John Roberts
@johnactuary.bsky.social
Worn out and retired actuary after 40 years in the profession.
Hope the procedure is successful Henry, and assists in your ongoing recovery.
October 1, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Hope the procedure is successful Henry, and assists in your ongoing recovery.
Thanks for the response Steve. I guess the shifting demographics counter the tax base point, with fewer paying for more pensioners, who also need more social care and general healthcare costs.
I think we are at around 1/3rd already? 230pw compared with 680?
I think we are at around 1/3rd already? 230pw compared with 680?
September 18, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Thanks for the response Steve. I guess the shifting demographics counter the tax base point, with fewer paying for more pensioners, who also need more social care and general healthcare costs.
I think we are at around 1/3rd already? 230pw compared with 680?
I think we are at around 1/3rd already? 230pw compared with 680?
From my recollection of her contributions during COVID Susan is an excellent choice. Congratulations Susan!
(Contrast this with similar health related appointments and decisions in the US.)
(Contrast this with similar health related appointments and decisions in the US.)
August 7, 2025 at 9:12 PM
From my recollection of her contributions during COVID Susan is an excellent choice. Congratulations Susan!
(Contrast this with similar health related appointments and decisions in the US.)
(Contrast this with similar health related appointments and decisions in the US.)
It’s so depressing.
August 6, 2025 at 6:00 AM
It’s so depressing.
Will it be under "fiction"?
July 8, 2025 at 10:24 AM
Will it be under "fiction"?
Not always. Our son rented a high quality apartment in a new build block where an insurer (seeking to invest to match annuity liabilities) had built on land derelict for decades. None sold off, to retain complete control of the block. How is that milking existing assets?
July 7, 2025 at 8:44 AM
Not always. Our son rented a high quality apartment in a new build block where an insurer (seeking to invest to match annuity liabilities) had built on land derelict for decades. None sold off, to retain complete control of the block. How is that milking existing assets?
Mrs R read the book when it came out with interest as someone who had recently walked the whole footpath. And she told me then that the story about losing their house raised lots of doubt in her mind, along with some other aspects of her character and behaviour.
July 7, 2025 at 5:57 AM
Mrs R read the book when it came out with interest as someone who had recently walked the whole footpath. And she told me then that the story about losing their house raised lots of doubt in her mind, along with some other aspects of her character and behaviour.
A lot of people who read the book (including Mrs R) felt the story about how they lost their home was very suspicious and felt the full story wasn’t being told.
July 6, 2025 at 9:02 PM
A lot of people who read the book (including Mrs R) felt the story about how they lost their home was very suspicious and felt the full story wasn’t being told.
Not for those still owed money though…
July 6, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Not for those still owed money though…
Might be worth a try! Though it would probably get as much sympathy as the mythical Telegraph couple earning £345k pa who had fallen upon hard times.
June 3, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Might be worth a try! Though it would probably get as much sympathy as the mythical Telegraph couple earning £345k pa who had fallen upon hard times.
Bit of a bummer if you only have £60,000 to scrape by on. That £600 must make all the difference…
June 3, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Bit of a bummer if you only have £60,000 to scrape by on. That £600 must make all the difference…
It’s not obvious to me that the reduction is any more than the long term trend (excl the COVID years) would have suggested. Or am I missing something?
May 21, 2025 at 3:08 PM
It’s not obvious to me that the reduction is any more than the long term trend (excl the COVID years) would have suggested. Or am I missing something?
Reposted by John Roberts
John, meet @ottoenglish.bsky.social , who’s post was perfectly timed in my feed.
May 19, 2025 at 7:29 PM
John, meet @ottoenglish.bsky.social , who’s post was perfectly timed in my feed.
Well thank you Paul, and that confirms my suspicions. I love the comparison with the lawnmower industry - particularly given I bought a new one last week for the first time in, err, 12 years.
May 19, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Well thank you Paul, and that confirms my suspicions. I love the comparison with the lawnmower industry - particularly given I bought a new one last week for the first time in, err, 12 years.
That will certainly be a large part of it.
May 19, 2025 at 2:25 PM
That will certainly be a large part of it.
You do run the risk of a change in tax policy adversely affecting the TF element though. Maybe more so if lots of pensioners are perceived as enjoying more “tax free income” than other parts of society.
May 12, 2025 at 6:59 AM
You do run the risk of a change in tax policy adversely affecting the TF element though. Maybe more so if lots of pensioners are perceived as enjoying more “tax free income” than other parts of society.
Yes, we have 9KWh of batteries. Although in hindsight 6 would have been the optimal size from a cost effectiveness perspective (financial was only part of the motivation for having panels though.)
May 1, 2025 at 9:20 AM
Yes, we have 9KWh of batteries. Although in hindsight 6 would have been the optimal size from a cost effectiveness perspective (financial was only part of the motivation for having panels though.)
We have halved our substantial electric bill since installing ours (and over half of the remaining is standing charge). And our panels are pointing nearly due West, so not as effective as they might be. Doesn't help with heating though unfortunately.
May 1, 2025 at 8:58 AM
We have halved our substantial electric bill since installing ours (and over half of the remaining is standing charge). And our panels are pointing nearly due West, so not as effective as they might be. Doesn't help with heating though unfortunately.