Tag Archives: Risk

Why we’re forever blowing (transfer) bubbles!

Posted on April 28, 2017 by henry tapper

    It’s a shame that Alistair Cunningham’s thought-piece on behavioural bias’ encouraging herds of us to “cash-out” our DB pensions, is behind a pay-wall. If you are an FT subscriber you can use the link at the end of … Continue reading →

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Should we invest, when we’re in debt?

Posted on January 29, 2017 by henry tapper

There’s a very good  BBC Martin Lewis Podcast on borrowing ; http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04qhdsg We’ve always thought as Lewis as anti-debt (an advocate of “debt-free” living). The Podcast gives as an example a man who has moved to the country with his … Continue reading →

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Why can’t we talk about investment returns?

Posted on December 11, 2016 by henry tapper

  Investment performance has become a taboo – a “no go zone”. This suits the auto-enrolment agenda which is “comply or die”, but NEST has broken ranks and asked defaqto to publish comparative investment performance and it was right to … Continue reading →

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Want to know about investment risk? Quietroom’s “difficult second video”!

Posted on October 18, 2016 by henry tapper

The good people at Quietroom have come up with another classic. I have to admit to having a bit part – I was the idiot who they asked to edit their script – as if! I think it is a … Continue reading →

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Tata, BHS, Austin Reed- “the big mess”.

Posted on April 30, 2016 by henry tapper

  In an excellent article “Home of the Big Mess” Ivan Laws gives us his experience of watching on as a defined benefit scheme he administered was plundered by people who had the wit to use pension surpluses to provide … Continue reading →

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Aren’t we our century’s spoiled brats?

Posted on January 4, 2016 by henry tapper

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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Tidings of great joy from the ICAEW

Posted on December 4, 2015 by henry tapper

Auto-enrolment is a worry to accountants. Estimates are pretty consistent that around two thirds of all employers staging auto enrolment will look to accountants for compliance with auto-enrolment regulations and help with choosing and setting up a workplace pension. Unfortunately … Continue reading →

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Creative Pension Trust? – don’t ask me!

Posted on November 27, 2015 by henry tapper

  Industry gossip or genuine cause for concern? A number of conversations I had at yesterday’s Capacity Crunch conference at the Friends of Auto-Enrolment focussed on the febrile finances of  master trust arrangements. In particular, the arrangement between the trustees and … Continue reading →

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Talking about risk- genuine conversation of lip service? (guest blog from Ralph Frank)

Posted on June 10, 2015 by henry tapper

The phrase ‘risk-adjusted returns’ appears frequently in literature and conversation related to investment strategies and products.  Returns are (relatively) easily calculated and demonstrated, particularly looking back in time.  The risk part of the phrase is more difficult to identify in … Continue reading →

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Who’s risk is it anyway? How Canada and Britain are dumping pension risk

Posted on May 25, 2015 by henry tapper

I’m off to Manhattan to talk to a couple of hundred Canadian pension experts. This is broadly what is going to be said, I’ll be sharing the stage with a couple of Canadian pension experts and (if you open the presentation), … Continue reading →

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