Tag Archives: USS

Should USS invest for growth or lock down its assets?

Posted on September 26, 2026 by henry tapper

I know that many members of USS read this blog and some members of its executive. I hope this is  interesting and fair. If you have a view please use the comments below as your correspondence is always informed. Continue reading →

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USS, its surplus, its increases and its DC scheme

Posted on July 16, 2026 by henry tapper

It was only 8 years ago that the employer view was that USS could not stay open as it was too great a debt upon employers paying into it. There was a strike, an effort was made and despite not … Continue reading →

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How pensions screw up teaching.

Posted on July 9, 2026 by henry tapper

  This excellent article ends where it could begin. Raj Jethwa‘s comment that “This level of uncertainty makes it extremely difficult for higher education institutions to take long-term financial decisions on, for example, courses and staffing levels when such a … Continue reading →

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The stink of Thames Water persists for BT ,USS and their pensions.

Posted on June 24, 2026 by henry tapper

This may be stale news for those who manage British Telecom’s massive pension scheme but it won’t help the pensioners and deferred pensioners who may see something faulty in its investment strategy. A lot of money was lost by BT’s … Continue reading →

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Why We Should Not Gamble Away Our Retirement

Posted on April 27, 2026 by henry tapper

Dr Deepa Govindarajan Driver (@deepa_driver on Twitter) has written this article in a purely personal capacity.   Deepa is a former chair of UCU’s USS negotiation team (SWG). Her professional expertise is in governance, financial regulation and accountability. She is … Continue reading →

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USS pension performance under the Clacher and Keating microscope.

Posted on February 6, 2026 by henry tapper

Some unlucky stocks picked? Private – does that mean opaque rather than transparent? Is this delivering value for money? Con Keating doesn’t think so The rosy funding statements are based on accounting and actuary reporting Which is why poor investment … Continue reading →

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The scandal of our “DB capitulation” to “de-risking”.

Posted on January 6, 2026 by henry tapper

Meg Baynes’ piece in the Times which I featured on this blog is beginning to get some traction around the world Astounding. I think because investment literacy is so low in the UK and saving-via-homebuying is so embedded, people don’t … Continue reading →

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Do Pension Schemes need to do more on Complicity?

Posted on November 22, 2025 by henry tapper

An article by Dooley Harte ,Pension Official , University & College Union The genocide in Gaza, the war in Ukraine and many other conflicts around the world can leave us feeling helpless as we watch humanity tear itself apart with … Continue reading →

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Can USS DB pension benefits decrease by paying more?

Posted on August 23, 2025 by henry tapper

Surely not, but… astonishingly: yes. This is because when USS scheme members cease service on any day other than 31 March, USS applies an unusual and little-known mechanism of revaluation. Instead of granting revaluation in line with the “USS standard … Continue reading →

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Conditional indexation at the USS – Dennis Leech

Posted on July 8, 2025 by henry tapper

The following article has been sent me by Professor Leech, Emeritus Professor of Economics at Warwick University. The blog is as submitted but I have been asked by the USS to point out that  at various points, Dennis describes (or … Continue reading →

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