Can ?we? be trusted on healthcare?

Advocates of a denationalisation of healthcare frequently come across the objection that healthcare is not amenable to individual choice. People may be trusted to make sensible decisions when it comes to choosing everyday consumer goods, the argument goes. But picking … Continue reading →

Source: http://www.pensionsuk.info/can-we-be-trusted-on-healthcare/

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The future for SSAS.

<!– @page { margin: 2cm } P { margin-bottom: 0.21cm } A:link { so-language: zxx } –> The Small Self-Administered Scheme (SSAS) market is old and credible but largely unknown. Too long has this jem been hidden in the shadow … Continue reading →

Source: http://www.annuitycalculatoruk.info/the-future-for-ssas/

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Pension tax allowance

The latest draft legislation has come out around pensions, which covers a few different areas but I'll just talk about annual allowance here.

Source: http://feeds.lexblog.com/~r/MercerHole/TaxPlusBlog/~3/dJoAzUKFDbc/

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JonPaulDorn ? inheritance tax and redistribution

well, i just got in from the pub. this garbled monologue is all you’re getting. www.youtube.com

Source: http://www.drawdown.info/jonpauldorn-inheritance-tax-and-redistribution-2/

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MM No 67 ? Inheritance Tax

Sometimes called the voluntary tax, Inheritance tax is charge on your estate after you die. But there are many exemptions and allowances which I will take you through in this videoVideo Rating: 0 / 5

Source: http://www.annuitycalculatoruk.info/mm-no-67-inheritance-tax/

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TNT inc. daz iht

Source: http://www.can-i-retire.info/tnt-inc-daz-iht/

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wurk iht

This video was uploaded from an Android phone.Video Rating: 5 / 5

Source: http://www.annuityratesuk.info/wurk-iht/

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Retirement Townhall Adds to Debate on Pension Accounting

In "New reporting trend may ultimately put pain in rearview mirror" (Retirement Townhall, March 23, 2011), Milliman Inc. executive Bart Pushaw cites "Big Baths and Pension Accounting" by Susan Mangiero (March 9, 2011) and "Rewriting Pension History" by Michael Rapoport (Wall Street Journal, March 9, 2011) in his discussion about pension plan reporting reform. Specifically, Pushaw talks about the convergence of U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP") with international standards and the likelihood that plan sponsors' earnings "would be automatically increased, and expenses decreased, for future years" because of accelerated "hits" when performance is poor. He adds that a move towards more realistic representation of the funding status of a particular defined benefit plan will encourage the use of liability driven investing ("LDI") as a way to "avoid the significant mark-to-market hits that are expected in the future."

Source: http://feeds.lexblog.com/~r/PensionRiskMatters/~3/_QtuIYXIThg/

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Quality public services: Europe isn?t helping

The European Parliament has today voted through a [...]

Source: http://www.touchstoneblog.org.uk/2011/06/quality-public-services-europe-isnt-helping/

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The Pupil Premium is not the issue in improving our schools

One of the Coalition’s headline educational initiatives has been the introduction of the Pupil Premium, additional funding to schools for each ‘deprived’ child (the Department for Education’s terminology). Read the full blog post here Source: http://www.iea.org.uk/blog/the-pupil-premium-is-not-the-issue-in-improving-our-schools pension forecast pensions uk … Continue reading →

Source: http://www.annuityratesuk.info/the-pupil-premium-is-not-the-issue-in-improving-our-schools/

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Budget 2011 ? Tax Plus Special

Chancellor George Osborne unveiled his Budget on Wednesday 23 March 2011. Source: http://feeds.lexblog.com/~r/MercerHole/TaxPlusBlog/~3/F9ytPQIYxk4/ ill health retirement the pension service pension release annuity inheritance tax Source: http://www.annuitycalculatoruk.info/budget-2011-tax-plus-special/ annuity calculator pensions advisory service can i retire pensions calculator ill health retirement

Source: http://www.pensiontransferuk.info/budget-2011-tax-plus-special/

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The Changing Face of Cape Verde

It wasn’t long ago that you could be mistaken for thinking that certain parts of Cape Verde were akin to a desert… With little infrastructure and no direct flights from most European countries, Cape Verde as a holiday location was … Continue reading →

Source: http://www.annuitycalculatoruk.info/the-changing-face-of-cape-verde/

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A truth universally acknowledged??

Today’s big story of course is the Government green paper on the future of the basic state pension. Currently one of the lowest in the developed world it stands at a paltry �97.65 a week (assuming you have a full National Insurance record) rising to a minimum income guraranteed top up figure of �132.60 if [...]

Source: http://www.pensionlawyerblog.com/pensions-green-paper

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Advice vs. Sales

I couldn?t help but have a wry smile at the ?eminent Wealth Manager? St.James?s Place (SJP) being dragged through a court tribunal, the gist of which concerned the title of this Blog.

Source: http://www.lse.co.uk/blogs/expert/resident-ifa-blog/n2rr7t/

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Pensions Champions online course

The combination of the financial crisis, related threats to pensions schemes and changes to be introduced by the Government have pushed pensions higher up everyone's agenda than ever before. What can we do about it? This course aims to train Pensions Champions who will be active in their workplaces in helping colleagues understand the different aspects of pensions, how much they are likely to get in retirement and what they can do to improve their situation if necessary.

read more

Source: http://www.pensionschampions.co.uk/?q=node/66

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A little more conversation

Much has been made in recent weeks of public sector strikes in response to government statements on pensions. I was very surprised to be quoted on the front page of The Times last week and to be criticised by Simon Jenkins in The Guardian the following day. As the oft-repeated quote from Churchill goes, ?to [...]

Source: http://blogs.bma.org.uk/pensions/2011/06/23/a-little-more-conversation/

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How to create a sustainable future: don't wait for governments

Source: http://blogs.birminghampost.net/business/2011/06/how-to-create-a-sustainable-fu.html

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Christmas and New Year opening hours

With the festive period almost here we have finalised our opening hours during this period. Similar Posts Inter Payroll unveil new changes Working hours, how they affect us and solutions Why the tax year starts on 6th April Source: http://www.interpayroll.co.uk/blog/news/christmas-and-new-year-opening-hours.html … Continue reading →

Source: http://www.ukstatepension.info/christmas-and-new-year-opening-hours/

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Celebrate National Retirement Planning Week

It may not be a federal holiday but National Retirement Planning Week starts on April 11, 2011 with festivities planned throughout the week. Highlighted events include:

• Online discussion about individuals' retirement readiness, hosted by the Employee Benefit Research Institute
• Media Forum with industry experts about "risk management in the insured retirement market," led by the Insured Retirement Institute
• Release of a toolkit that financial advisers can use to help their clients improve retirement planning
• Roundtable hosted by the Aspen Institute on the topic of retirement issues.

For more information, read "National Retirement Planning Week® 2011 Kicks Off April 11" (Insured Retirement Institute press release, dated April 4, 2011). This educational initiative is sponsored by The National Retirement Planning Coalition that is headed by the Insured Retirement Institute and includes the American Council of Life Insurers, Americans for Secure Retirement, The American College, Aspen Institute Initiative on Financial Security, Women's Institute for a Secure Retirement and many more organizations seeking to "raise public awareness of the need for comprehensive retirement planning." 

Note to Readers:

• Click to take the Consumer Reports quiz about retirement readiness.
• Check out "The Costs to Employers of Having Employees Who Are Unable to Retire" by Financial Finesse, Published by the 401k Help Center.com, 2011.
• See "10 Reasons You Won't be Able to Retire at 65" by Emily Brandon, U.S. News, March 15, 2011.
• Read "Why the Wealthy Never Retire" by Robert Frank (Wall Street Journal, September 27, 2010).

Source: http://feeds.lexblog.com/~r/PensionRiskMatters/~3/IFpbH8HShCY/

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Annuity Pros and Cons {Get the Truth Before You Buy}

Visit www.annuitycampus.comCall 800-643-7544 to Speak to Robert directly. Robert Eldridge holds over a decade of experience as a multiline agent in multiple states and currently serves on the membership council of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors. Robert … Continue reading →

Source: http://www.pensions-advisory-service.info/annuity-pros-and-cons-get-the-truth-before-you-buy/

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David Cameron's new man in Brussels approved cut in Britain's EU rebate

Jon Cunliffe, hailed by prime minister as hard-nosed Treasury official, declared cut in rebate was "within" his mandate

David Cameron looked mighty pleased with himself last week when he announced that Sir Jon Cunliffe, his main adviser on Europe, would take over as Britain's ambassador to the EU from next January.

The prime minister said that Cunliffe, who made his name as a hard-nosed Treasury official under Gordon Brown, will be the perfect official to help guard Britain's EU rebate in the forthcoming budget negotiations.

But is Cameron aware of one important detail which is unlikely to feature prominently on Cunliffe's CV? This is that Cunliffe formally handed Tony Blair authority from the Treasury at an EU summit in December 2005 which led to a cut in Britain's EU rebate.

I blogged last October that Blair turned to Cunliffe in the large room in the Justus Lipsius building, occupied by the British delegation which then held the EU presidency, to ask whether the rebate deal was acceptable. Cunliffe said:

That is within my mandate.

The story is recalled by supporters of Tony Blair who said that within days Brown trashed the deal. The then chancellor declined to point out that the central element of the deal ? that the main reductions in the rebate would kick in during the latter stages of the seven year EU budget period ? had been devised by the Treasury.

Blair had to give ground in Brussels because the enlargement of the EU by ten in 2004 ? originally Margaret Thatcher's vision ? meant that Britain would have become one of the biggest net beneficiaries if the rebate had been left unchanged. Every EU member state has to contribute to the rebate, meaning that relatively poor new members from Eastern Europe would have been sending large cheques to Britain, one of the richest member states.

Jonathan Powell, Blair's former chief of staff who was present for the 2005 budget negotiations, recalls in his memoirs how Cunliffe tried to interrupt Blair shortly before he tabled the budget in the European Council chamber at 1.00am. Cunliffe wanted to pass on a message from Brown on the overall size of the budget. This is what Powell wrote in The New Machiavelli:

Jon Cunliffe, the senior Treasury official, had been keeping Gordon abreast of developments by mobile phone as the negotiations continued. At the last moment Gordon demanded to speak to Tony, and Jon stood at the edge of the delegation room waving his mobile at Tony. Tony couldn't face it, turned a Nelsonian blind eye to the request and concluded the deal anyway. Gordon briefed the papers the next day that he was opposed to the outcome. When we got back to London, Tony asked him what he would have done instead. He said he would have insisted on a much smaller budget with a ceiling of only 1 per cent of EU spending. Tony asked him who would have supported that kind of position, and he replied the German finance ministry. Tony pointed out that that would not have been of much use when the German Chancellor herself had proposed a higher ceiling in the course of the negotiations.

Cunliffe's role, however reluctantly, in approving the cut in Britain's EU budget may be seized on by Eurosceptics. James Kirkup has blogged that Eurosceptics have already noted his role in helping to draw up the temporary EU bailout mechanism last year.

• David Cameron
• Tony Blair
• Gordon Brown
• European Union
• Jonathan Powell
• Margaret Thatcher

Nicholas Watt

guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2011 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/wintour-and-watt/2011/jun/28/davidcameron-tonyblair

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Co-Leading Pension Risk Management Workshop in Orlando

I am off to Orlando to address the Florida Public Pension Trustees Association about pension risk management. I will be joined by an esteemed colleague, Dr. Michael Kraten, in a presentation about the fundamentals of enterprise risk management (including the famous COSO cube) and the role of the service provider in creating hedging programs and vetting asset managers who use derivatives. The workshop will include two case studies about foreign currency overlay programs and investing in hedge funds and private equity funds, respectively.

Having addressed the Florida Public Pension Trustees Association ("FPPTA") several times before about pension risk management, I am impressed with its commitment to fiduciary education about investment best practices.

Click here to review the FPPTA agenda for the 2011 summer conference.

Source: http://feeds.lexblog.com/~r/PensionRiskMatters/~3/CZGxy12WXwk/

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Pension contribution notices ? What did we learn from Bonas?

When my clients enter into transactions or corporate restructurings involving defined benefit schemes the moral hazard powers of the Pensions Regulator are often a worry. They want to know whether the Regulator could use its powers to issue a contribution notice or financial support direction on parties involved in the transaction and what would happen [...]

Source: http://www.pensionstalk.co.uk/the-pensions-regulator/pension-contribution-notices-%e2%80%93-what-did-we-learn-from-bonas/

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Pension Annuities: Medical conditions/Cost of delay

I presented to 25 local business-people this morning on various financial advice topics. One was headed ?At Retirement?.

Source: http://www.lse.co.uk/blogs/expert/resident-ifa-blog/qcwdi7/

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Life insurance...not just for mortgages

You obtain a mortgage, and then you obtain life insurance. Right?

Source: http://www.lse.co.uk/blogs/expert/resident-ifa-blog/4ode9v/

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Removal of higher rate tax relief - options on pension contributions

With the removal of higher rate tax relief on pension contributions for those with total earnings over �130,000 what options do you have?

Source: http://feeds.lexblog.com/~r/MercerHole/TaxPlusBlog/~3/KOU6iiPenB8/

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Newspapers have gone to hell - but who should take the blame?

I am barely 50 pages into James O'Shea's inside story about the acquisition of the Los Angeles Times and its media offshoots by the Tribune Company.

O'Shea, who was installed as editor-in-chief of the paper following the takeover, explains in The deal from hell: How moguls and Wall Street plundered great American newspapers why he quit.

But Jack Shafer is way ahead of me, because he has read the whole book and reviewed it in the Washington Post and on Slate, Why newspapers have gone to hell.

He is none too enamoured with O'Shea's take on the debacle that led to the LA Times being acquired by real-estate billionaire Sam Zell and ending up in bankruptcy, where the Tribune Company is still languishing.

Shafer writes that O'Shea "appears to make the reportorial mistake of coming to conclusions first and not letting the evidence, no matter how strong, shake him loose from them."

He scorns O'Shea's view that the cause of the US newspaper industry's collapse has not been the internet, declining circulation, long stories and arrogant journalists, but is down to "the reaction of newspaper executives to those forces.:

Here's O'Shea's comment: "The lack of investment, the greed, the incompetence, corruption, hypocrisy, and downright arrogance of people who put their interests ahead of the public's are responsible for the state of the newspaper industry today."

And here's Shafer's comment on that:

"The problem with O'Shea's analysis is that important newspapers whose executives and owners weren't stingy, greedy, incompetent, corrupt, hypocritical, or arrogant have also been forced to reduce news pages, cut whole sections, close bureaus and decimate newsrooms.

Both the Washington Post and the New York Times, long controlled by families that have taken immense pride in providing the public service of great journalism, have bent before recent market forces and made the cuts that O'Shea deplores."

That's the reality that critics of corporate media, including myself, find it hard to answer.

Shafer concedes that O'Shea is correct in pointing to some examples of personal greed by members of the Chandler family, the previous owners of the LA Times. But that's a side issue.

Shafer argues that painful cutbacks would have been necessary even if the Chandlers had not sold out, just as has happened in family-owned media companies elsewhere.

The same is true in Britain, is it not?

• US press and publishing
• Media downturn
• Newspapers
• Washington Post
• New York Times

Roy Greenslade

guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2011 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/greenslade/2011/jun/28/us-press-publishing-downturn

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Carbon Credits market in turmoil

I had a visit from the ?National Sales Manager? of a Carbon Credit investment company on Thursday last.

Source: http://www.lse.co.uk/blogs/expert/resident-ifa-blog/jolfyk/

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Structured Product suitability

?Suitable? is not a word IFA?s often use in connection with Structured Products. Well, at least not until recently.

Source: http://www.lse.co.uk/blogs/expert/resident-ifa-blog/akort6/

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PAYE - how can a tax code be right?

There has been a lot of press coverage recently about taxpayers paying the wrong amount of tax under PAYE (over and under) and HMRC's need to sort things out.

Source: http://feeds.lexblog.com/~r/MercerHole/TaxPlusBlog/~3/a_cE6Qh69Iw/

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National Savings & Investments

NS&I are not currently issuing index linked or fixed rate certificates so anybody with existing certificates about to mature should think twice before giving them up.

Source: http://feeds.lexblog.com/~r/MercerHole/TaxPlusBlog/~3/m9Z5ZnoaFGg/

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Shanda & Dee Ghet?n Iht In aha

Video Rating: 0 / 5

Source: http://www.pension-calculator.info/shanda-dee-ghetn-iht-in-aha/

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Statutory residence test and Non-domicile taxation consultations

The treasury will be releasing its forthcoming consultations on Friday 17 June 2011 on ‘Statutory residence test’ and ‘Non-domicile taxation’. Source: http://feeds.lexblog.com/~r/MercerHole/TaxPlusBlog/~3/VXgP5sERsVU/ state pension forecast uk state pension pension lump sum pension transfer retirement age uk

Source: http://www.can-i-retire.info/statutory-residence-test-and-non-domicile-taxation-consultations/

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No situation is so bad that government intervention cannot make it worse

State infrastructure projects may be funded by private capital through PFI (private finance initiative) contracts.This week, BBC Radio’s File on Four put great effort into addressing the question: ‘Have taxpayers lost billions of pounds in the secretive resale of PFI … Continue reading →

Source: http://www.uk-retirement.info/no-situation-is-so-bad-that-government-intervention-cannot-make-it-worse/

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The place cash has in an Investment portfolio

?Cash is king?. Isn?t that what ?they? say?

Source: http://www.lse.co.uk/blogs/expert/resident-ifa-blog/xialjm/

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Finance & Investment Tips : Personal Finance Calculators

Personal finance calculators are helpful for figuring out income, expenses and liabilities; they can be understood more by visiting Web sites like Yahoo Finance and Microsoft Money. Find personal finance calculators on the Web, or by purchasing finance software, withtips … Continue reading →

Source: http://www.pensiontransferuk.info/finance-investment-tips-personal-finance-calculators/

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Annuity rule changes and the NAIC

The NAIC, National Association of Insurance Commissioners, has proposed a significant rule change to it’s members in all 50 states which will dramatically take the pressure of life insurance companies reserve requirements. This somewhat mundane and obscure change have a … Continue reading →

Source: http://www.pensionforecast.info/annuity-rule-changes-and-the-naic/

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Covington, Louisiana Annuity Agents Gerald and Grant Simon ? Women?s Retirement

Simon & Simon International 1123 South Tyler St. Covington, LA 70433-3359 For more visit annuityagentdirectory.squarespace.com (504) 2730304 Email: grantsimon1@ gmail.com Covington, Louisiana Annuity Agents Gerald and Grant Simon – Women’s Retirement According to a report just released from the Society … Continue reading →

Source: http://www.pensionscalculator.info/covington-louisiana-annuity-agents-gerald-and-grant-simon-womens-retirement/

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Nest names annuity panellists

NEST, the National Employment Saving Trust, a brand new workplace pension scheme which is likely to begin in 2012, has selected five annuity providers for its retirement panel.

Under NEST, you’ll be free to buy your annuity from the panel or shop around for your annuity on the open market. The annuity panellists are:

Canada Life, providing both a conventional annuity and enhanced retirement income annuity
Just Retirement, providing enhanced retirement annuity products
Legal & General, providing both a conventional annuity and enhanced retirement income annuity
Partnership, providing enhanced retirement annuity products
Reliance Mutual, providing enhanced retirement annuity products specifically for those who smoke.

Nest names annuity panellists

NEST, the National Employment Saving Trust, a brand new workplace pension scheme which is likely to begin in 2012, has selected five annuity providers for its retirement panel.

Under NEST, you’ll be free to buy your annuity from the panel or shop around for your annuity on the open market. The annuity panellists are:

Canada Life, providing both a conventional annuity and enhanced retirement income annuity
Just Retirement, providing enhanced retirement annuity products
Legal & General, providing both a conventional annuity and enhanced retirement income annuity
Partnership, providing enhanced retirement annuity products
Reliance Mutual, providing enhanced retirement annuity products specifically for those who smoke.

Nest names annuity panellists

NEST, the National Employment Saving Trust, a brand new workplace pension scheme which is likely to begin in 2012, has selected five annuity providers for its retirement panel.

Under NEST, you’ll be free to buy your annuity from the panel or shop around for your annuity on the open market. The annuity panellists are:

Canada Life, providing both a conventional annuity and enhanced retirement income annuity
Just Retirement, providing enhanced retirement annuity products
Legal & General, providing both a conventional annuity and enhanced retirement income annuity
Partnership, providing enhanced retirement annuity products
Reliance Mutual, providing enhanced retirement annuity products specifically for those who smoke.

Nest names annuity panellists

NEST, the National Employment Saving Trust, a brand new workplace pension scheme which is likely to begin in 2012, has selected five annuity providers for its retirement panel.

Under NEST, you’ll be free to buy your annuity from the panel or shop around for your annuity on the open market. The annuity panellists are:

Canada Life, providing both a conventional annuity and enhanced retirement income annuity
Just Retirement, providing enhanced retirement annuity products
Legal & General, providing both a conventional annuity and enhanced retirement income annuity
Partnership, providing enhanced retirement annuity products
Reliance Mutual, providing enhanced retirement annuity products specifically for those who smoke.

Nest names annuity panellists

NEST, the National Employment Saving Trust, a brand new workplace pension scheme which is likely to begin in 2012, has selected five annuity providers for its retirement panel.

Under NEST, you’ll be free to buy your annuity from the panel or shop around for your annuity on the open market. The annuity panellists are:

Canada Life, providing both a conventional annuity and enhanced retirement income annuity
Just Retirement, providing enhanced retirement annuity products
Legal & General, providing both a conventional annuity and enhanced retirement income annuity
Partnership, providing enhanced retirement annuity products
Reliance Mutual, providing enhanced retirement annuity products specifically for those who smoke.