave and timely response to UUK’s proposals

Posted on November 18, 2017 by

  I was wondering how to react to news that the UUK (the employers of university staff) is proposing to axe future Defined Benefit accrual into the USS. Anger or sorrow seemed the two main candidates as I flew back last night. I was … Continue reading →

Posted in advice gap, pensions, Trades Union Congress | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments