President Barack Obama returns from vacation Monday to undertake an eventful week for US policy in the Middle East. VOA’s Kent Klein reports from the White House, where the president will mark the end of the formal US combat role … Continue reading
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posted by pension333 @ 23:02
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Trinity Mirror's announcement last week that it is staging "a review of editorial controls and procedures" may prove as ineffective a response to phone hacking allegations as the various infamous internal inquiries at News International.
The publisher of the Daily and Sunday Mirror and The People is being drawn ineluctably into the affair, as today's headlines and stories illustrate.
Though the Sunday Times cannot, perhaps, be said to be entirely impartial, its piece about "three or four" looming legal actions against Trinity titles is well sourced.
The Independent on Sunday's article, Now Trinity Mirror feels the hacking heat, is based around allegations about Piers Morgan, who edited the Daily Mirror for nine years until 2004.
The Sunday Telegraph's diary also carries an item suggesting that Nancy Dell'Olio is considering legal action against Morgan, citing the paper's revelations about her relationship with the former England football manager Sven Goran Eriksson.
The Sindy's piece reports that two of Trinity's biggest investors, Standard Life and Aviva, "want to know more" from the company's chief executive Sly Bailey and "are understood to be making their views known" to chairman Sir Ian Gibson.
It claims the pressure on Trinity is intensifying because of a posting by Guido Fawkes on Friday that Mirror group paid �442,878 to a private investigator during Morgan's editorship.
There is no suggestion that the payments concerned phone hacking (or any illegal activity), but the company will need to get on to the front foot if it is to distance itself from the new swirl of speculation about its former news-gathering practices.
Bailey was delighted to have fired Morgan in 2004 (over publishing faked pictures of British soldiers abusing Iraqi prisoners) in the belief that he had become "a monster."
By that, she meant he had become far too big for his boots, saying and doing exactly as he liked without apparent regard for her and the Trinity board.
I imagine it has therefore displeased her greatly that her company - already suffering from severe financial strains - has been dragged into the hacking affair by virtue of Morgan's various boastful statements in the past about hacking (here and here and here).
And Guido has added another from Morgan's book, The Insider, by noting this April 2000 diary entry:
"I got back to the office to learn that Kate Winslet, having indicated she would come to our Pride of Britain awards tomorrow, is now saying she can't.
Someone had got hold of her mobile number ? I never like to ask how ? so I rang her... 'Hello,' she said, sounding a bit taken aback. 'How did you get my number? I've only just changed it. You've got to tell me, please, I am so worried now.'"
He never liked to ask! It's a further example of his seemingly cavalier attitude towards the dark arts, as I pointed out in my posting on Friday.
Despite his protestations of innocence from his new berth at CNN, he has not explained his insouciant attitude towards hacking prior to the recent revelations.
CNN is supporting him just now, but, as James Robinson reported, his star at the US news channel is no longer in the ascendant.
As for Trinity, with its share price at 44p, it needs to convince nervous investors that the sales benefits its Sunday Mirror is enjoying in the absence of the News of the World will lead to improved ad revenue and a path towards greater stability at its national division.
It has tried to calm fears that it will be dragged down into the hacking mire by issuing a statement saying that its journalists "work within the criminal law and the PCC code of conduct."
One major investor, Schroder Investment Management, recently sold 4.5m shares, reducing its stake to 15.6%, though that is unlikely to have had anything at all to do with hacking.
According to a Sunday Telegraph story, Trinity is planning to restore its fortunes by, once again, cutting costs - and more jobs, including "a large number" of journalists.
The group, which is due to report its half-year results on 12 August, is said to recognise that "significantly increased cuts" are necessary.
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/greenslade/2011/jul/31/trinity-mirror-piersmorgan
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posted by pension333 @ 21:01
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Source: http://www.iea.org.uk/blog/sharper-axes-lower-taxes-a-response-to-the-critics
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Source: http://blogs.birminghampost.net/business/2011/07/manufacturers-embracing-flexib.html
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Source: http://www.iea.org.uk/blog/america%E2%80%99s-debt-ceiling-crisis
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President Barack Obama signed an order to send 17000 more US troops in Afghanistan -8000 Marines, 9000 Army troops -currently have 34000 US troops -history is repeating itself.think Bush www.msnbc.msn.com GOP tries to restore image of fiscal discipline -voted against … Continue reading
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posted by pension333 @ 13:01
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With the recent changes to the pension legislation coming into effect from April next year there has been a flurry of activity within the financial services industry to get our heads around the details.
Source: http://feeds.lexblog.com/~r/MercerHole/TaxPlusBlog/~3/gtUVYjihTkE/
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posted by pension333 @ 11:01
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One of my Clients died yesterday...on his 45th birthday.
Source: http://www.lse.co.uk/blogs/expert/resident-ifa-blog/rcygd0/
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posted by pension333 @ 09:01
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The full text of Andrew Lansley’s leaked letter [...]
Source: http://www.touchstoneblog.org.uk/2011/07/dissecting-andrew-lansleys-letter/
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posted by pension333 @ 07:02
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Today?s GDP figures show that the recovery is [...]
Source: http://www.touchstoneblog.org.uk/2011/07/the-slowest-recovery-for-more-than-sixty-years/
posted by pension333 @ 05:02
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Since coming into force in April 2005, the goal posts on the Pensions Regulator’s moral hazard powers have moved a number of times and are set to move again, assuming that the Pensions Bill 2011 is enacted in its present form.
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posted by pension333 @ 03:01
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One of my Clients died yesterday...on his 45th birthday.
Source: http://www.lse.co.uk/blogs/expert/resident-ifa-blog/rcygd0/
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posted by pension333 @ 01:02
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BMA council agrees next steps in campaigning over NHS reform
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BMADailyFeed/~3/cIyiyATDKxk/BSKN-8K6GSC
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posted by pension333 @ 23:02
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There’s been more coverage of yesterday’s Work Capability [...]
Source: http://www.touchstoneblog.org.uk/2011/07/deeper-in-the-bilge/
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posted by pension333 @ 21:01
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www.grocotaxninja.com Alan Olsen discusses art appraisals of inherited artwork. Here Alan Olsen covers how the IRS handles art appraisals regards to how it is is valued for tax purposes. The IRS utilizes the art advisory committee in the art appraisal … Continue reading
Source: http://www.retirementageuk.info/art-appraisals-2/
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The latest news and best bets in our daily horse racing blog
International jetsetter Snow Fairy (3.10) can wow the home crowd with victory in the Nassau Stakes on the final day of Glorious Goodwood.
Victory for any of Crystal Capella, Midday or Principal Role would see their respective trainers claim a small piece of racing history and surpass Alec Taylor's 84-year-old record of seven winners in the race.
But despite Midday's outstanding victories in this contest for the past two years and the fact that trainer Henry Cecil reckoned she would have gone close against the colts in last Saturday's King George had she lined up, she proved no match for Misty For Me when they met in the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh last month, going down by six lengths.
Cecil says she is working better than ever at home but that latest performance leaves a serious doubt about her chances here. Instead take Ed Dunlop's Snow Fairy to find the improvement required from her respectable comeback performance behind So You Think and Workforce in the Eclipse four weeks ago.
She never gained the due credit for her top-drawer performances in south Asia at the end of last year and while Midday and Crystal Capella are likeable, relentless gallopers, she has the finishing kick to outpace them and reverse the form of her defeat at the hands of Midday in the Yorkshire Oaks 11 months ago.
Goodwood 2.05 An eyecatcher last time, Oldjoesaid wins when he wants to, but the big occasion may fire him up here and his draw could prove an advantage too.
Newmarket 2.20 Beaten half a dozen lengths from a poor draw in the Britannia, the enigmatic Mubtadi has the ability to go well at a decent price.
Goodwood 2.35 John Dunlop loves nothing more than a winner at his local track and Harlestone Times has been trained for this. His Newcastle flop may be best forgotten.
Newmarket 2.50 Having shown considerable progression last time, Correct creeps in off a low weight in this line-up and may have more to offer.
Goodwood 3.45 With the first race likely to offer an important clue as to any apparent draw biases, it could pay to keep a close eye on earlier proceedings. In the hope that stands' side runners are not at a disadvantage, Tiddliwinks is handicapped to go close having acquitted himself well in smart company this season.
Snow Fairy (3.10) looks to have come to the boil at the right time judged upon an impressive piece of work on the Limekilns on Tuesday under Ryan Moore. She faces a seriously stiff task in the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood today, but confidence is high.
Having gone agonisingly close with Waffle in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot, David Barron heads south in search of another big sprint prize with considerable hope of a big run from Colonel Mak (3.45) , who showed a return to form when second last time and has come back down to a mark just 1lb higher than when winning last year's Ayr Silver Cup. He could well prove Yorkshire's strongest contender ahead of far shorter-priced rivals.
Luca Cumani sends Bourne (3.55) to Doncaster in search of compensation for his unfortunate defeat at Haydock last time, where he was undone by the slow early pace. He probably needs to win today to be guaranteed a place in the Ebor Handicap line-up.
Stablemate Isobar (5.15) is also worth monitoring on his reappearance at Newmarket. Kirsty Milczarek, who rides here, has also been on board in the gelding's recent work.
Lay Time (2.20) could have lined up in a Group race at Goodwood this week, but the decision was taken instead to try to exploit a lenient-looking handicap mark at Newmarket this afternoon. It will be a major disappointment to the Balding team if she isn't up to winning.
The Horsemen's Group got their timings wrong when holding a press conference at Goodwood on Thursday just as the draw for the Stewards' Cup was being made. Revealing a plan to create championships for jockeys and trainers based solely upon races run within their tariff scheme, a sea of empty chairs greeted them, with a distinctly below-tariff turnout of two journalists present to hear the news. The identities of tracks whose races will effectively be ignored by the Group's members and designated as "running programmes unsustainable to the future of the racing industry", will be unveiled in October.
Across the sea the Galway Festival was quieter than usual in these austere times as businessmen and politicians failed to hobnob as conspicuously as in the past. One who was not seen was Michael Higgins, Labour candidate in the presidential election. He enraged Ireland's powerful bloodstock industry recently when recalling "a time when breeding horses was democratic and before breeding had become monopolised by a very narrow number of people".
"Is L Dettori the same as Frankie?" asked one well-dressed racegoer to her friend, heading to Goodwood on Friday. "Yes, I think so," came the reply. "The L must stand for Luigi."
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2011/jul/30/talking-horses-best-bets
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posted by pension333 @ 17:01
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As many of you will know, Weston in Barbados has been our most successful development to date. After being recommended this development by a client of ours we have successfully transformed this developer’s sales focus to investment as well as … Continue reading
Source: http://www.newstakeholderpensions.info/build-progressing-on-weston-resort-barbados-2/
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posted by pension333 @ 15:04
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www.stca.co.uk Interview with Braidley, Senior Tax Manager, Seymour Taylor & Hampden Tax Consultants, Accountants do far more than produce a set of figures once a year . Annual business accounts are, of course, very important as they are required by … Continue reading
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Source: http://blogs.birminghampost.net/business/2011/07/you-know-i-really-i-wouldnt-do.html
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posted by pension333 @ 11:03
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Don?t we need to stop talking airily about [...]
Source: http://www.touchstoneblog.org.uk/2011/07/stakeholders-call-for-manufacturing-security/
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At the beginning of the year the TSSA trained its first wave of Pension Champions. Stimulated by the report made by the Railway Pension Commission and recommendations to move to a career average scheme*, as well as disregarding TSSA recommendations for an industry wide scheme; reps have been busy recruiting pensions champions. As part of the TSSA strategic response to the commission’s report the TSSA has managed to recruit pension champions from outside the rep pool and directly from the membership. July brings the second wave of training with nearly 40 applicants and many more awaiting dates for future training in the year. It is the aim of the TSSA to recruit pension champions in every region for every company, providing us with a network of reps solely placed to organise around what stands to be one of the biggest issues facing our members in 2008.
Source: http://www.pensionschampions.co.uk/?q=node/56
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posted by pension333 @ 07:02
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Source: http://www.iea.org.uk/blog/a-smaller-and-better-welfare-state
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posted by pension333 @ 05:02
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Many employees and employers alike will be wondering whether staff will be getting paid if they are unable to get to work due to bad weather conditions. This unfortunately has no straight-forward answer and we look at the different scenarios. … Continue reading
Source: http://www.pension-calculator.info/absense-due-to-weather-do-staff-get-paid-2/
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posted by pension333 @ 03:01
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I suppose I should be used to it [...]
Source: http://www.touchstoneblog.org.uk/2011/07/more-bilge-on-disability-benefits/
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posted by pension333 @ 01:02
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Video Rating: 0 / 5
Source: http://www.newstakeholderpensions.info/lake-taneycomo-nov-22-09-drawdown-of-the-lake/
posted by pension333 @ 23:01
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Prospect is to set up a network of workplace pensions champions to help members handle the many retirement choices they now face. Conference backed a proposal by the national executive to give full support to the TUC's pensions champions project.
People now understood pensions issues much better than in the past, but how they actually work is less well understood, said Audrey Uppington, moving the NEC motion. The TUC project aimed to explain to members at work the options available to them, she said. It includes a pensions website and the facility for members to build up their own personal pensions profile.
Source: http://www.pensionschampions.co.uk/?q=node/59
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posted by pension333 @ 21:01
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I seem to have taken a Blogging sabbatical since early December.
Source: http://www.lse.co.uk/blogs/expert/resident-ifa-blog/ysyf9j/
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posted by pension333 @ 19:01
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Jason D. Lazarus of Orlando, Florida joins Speaking of Settlements in this conversation discussing his firm’s (Synergy Settlements) recent roll out and introduction of an innovative non-qualified structured settlement funding vehicle, which takes advantage of a unique partnering of a … Continue reading
posted by pension333 @ 17:01
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Over the past couple of weeks we in the BMA Pensions Department have been reading and re-reading the Hutton report to try to make sure that every possible nuance is understood. We are trying to avoid any nasty surprises when the government eventually consults on possible changes to the NHS Pension Scheme in the autumn [...]
Source: http://blogs.bma.org.uk/pensions/2011/05/09/digging-a-bit-deeper-into-the-hutton-report/
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<!– @page { margin: 2cm } P { margin-bottom: 0.21cm } –>
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posted by pension333 @ 13:01
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Once again Europe has spoken and this time it’s the women who will pay – well sort of. The latest diktat from the ECJ has declared that it will no longer be legal for insurance companies to use sex based factors when pricing products whether that be car insurance, life insurance or (and this is [...]
posted by pension333 @ 11:02
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At the beginning of the year the TSSA trained its first wave of Pension Champions. Stimulated by the report made by the Railway Pension Commission and recommendations to move to a career average scheme*, as well as disregarding TSSA recommendations for an industry wide scheme; reps have been busy recruiting pensions champions. As part of the TSSA strategic response to the commission’s report the TSSA has managed to recruit pension champions from outside the rep pool and directly from the membership. July brings the second wave of training with nearly 40 applicants and many more awaiting dates for future training in the year. It is the aim of the TSSA to recruit pension champions in every region for every company, providing us with a network of reps solely placed to organise around what stands to be one of the biggest issues facing our members in 2008.
Source: http://www.pensionschampions.co.uk/?q=node/56
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posted by pension333 @ 09:02
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I have made a video blog looking at [...] Source: http://www.touchstoneblog.org.uk/2011/07/video-employment-trends-update-july-2011/ drawdown state pension forecast uk state pension pension lump sum pension transfer
Source: http://www.retirementageuk.info/video-employment-trends-update-july-2011/
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A small but significant piece of good news for Labour, buried in the back of its annual report, published today. The party’s pension fund had been sagging under a deficit of �6.6m, which may sound tiny until you remember that …
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ft/westminster/~3/tNDkfVSP6Rw/
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posted by pension333 @ 05:02
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Since I launched my second blog in early 2011 to discuss risk management and investment best practices for a wider institutional audience beyond pension plans alone, I’ve seldom posted items in both places. Instead, I’ve tried to provide unique insights … Continue reading
Source: http://www.newstakeholderpensions.info/prioritizing-risk-management/
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posted by pension333 @ 03:01
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Language: Japanese Subtitle : English X-MAS SPECIAL!! I DO NOT OWN LOVE HINA!!!! ALL AUTHORIZATIONS BELONGS TO KEN AKAMATSU-SENSEI AND TV TOKYO
Source: http://www.drawdown.info/love-hina-ep-26-x-mas-special-part-4/
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posted by pension333 @ 01:02
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In "Shock of Gray: The Aging of the World’s Population and How it Pits Young Against Old, Child Against Parent, Worker Against Boss, Company Against Rival, and Nation Against Nation," Ted C. Fishman states that "when a society does not have … Continue reading
Source: http://www.newstakeholderpensions.info/aging-around-the-world-economic-and-political-realities-2/
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posted by pension333 @ 23:03
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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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Some suspicious letters and a super-8 film raise the intrigue this week, while Rosie's family are really starting to fall apart
Spoiler alert: This blog is intended for those watching AMC's remake of The Killing on Channel 4. Don't read on if you haven't watched episode five. If you've seen future episodes, don't leave spoilers ? and Forbrydelsen fans, please remember that not everyone will have seen the Danish original.
Vicky Frost's episode four blog
What do we know?
? Rosie's teacher, Bennet Ahmed, wrote her letters. He did so, he says, because she didn't like to raise her hand in class.
? He met his wife when she was a student. He also used to send her letters.
? Ahmed had access to the campaign cars because of his role as spokesman for Seattle Allstars.
? He has no alibi for the Friday night ? he phoned his wife, who was staying with her sister, around 10pm from a cellphone.
? Ahmed cancelled the floor contractors and had large quantities of plastic sheeting and ammonium hydroxide ? which could be used to treat the floors ? in his house.
? There are traces of ammonium hydroxide all over Rosie Larsen's body.
? Ahmed gave Linden a super-8 film that Rosie had made. Sarah thinks it wasn't made by a girl who was "the pink-bedroom type".
Busted! That little "if I was a gambling man" aside ? made after Holder's supposed Blackjack win ? only made Linden more suspicious. (And proved how sharp she is when it comes to the details.) Although frankly, if you saw your partner being passed envelopes of cash through car windows, you'd be suspicious too. I'm presuming we're meant to be thinking the worst of Holder though ? and that there will be a twist when all is revealed.
At the moment, however, there are few surprises: Holder is still charging around like a man who possessed, making inappropriate comments about Bennet's surname/ethnicity, and generally seeming to think that being rude will get results. Linden, on the other hand, cajoles Amber, Ahmed's wife, into confiding that Bennet used to write her notes about acting upon her dreams ? which sound worryingly like the ones he sent to Rosie ? and quietly sidles off for a quick look around the house.
From the kids to their parents, this is a family falling apart. The boys are left to raid Mitch's purse in order to buy milk for cereal, and Tom has started wetting the bed. When Denny announces that their parents don't care about them now Rosie has gone, he's of course wide of the mark ? Mitch and Stan are desperately trying to keep things together ? but at the moment his parents are barely functioning. Remember that tight-knit, loved-up couple we met in the first episode? It was telling how they took separate seats at the funeral home, and how Stan couldn't cry in front of his wife ? instead secretly howling in a service station loo by himself. Does it get more bleak than this?
Denny and Tom do at least have other adults they can turn to ? although they might not be the ones they really want. It was Belko who noticed Tom's bedclothes and pyjamas in the bin, got them laundered and tried to reassure him; the boys' aunt, Terry, is trying to keep them upbeat in the face of Mitch's grief.
Belko is also trying to support Stan, albeit in a not particularly level-headed way. He offers to find out who is being investigated at the school. After initially demurring ? "it won't bring Rosie back ? Stan asks his friend to find out. This is clearly not going to end well.
With his campaign still suffering from the death of Rosie Larsen, Darren Richmond falls short of his high ethical standards once more ? I'm beginning to wonder if he's every managed to live up to them ? and agrees to a stage-managed "fancy seeing you here" moment with Mitch Larsen in the supermarket. It is fist-gnawingly awkward; he manages to both exploit a grieving mother and his dead wife, and yet achieve nothing. Nice going, Richmond. No wonder you don't want to talk about it.
It's not even like Darren is good at being sneaky and duplicitous. It turns out that the intern he asked to secretly check Gwen and Jamie's email accounts in order to make sure there were no leaks was the bloody leak ? planted in his department by Ruth Yitanes in order to benefit her husband's plumbing business. Yitanes really does play dirty: making it clear than Darren even doubted Gwen's loyalty.
And it looks like things are only going to get worse. Who is Richmond cuddling up to in his shiny new, expensive advertisement? Bennet Ahmed ? who has some serious questions to answer about Rosie, and his relationship with her. That's what comes of taking cash from people for the wrong reasons, I suppose.
I know we were all obsessed by Sarah Lund's sweaters and her tendency for wandering around in the dark, the sheer joy of shouting TROELS!, and foolish thoughts of learning Danish ? but Forbrydelsen's most important story is that of the Birk Larsen family; quietly imploding in the aftermath of Nanna's murder. While the US show generally takes that silent, understated approach I'm finding Mitch's problem with water, while understandable, does make her seem rather hysterical. It feels rather like over-egging the pudding. Ditto the discussions about how Sarah has stopped being obsessive.
I'm also beginning to wonder whether we might not see that same amplification with the political situation ? there is much more manufactured intrigue here with Jamie undercover and Richmond's shopping trip, for instance, pushing the political plot along more quickly. I've yet to decide whether that's a good or bad thing. Any thoughts?
? Whisky wouldn't be my choice of starter-tipple for a non drinker. And Jamie's unlikely to touch it for a while after that (not particularly convincingly acted) drunkeness.
? I hope that's not the last we see of the marvellous Ruth Yitanes. I'd be happy to see a side plot in which she played a much larger role, but doubt very much that will be the case.
? Am I right to think that Gwen slept with the hot director in order to get him to do the advertisement? That seems a bit (a lot) extreme to me ? although arguably not a complete hardship.
? Belko was sweet in his clumsy way, trying to reassure Tom.
? Where was Holder leaving that envelope? His family? How does that tie in with his explanation that he'd been celibate for six months? (Linden's "That's nice" in reply to his revelation was the moment of the episode for me).
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2011/jul/28/the-killing-episode-five
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posted by pension333 @ 19:01
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Inter Payroll are giving away an Apple iPad. Enter for your chance to win! Similar Posts Apple style navigation menu Payroll Giving National Employment Savings Trust changes Source: http://www.interpayroll.co.uk/blog/news/win-an-apple-ipad.html pensions advisory service can i retire pensions calculator ill health retirement … Continue reading
Source: http://www.uk-retirement.info/win-an-apple-ipad/
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If you are a mortgage provider, I.F.A., property developer, tax adviser or accountant; you� need to know that in a recent survey by Pension Professional Magazine, Pension Practitioner .com appeared head and shoulders above the competition for small self administered schemes (SSAS).
Source: http://www.pensionpractitioner.com/blog/who-is-pension-practitioner-com/78/
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?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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posted by pension333 @ 13:02
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BMA council agrees next steps in campaigning over NHS reform
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BMADailyFeed/~3/cIyiyATDKxk/BSKN-8K6GSC
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posted by pension333 @ 11:02
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Last Wednesday, I attended the ICAEW accountancy institute Healthcare Seminar of which I am the chairman.
The seminar was even more passionate than usual due to the recent and forthcoming changes to financial legislation for both healthcare professionals and citizens alike.
Over the next few weeks, I will advise on some of the relevant topics covered during the seminar.
These areas will include:
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Source: http://blogs.birminghampost.net/business/2011/07/enterprise-zone-downgrade-rais.html pension transfer retirement age uk retirement calculator annuity calculator pensions advisory service
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posted by pension333 @ 07:01
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I have a post at Left Foot Forward, [...]
Source: http://www.touchstoneblog.org.uk/2011/07/youth-unemployment/
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posted by pension333 @ 05:04
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The full text of Andrew Lansley’s leaked letter [...]
Source: http://www.touchstoneblog.org.uk/2011/07/dissecting-andrew-lansleys-letter/
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posted by pension333 @ 02:02
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Just a shameless plug actually for a Zen themed Breakfast Seminar at which I, together with an Actuary and an Investment Manager will give some insights on how to get the best out of your pension advisors.
Source: http://www.pensionlawyerblog.com/the-art-of-wise-instruction
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posted by pension333 @ 00:02
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In discussion with Pension Practitioner .com managers. The first of three scheduled meetings. We considered how a SIPP (Self-Invested Personal Pension) could be relevant from a tax perspective, for sheltering properties and other possible investments. However, Pension Practitioner .com stated that there are circumstances, especially for small to medium sized family businesses, when [...]
Source: http://www.pensionpractitioner.com/blog/is-ssas-better-than-sipp/41/
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posted by pension333 @ 22:01
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As many Americans celebrate the Fourth of July with sparklers and picnics, it is notable that public pension plans in the United States are undergoing radical changes. From their original inception as rewards for civil servants and military personnel, retirement plans are often now seen as costly drains on municipal and state coffers.
A few days ago, the Atlanta City Council voted unanimously to reform its pension plan and thereby "generate $22 million to $30 million in savings over the next 10 years and $500 million over the next 30 years."
Jurists in Colorado and Minnesota recently said "no" to public retirees who sued to reinstate reduced benefits on the basis of alleged contractual guarantees.
While Monday is an official day off for many individuals, it's back to work on Tuesday July 5 with continued debates in town halls throughout the nation (and abroad) about employee benefit plans.
Related Links For Readers:
Source: http://feeds.lexblog.com/~r/PensionRiskMatters/~3/Y_83p5wcK2o/
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posted by pension333 @ 20:01
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Weston Resort, a development of 45 apartments on the west coast of Barbados, at prices far below anything seen in this location in recent years, is still progressing well and the exterior shell of the building is coming up very quickly. After a small set back due to an unforeseeable amount of rain in the [...]
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posted by pension333 @ 18:01
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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/
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posted by pension333 @ 16:01
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I was beavering away yesterday; preparing for an interim Client meeting ? to let him know how my financial planning thoughts had progressed re: his impending retirement.
Source: http://www.lse.co.uk/blogs/expert/resident-ifa-blog/4fnaz7/
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posted by pension333 @ 14:01
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Apologies for my pre-occupation with Pensions in this Blog of late, although I have come across a couple of interesting scare-mongering (possibly) developments in the last week.
Source: http://www.lse.co.uk/blogs/expert/resident-ifa-blog/5g23kz/
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posted by pension333 @ 12:01
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The FT reported last night that Trinity Mirror, owner of the Daily Mirror newspaper, has launched a review of its editorial controls and procedures amid investor anxiety that phone-hacking allegations could spread beyond the now-defunct News of the World. ?We … Continue reading
Source: http://www.statepensionforecast.info/trinity-mirror-share-price-on-the-slide/
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posted by pension333 @ 10:01
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Ambridge throbs with the dynamo hum of women gossiping and every week is a whirl of compulsory festivity. To be ostracised in Ambridge would be loneliness indeed My heart goes out to Ross “Scoop” Adams of the Borchester Echo. He … Continue reading
Source: http://www.the-pension-service.info/radio-review-a-month-in-ambridge/
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posted by pension333 @ 08:02
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Emergency Budget 2010 - Financial Planning Budget Highlights. By George, was it as bad as I thought it might be? No... and there's even the odd bit to be optimistic about.
Source: http://feeds.lexblog.com/~r/MercerHole/TaxPlusBlog/~3/TIXdTjPNPIA/
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posted by pension333 @ 06:02
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Key Data announced that ISA complaint structured products are not ISA compliant and David Cameron detailes his proposed limitation to childrens tax credit and a delay in the changes to Inheritance Tax.Video Rating: 5 / 5
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posted by pension333 @ 04:02
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Sanders Quizzes Budget Nominee — 07/26/2007– The subject Inheritance Tax. While Bush is pushing to do away with the Inheritance Tax, he is vetoing Health Care impoverished Children. President Bush’s nominee to head the White House budget(Office of Management and … Continue reading
Source: http://www.nhspension.info/bush-to-give-waltons-32-billions-in-tax-breaks-sanders/
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posted by pension333 @ 02:04
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An instant response to my blog of the other day. The Scottish Government has approved the proposals from Edinburgh Business School (Heriot-Watt University) for the sympathetic renovation of Panmure House, just off old Edinburgh’s historic Royal Mile, where Adam Smith lived from 1778 up to his death in 1790.
The planning authorities have at last given the go ahead, despite objections from Historic Scotland – a statutory publicly-funded body which forced a public enquiry on the plans. But it should come as no surprise that current legal requirements for wheelchair access, fire exists, public and disabled toilets and all the rest required some modification to the old building. Since the guts had been ripped out of it already by its previous public-sector owners, that would be no great loss; but not only have the Business School accommodated all these requirements sympathetically, they are also going to spend a large amount on restoring the whole house to its eighteenth century glory.
I'm really fed up with publicly funded bodies and public officials taking so long over this kind of thing. And the fact that different public bodies come up with competing rules and regulations that land us in the sort of three-year hiatus that Panmure House has been sunk in. Without a purpose, Panmure House would be an unloved, decaying hulk.
The Business School have found a purpose – facilities for their students plus a public space for events and concerts – which even the meanest intelligence should see as better than letting it decay. Fortunately, common sense has triumphed over bureaucracy, and Adam Smith's old home will be revived again.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheAdamSmithInstituteBlog/~3/h7z-pMChXm0/
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posted by pension333 @ 00:02
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Britain?s largest care home provider, Southern Cross, finally appears to have reached the end of the road. This should not, we hope, result in many home closures, as the landlords from whom Southern Cross rents its properties are taking possession … Continue reading
Source: http://www.pensionlumpsum.info/after-southern-cross-what-next/
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posted by pension333 @ 22:01
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When you are looking at forex systems, one of the factors that you might see mentioned in a good system review or summary is drawdown. Source: http://www.inheritancetaxthreshold.info/forex-systems-what-is-drawdown/ pension forecast pensions uk iht annuity rates stakeholder pensions Source: http://www.pension-calculator.info/forex-systems-what-is-drawdown/ uk retirement … Continue reading
Source: http://www.pension-release-uk.info/forex-systems-what-is-drawdown/
posted by pension333 @ 20:01
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Taking the long view: Effective pension trusteeship in uncertain times.
The TUC Member Trustee Network annual conference. Friday 27 June 2008, Congress House, London.
Global economic turbulence, increasing regulatory and legal burdens, greater longevity and legislative change: these are uncertain times in the pensions world. The role of member trustees is critical in stewarding pensions, protecting members’ benefits and taking a long-term view in the face of these challenges.
This conference aims to help trustees navigate the current terrain and look to the future on pensions policy, regulatory and investment issues.
Source: http://www.pensionschampions.co.uk/?q=node/58
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posted by pension333 @ 18:01
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What has happened to NHS waiting times in the year since the change of government in May 2010? With the official numbers in, FactCheck duly rolled up its sleeves to perform the coalition's first annual check-up.
Source: http://blogs.channel4.com/factcheck/factcheck-nhs-waiting-times-face-critical-test/7250
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posted by pension333 @ 16:01
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According to "Washington Mutual settles class-action suit for $208.5 million," Associated Press, July 1, 2011, pension plans that include the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Board (as lead) will benefit as shareholders of the failed bank (if and once the Bankruptcy Court approves the terms).
On a related note, Judge Mary F. Walrath of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware tells certain Washington Mutual ("WaMu") employees that they are "entitled only to general unsecured claims because they do not have a right to the funds that is superior to the rights of the other general unsecured creditors." She added that "Because the plans were unfunded, and the funds were identified as property of WaMu," it was not possible to "impose a constructive trust because the money allegedly owed to the participants can no longer be clearly traced to funds or property in their possession." See "WaMu wins bankruptcy fight over employee retirement funds," Thomson Reuters News & Insight, June 20, 2011.
The two articles caught this blogger's attention as a timely example that financial distress can impact multiple constituencies in completely different ways.
Source: http://feeds.lexblog.com/~r/PensionRiskMatters/~3/IeOWSrzvrAQ/
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posted by pension333 @ 14:01
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I received a visit last week from a lady who had recently divorced. I say recently, although it was 2 years ago...
Source: http://www.lse.co.uk/blogs/expert/resident-ifa-blog/bcd449/
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posted by pension333 @ 12:01
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Work and Pensions minister Iain Duncan Smith wants to stem the flow of immigrants into Britain's workforce, to give young Brits a better chance on the jobmarket. But can the Government do anything to restrict entry from the EU? FactCheck investigates.
Source: http://blogs.channel4.com/factcheck/factcheck-can-bosses-pick-brits-over-immigrants/7168
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posted by pension333 @ 10:01
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Since I launched my second blog in early 2011 to discuss risk management and investment best practices for a wider institutional audience beyond pension plans alone, I've seldom posted items in both places. Instead, I've tried to provide unique insights for employee benefit plan decision-makers on www.PensionRiskMatters.com and address broader regulatory, litigation and compliance issues on www.GoodRiskGovernancePays.com.
Today is an exception. I am reprinting my comments about risk management on both blogs because I believe so strongly in the importance of effective risk management as an integral component of investment governance. I hope you enjoy reading my comments, originally published on The Glass Hammer website. For those who are not familiar with the group, check out www.TheGlassHammer.com to learn about this award-winning blog and online community created for women executives in finance, law, technology and big business. See below or click on "Thought Leaders: Prioritizing Risk Management" to read the full text of this commentary about the benefits of risk mitigation well done and the costly consequences of inattention or sloppy practices.
Full Text:
Thought Leaders: Prioritizing Risk Management, July 14, 2011, 1:00 pm
Contributed by Susan Mangiero, PhD, Investment Risk Governance Consultant and Author
For those financial institutions which have yet to grasp the importance of identifying, measuring, managing, and monitoring risks on a comprehensive basis, time may not be on their side. Regulators and litigators alike are forcing change.
There are countless individuals who want better information from their service providers about risk and are prepared to vote with their feet if they don’t get good answers. After all, these institutional investors themselves are confronted with a bevy of new mandates that require transparency. The good news is that change opens the door to business opportunities. Enlightened organizations that have good processes in place and have nothing to hide can differentiate themselves from competitors. Providing clients with education and data tools offers yet another way for asset managers, consultants, banks, and advisors to forge stronger relationships with their pension, endowment, foundation and family office clients. On the flip side, those who are reluctant to explain how they manage their financial, operational and legal risks may lose clients or worse yet, could end up as defendants in a lawsuit.
Pay to play conflicts, questions about hidden fees, state and federal legislation and new accounting rules are a few of the forces at work to ensure that trillions of institutional dollars are in good hands. Effective investment stewardship is no longer a luxury. Recent surveys confirm that buy side decision-makers continue to emphasize governance and risk management for their organizations as well as providers of products and services. Institutional investors can ill afford to lose money after a tumultuous few years. Investment committee members who give short shrift to fiduciary duties could end up being investigated by regulators or sued. According to federal court data, the number of ERISA lawsuits is going up. Factor in investment arbitrations, enforcement actions and “piggyback” securities litigation allegations and it is clear that unhappy investors are not going to accept the status quo.
Besides efforts underway by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has proposed an expanded definition of who should serve as a fiduciary to ERISA employee benefit plans. If adopted, countless more professionals will be tasked with demonstrating procedural prudence when it comes to the investment of over $30 trillion in money from corporate retirement plan sponsors. States are likewise seeking change in the form of trust law reforms that tighten accountability for the investment of monies held by endowments, foundations and charities. The questions now being addressed by judges and arbitration panels relate to “excessive” risk-taking, insufficient diversification, absence of independent assessments of hard-to-value instruments and oversight failures that have led to large losses that might have been highly preventable.
One asset management firm recently settled with the SEC for $242 million over a mistake with one of its risk management models. Another firm just settled with the SEC for $200 million due to problems in the way subprime securities were marked. A few years ago, a Northeast pension plan was sanctioned by the DOL for not having thoroughly vetted valuation numbers provided by one of its hedge fund managers.
When I testified before the ERISA Advisory Council in 2008, I emphasized that having good valuation policies and procedures is essential because it impacts so many decisions having to do with asset allocation, hedging and fees paid.
Data analysis is a cornerstone of effective risk management but only if inputs are considered good. Garbage in, garbage out can be disastrous and costly. The use of unreliable, incomplete or inaccurate data points can result in bad decisions being made about measuring and controlling risks. Since risk
management is integral to investment management, other decisions such as portfolio rebalancing may be flawed as a result. Moreover, data is not created equal. Consider a few examples. Yields for a constant maturity security are not the same as yields on particular financial instruments with a fixed maturity date. Betas can be levered or unlevered. Mutual fund returns may not include all relevant fees, let alone the timing as to when the fees are charged. Hedge funds that utilize side pockets will report performance numbers that are skewed as a result. For an institutional investor that is trying to decide how to best manage risk or make sure that its service provider is properly controlling risk, one has to first measure the numerous risks that can spell trouble if left unchecked.
I’ve been fortunate to have worked on various projects where I had to thoroughly understand data quality exigencies before I could conduct statistical analyses that in turn were used for risk management or compliance purposes. While pursuing my PhD in finance, I took extra math and statistics courses to strengthen my data analysis skills. My doctoral research on trading patterns and market liquidity required extensive vetting of transaction data that was provided by the New York Stock Exchange. When I worked in the treasury department of a Fortune 500 company, I had to review and assimilate large amounts of data about a $200+ million derivative instrument portfolio in order to make recommendations about hedging strategies and risk monitoring technology functions. When I now serve as an expert witness on financial litigation matters, I spend copious amounts of time with relevant data to first understand what it means and then evaluate what could have been done differently to avoid losses. Data analysis is an important component of estimating economic damages that a judge or arbitration panel will review for settlement or award purposes.
Making decisions based on numbers alone is not the way the business world works. There are qualitative and quantitative risks that cannot be ignored but, of course, decisions and data do need to be aligned.
There is no sector of the investment management industry that is immune from risk management. Due diligence meetings increasingly focus on what asset managers, banks and other service providers are doing to manage their risks. Pension committee members are being asked to account for how they select managers and investments with more details about prudent process. Donors are reluctant to give money to non-profits without assurances that risks are under control. Auditors are tasked to ensure that models for hard-to-value instruments are regularly monitored for appropriateness. Board members and compliance officers are in the spotlight for their oversight of risk-taking and the extent to which investors are kept abreast about controls.
Risk management is an important means to an end. It is in everyone’s best interest to identify, measure, manage and monitor risks. Otherwise, it comes down to being lucky or not. Try explaining whim to investors, shareholders, taxpayers, litigators and/or regulators.
In addition to a plethora of articles about risk management and valuation, Susan Mangiero, PhD, CFA, FRM is the author of Risk Management for Pensions, Endowments and Foundations. She is busy at work on a new book about investment risk governance. Mangiero is the architect behind an award-winning, syndicated blog found at www.pensionriskmatters.com. A second blog found at www.goodriskgovernancepays.com focuses more broadly on investment risk governance for all types of institutional investors and their advisors and attorneys.
Source: http://feeds.lexblog.com/~r/PensionRiskMatters/~3/Ug6icgyRtL4/
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posted by pension333 @ 08:01
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