Sounds stupid, but it is what CDC is promising. From 2027, employers can ditch their DC workplace pensions for CDC workplace pensions with the promise of 60% pensions at retirement for the same "pain" while an employee's at work. Employers can of course pay more than 8% of a band of earnings and many choose to do. Why? Because many employers see pensions as more than a requirement , they see it as an employment benefit and the benefit of a pension as deferred pay.

Last week was disrupted to a day in UCH under the knife, this week by  a train trip to the Isle of Skye and back and next week by the budget. To make it more disruptive, the Pension PlayPen is planning a Tuesday morning discussion on the future post budget. There are many people arguing for a smorgasbord approach - whether the attack on our pockets will be from a smorgasbord of measures laid out by the Chancellor on Wednesday 26th November.

The following is a blog from Professor Michael Bromwich, speaking from a career in economics , a statesman for the London School of Economics. Mrs Reeves and Pensions The media makes it impossible to forget that Rebecca Reeves the Chancellor of the Exchequer is in difficulty meeting her self-imposed rule that government revenue must cover expenditure excluding investment by 2039/30 and continuing for future sessions.

Yesterday SG Pensions hosted a  day in Stationers Hall by St Pauls in the City. It was a success , bringing together the sponsors – primarily fund managers investing UK DB pensions and insure…

Yesterday SG Pensions hosted a  day in Stationers Hall by St Pauls in the City. It was a success , bringing together the sponsors - primarily fund managers investing UK DB pensions and insurers - transferring liabilities to annuities. What no-one had expected, but rather dominated the event was a short speech and a powerful Q&A from the union leader Terry Pullinger, his topic - the future of pensions for ordinary people.

LCP head of CDC Steven Taylor said: “Our poll results were clear: member outcomes are the ultimate benchmark for success. CDC schemes will offer low and moderate earners in particular the sec…

In the comments that follows , there is some useful follow up, I suspect that Tony understands enough of CDC to be worried. UK  CDC (unlike the Dutch) has no pot for each member so he’s right…

We arrived at 8.30 am yesterday in Inverness, the snow was whistling around the door as my partner made her way off the Caledonia Sleeper. It has been an epic number of joyous partying for the Jock…

We arrived at 8.30 am yesterday in Inverness, the snow was whistling around the door as my partner made her way off the Caledonia Sleeper. It has been an epic number of joyous partying for the Jocks who have made it to the World Cup across the pond. I predict a migration (for a few weeks)! No sooner had we forsaken the luxury of the sleeper than we were on a day return to Kyle of Localsh - from east to west banks of Scotland.

LCP head of CDC Steven Taylor said: "Our poll results were clear: member outcomes are the ultimate benchmark for success. CDC schemes will offer low and moderate earners in particular the security of a predictable income in retirement – without the complexity of managing investments. Compared to traditional DC, which prioritises flexibility, CDC can also deliver greater stability. Trustees and employers now need to ask: what matters most to your savers and members – certainty or choice?"

In the comments that follows , there is some useful follow up, I suspect that Tony understands enough of CDC to be worried. UK  CDC (unlike the Dutch) has no pot for each member so he's right to point out that it's 25% of "what", we are back to the days of actuarial commination and that isn't as easy as DC, We don't know what a cash equivalent transfer value will be under  CDC - again a potential for actuaries, trustees and proprietor to gang up on members.

Trustees are not progressive, they regard their fiduciary responsibility to do the best for their members, but even so, it is surprising that the FCA’s trustee’s have so little interest…

Trustees are not progressive, they regard their fiduciary responsibility to do the best for their members, but even so, it is surprising that the FCA's trustee's have so little interest in investing in the UK. The Financial Conduct Authority’s defined benefit pension scheme has just 4 per cent of its equity portfolio invested in UK stocks, far lower than its private sector peers, despite urging others to invest more at home.

It was another great meeting of the Pension PlayPen with more than 40 of us gathering from 10.30 to 11.30 to hear Rogier Swieristia talk with us You can download the slides from this link or read t…

It was another great meeting of the Pension PlayPen with more than 40 of us gathering from 10.30 to 11.30 to hear Rogier Swieristia talk with us You can download the slides from this link or read them here Thanks Rogier Here's a comment from one of Britain's senior spokespeople! Been trying to understand the Dutch reforms for some time and it was the clearest explanation yet.

My partner and I stepped into the Caledonian Lounge of Euston Station to await our boarding of the sleeper train to Inverness. But it was to meet with Scots and especially footballing Scots ready to watch Scotland attempt to defeat Denmark so that for the first time this century, it would follow Ally's barmy army and go to America for the World Cup.

By Niall Ferguson Fans of Dr. Seuss will know by heart the key stanzas of Green Eggs and Ham. Do you like green eggs and ham? I do not like them, Sam-I-Am. I do not like green eggs and ham. For tho…

By Niall Ferguson Fans of Dr. Seuss will know by heart the key stanzas of Green Eggs and Ham. Do you like green eggs and ham? I do not like them, Sam-I-Am. I do not like green eggs and ham. For tho…

By Niall Ferguson Fans of Dr. Seuss will know by heart the key stanzas of Green Eggs and Ham. Do you like green eggs and ham? I do not like them, Sam-I-Am. I do not like green eggs and ham. For those who have never had to read a bedtime story, allow me to explain. An irrepressible little creature, Sam-I-Am, spends the entirety of the book pitching green eggs and ham—on the face of it, an unappetizing dish—to a skeptical and increasingly irascible larger creature.

I am not surprised that , ahead of publishing the numbers of the 11 insurers n the UK annuity market, the PRA has reassured us that none are currently in trouble or likely to be trouble from the ri…

A conceptual guide to the pension product that the Dutch are moving to from next year from Ross Oxley. I have been trying to get a range of views because today (Tuesday 18th) we are getting a Dutch…

The PPF has a smile on its face The lifeboat fund has proposed maintaining a zero PPF levy for conventional defined benefit schemes, having confirmed in September it would not charge a levy for 2025/26. The PPF confirmed its current reserves alongside improvements in scheme funding mean it does not need to charge a material levy and instead will continue to build financial security primarily through its investment returns.

I am not surprised that , ahead of publishing the numbers of the 11 insurers n the UK annuity market, the PRA has reassured us that none are currently in trouble or likely to be trouble from the risks we know about. I do not profess to understand the report which you can read from this link or read about in the financial press.

A conceptual guide to the pension product that the Dutch are moving to from next year from Ross Oxley. I have been trying to get a range of views because tomorrow we are getting a Dutch financial analyst talking with us about the Dutch pension reforms and how they compare with what we are doing. Russ Oxley Nov 14, 2025…

This is odd and tells us something  about what an excess of money does to people's sense of security  in old age. I am not sure there comes something called security. Infact I see "wealth" as something that makes the "wealthy" insecure. Most of the tears over tax-free-cash, inheritance-tax and tax/Ni relief are problems of wealth. I don't know Craig Coben but we have a few friends in common and if you put Fulham season holder as how you want to be known, you must have a decent side.