Tag Archives: Standard Life

How do Customers benchmark what’s good about their DC pension?

Posted on October 22, 2018 by

For employer’s it’s all been about inter-operability I’m returning to a question that has bothered me since the inception of auto-enrolment over six years ago. To begin with, it was a question for employers and could largely be answered in … Continue reading →

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“Phoenix and the Island of misfit pensions” – how one IGC is making a difference.

Posted on April 8, 2018 by

Phoenix – the island of misfit pensions. It’s not much fun if your pension finds its way to Phoenix Life. It’s the pension equivalent of the Island of Misfit Mascots – the place where Peetie the Sexual Harassment Panda gets … Continue reading →

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The Standard Life IGC – could things possibly have gone worse?

Posted on April 7, 2018 by

 It has not been a good year for Standard Life or its IGC. This hasn’t stopped the IGC from producing a report that weighs in at an incredible 91 pages, only the first 15 of which are directed at the … Continue reading →

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Standard Phoenixed.

Posted on February 25, 2018 by

There are few examples, since the demise of Equitable Life, quite so ignominious, as the end to Standard Life. Standard Life Assurance Limited is being sold to Phoenix Life for just £3.2bn , part of which will be paid to … Continue reading →

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Standard Life- welcome to Sage’s digital “Data Exchange”!

Posted on May 31, 2017 by

I’m very pleased to see Standard Life’s announcement that its “Good to go” proposition is now part of Sage’s Data Exchange initiative. The news grabs headlines in the Scotsman and it should be headline news down south as well! Employer’s … Continue reading →

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Radical thoughts about “value for money” – from Julius Pursaill (aka mystery blogger)

Posted on April 21, 2017 by

  Establishing a consensus on what “value for money” is, is proving too hard for the IGCs and Trustees, we need intervention from a “deus ex machina” (aka the FCA). Once we know the means to measure, I believe the … Continue reading →

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Ombudsman 1 – Freedom 0

Posted on April 13, 2017 by

It would seem that Mr T (neither of the A-team or of this blog) has been sent packing by the Pensions Ombudsman. Mr T sued Standard Life’s staff pension trustees to max-up his CETV. He did so using an online … Continue reading →

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Who’s kidding whom – on DC pension governance?

Posted on March 24, 2017 by

I was “privileged” to spend a whole day with one of the many employer groups we have in Britain.  This meeting brought together Directors (especially FDs and Heads of HR) of  Research and Technology organisations. When I say privileged – … Continue reading →

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Standard Life’s IGC Statement – two greens and a red!

Posted on March 22, 2017 by

The Standard Life IGC’s chair report was published on Friday. You can find it here https://www.standardlife.co.uk/c1/independent-governance-committee.page. As a note to Standard Life, it would be good if this report could be given more prominence on your home page, you can … Continue reading →

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What’s Standard Aberdeen to the consumer?

Posted on March 6, 2017 by

Whether the Standard Aberdeen deals goes ahead or not, it’s quite clear that active fund managers are feeling the pinch and that consolidation will follow. Here’s one commentator in the FT summing the deal up.  “The collective headwinds for the … Continue reading →

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