Tag Archives: UK

“Mind the lag”; what we can learn from the States

Posted on June 27, 2020 by

In America they said the virus was beaten, and the virus wasn’t beaten This alarming chart illustrates the poor job the U.S. has done in containing Covid-19 compared to the European Union, a bigger region of independent countries that suffered … Continue reading →

Posted in actuaries, coronavirus, pensions | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What has COVID-19 done to our economy? How can we recover? – Joseph Lu

Posted on June 2, 2020 by

  What has COVID-19 done to the economy? The UK’s economy started the year with a rising stock market and house prices, said to be the continuation of a ‘Boris Bounce’ after a landslide election win that inspired business activity. … Continue reading →

Posted in coronavirus, pensions | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Chris Daykin compares COVID-19 in the UK to similar countries.

Posted on May 21, 2020 by

Introduction This note updates and expands my note published on 28 April.  Shortly after that note was published the official daily figures for deaths in the UK began to include deaths in care homes and so jumped up sharply by … Continue reading →

Posted in actuaries, advice gap, coronavirus, pensions | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Social distancing – UK is not like China!

Posted on April 4, 2020 by

A new paper “An international comparison of the second derivative of COVID-19 deaths after implementation of social distancing measures” has received some attention over the weekend. Perhaps because it was published by individuals from the same university, the paper has … Continue reading →

Posted in actuaries, advice gap, coronavirus, pensions | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Social Housing? Pensions? Read this!

Posted on July 11, 2017 by

    This is from my main man, Neal Thompson. Neal is sh*t off a shovel when it comes to this stuff. Much the most knowledgeable fellow I’ve ever met on social housing and pensions. Devonshires are one of those … Continue reading →

Posted in pensions, Public sector pensions | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

If not a house…what ?

Posted on May 5, 2017 by

This chart taken from Office of National Statistics Data – seems significant. It shows that in the period following the financial crash renting became the norm for young adults in the UK. Buying a house in your twenties was – … Continue reading →

Posted in pensions | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Respect for the self-employed

Posted on November 6, 2016 by

It’s a truth as old as the hills that there are two types of self-employed. Those who choose to be and those who have no choice. Most people who read this blog have more experience with the “professional” classes who … Continue reading →

Posted in pensions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

When does an agreed contract not bind? Guest blog by Ralph Frank

Posted on January 27, 2016 by

  This past summer saw a number of Government-initiated consultations, including one into early exit charges levied on (some) pension products.  The Chancellor of the Exchequer has recently announced that the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) is to be mandated to … Continue reading →

Posted in pensions | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

The UK is saving too much…not! (guest blog from RALPH FRANK)

Posted on January 7, 2016 by

The Office for National Statistics released the latest Quarterly National Accounts during the Festive Season.  These Accounts, covering July to September 2015, reveal that the Savings Rate for households and non-profit institutions serving households fell to 4.4% over the quarter – … Continue reading →

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

The PPF – our great escape!

Posted on December 21, 2014 by

We get used to talking about the failure of the private sector to deliver proper pension outcomes. We are incensed by the shortcomings in governance that has allowed well funded local government schemes to feed the City’s insatiable need for … Continue reading →

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