Tag Archives: United States

People with long eyes

“People with long eyes” This is what some native Americans called the scientists setting up a telescope in the mid-west desert; the phrase gave Lucy Winkett’s sermon at the St Paul’s Schools John Colet Day its theme. I sat and listened with long ears … Continue reading

Posted in Bankers, Church of England, leadership, Management, Occupy London, St Paul's | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A return to old-fashioned pensions

I enjoyed reading this from Jenny Phipps of Banknote; For many people, having an old-fashioned, defined benefit pension is a real retirement planning advantage. People who have them feel much  more financially secure, both as they plan for retirement and … Continue reading

Posted in pension playpen, pensions, Popcorn Pensions, Public sector pensions | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

What do Jimmy Carr, the FTT and the film industry have in common?

Simples- they are today’s top stories and they’re all about personal greed. This article condemns that greed and suggests that people can have fun without ripping off others. Jimmy Carr has been caught using K2 – a Jersey loan back arrangement that left … Continue reading

Posted in corporate governance, Cruise boats, customer service, happiness | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The taX factor

Tune into Europe‘s latest and greatest talent show where you chose who stays and who goes in Club €. And without further ado, lets introduce you to our judges tonight…  Mao Tse Bung – Eastern potentate – owner of  Africa Mr George … Continue reading

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Define your aspiration.

Last week, the brotherhood  of DB and DC pensions got a little sister when Steve Webb introduced the prospect of DA to the family. There is nothing new about the search for a third way, indeed it is the pensions equivalent of the … Continue reading

Posted in annuity, corporate governance, customer service, dc pensions, de-risking, defined aspiration, EU Solvency II, NEST | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Who made that choice for you?

Put the question “why are pensions guaranteed?” into google and you will not get an answer. I reckon it’s because no-one asks the question. Why is nobody asking the question? Is someone guaranteeing the value of your house? Is there … Continue reading

Posted in annuity, auto-enrolment, corporate governance, customer service, EU Solvency II | Tagged , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

I have seen the future of DC (part 84)

The future for DC may well be a fund manager’s future but it’s a fund manager with big ears and a small mouth who is most likely to win.
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Posted in annuity, Bankers, corporate governance, customer service, dc pensions, de-risking, Fiduciary Management, NEST | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Mothball NEST till 2017

Should we mothball NEST and brush it off in 2017? Maybe a little drastic but we certainly need to scale back the amount it is spending both in events and it its payroll.
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Posted in dc pensions, NEST, pension playpen | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Meaningless choice

“choices should only be offered where they are meaningful, timely and can be taken in the full understanding of both up and downside”.
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Posted in annuity, corporate governance, customer service, de-risking, Fiduciary Management, Liability Driven Investment, NEST, Retail Distribution Review, Retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Sacred cows at the abattoir

In her 45 minute talk, Debora led us to an abattoir of sacred cows where we saw strung up on meat hooks our most cherished hopes. Continue reading

Posted in annuity, corporate governance, customer service, dc pensions, Fiduciary Management, NEST, OECD, pension playpen, Retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments