Tag Archives: liabilities

Discount Rates and DB Pension Scheme Valuation: A history lesson from Con Keating

Posted on September 27, 2018 by

The question most frequently asked – “what discount rate should be used for valuing the liabilities of pension schemes?” – is problematic. Surprisingly, academics and practitioners have spilled gallons of ink, and exchanged more than a few uncivil words debating … Continue reading →

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In defence of small pension schemes

Posted on March 22, 2018 by

I went to bed worrying about this statement and woke up with it still rattling round my brain.  “A lot of employers are fed up with their pensions and want to see the back of them, they want to see … Continue reading →

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First Actuarial warns on knee-jerk reactions to the interest rate rise

Posted on November 2, 2017 by

With the Bank of England doubling interest rates, First Actuarial predicts a flurry of good and bad pension headlines, but warns of misguided optimism on funding and a rush for the door fuelled by pessimism about transfer values. Good news … Continue reading →

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Con Keating; the purpose of a pension scheme

Posted on September 26, 2017 by

This article is published with the kind permissions of Dr Keating and Professional Pensions (in which it first appeared). Given its length and subject matter, Iain Clacher, Andrew Slater and I were surprised, and flattered, by the number of downloads … Continue reading →

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Deficit – what deficit?

Posted on August 22, 2017 by

  “Deficit – What deficit?” asks First Actuarial as the FAB Index climbs for the third month in a row     First Actuarial’s Best estimate (FAB) Index improved for the third month in a row, showing a month-end surplus … Continue reading →

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The purpose of pensions- served by Transparency.

Posted on May 18, 2017 by

Yesterday’s Transparency Symposium, organised by Family Agethangelou , delivered a series of insights on the Purpose of Pensions. The DWP were in attendance, I guess the political message was simple, we want pensions to meet people’s expectations of later life. … Continue reading →

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Is the USA the model to recover our DB deficits?

Posted on December 4, 2016 by

This article was published on October3.com and reports how American pension finances are recovering through perseverance in growth assets and from an uptick in interest rate projections. Just how relevant it is for the UK- I’ll leave for you to … Continue reading →

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Aren’t we our century’s spoiled brats?

Posted on January 4, 2016 by

Another year,another sensational headline from your “pension puncturing” Daily Express. It’s not a new story, its facts are from the Pension Institute study published last year. So long as interest rates remain low, pension liabilities will be inflated and pension … Continue reading →

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When cheap is not cheerful – Boris Bikes and uncapped liabilities.

Posted on September 4, 2015 by

  Boris Bikes are wonderful. For £90 a year you can hurtle around the streets of London on the cycling equivalent of a Sherman Tank. All you have to remember is to dock your bike at the end of your … Continue reading →

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