Article published in Pensions Management outlining problems of annuity purchase and urgent reforms required to make open market option work better. Also warning trustees of defined contribution schemes to take care to ensure appropriate annuities are purchased for members.
Letter written to Financial Times explaining why encouraging gradual retirement is a key element of pension reforms.
Article published in Pensions Week explaining why the Government proposed Financial Assistance Scheme is wholly inadequate and expressing the hope that the Parliamentary Ombudsman investigation will prove Government maladministration means the need for compensation, rather than assistance for wind-up victims.
Letter published in Financial Times in March 2005 commenting on article by Joseph Stiglitz on US pension policy. The letter suggests that transferring costs of pensions from state to private sector does not make the risks disappear.
Feature article published in Financial Adviser explaining why the Financial Assistance Scheme is inadequate and outlining hopes for the Parliamentary Ombudsman inquiry to rectify the injustices suffered by victims of pension scheme wind-ups.
Article published in ‘Pensions and Investments UK’, discussing implications of planned pension reforms for occupational and personal pensions in 2005/2006. Impact on investment of pension fund assets, trustees of occupational schemes and the new tax regime for contributions.
Personal View column published in Financial Times, explaining why the stakeholder savings initiatives have not worked and are unlikely to do so. The target market is not benefiting and providers are not keen to offer these products.
Limerick published in Financial Adviser highlighting FAS double standards on refusing to acknowledge any wrongdoing in calling final salary pensions ‘guarantee’ with no risk warnings, when in truth these pensions were not guaranteed at all and tens of thousands of people have lost their entire pensions!
Letter published in The Times, praising Patience Wheatcroft’s sympathy for the plight of victims of pension scheme wind-ups and the urgency of Government compensation.
Article published in the Times explaining why the Financial Assistance Scheme may sound good, but it is not able to deliver meaningful help to the majority of victims of pension wind-ups and calling for proper compensation to be paid.