Leasehold flat valuations – a cruel joke! I find this funny, though I bought a flat around 15 years ago and it can't be sold for what we paid for it.

Is my retirement under threat from "geopolitical tension"? henrytapper.com/2026/04/14/i... The craziness of (1) being in my 60s and (2) seeing my pot yo yo with "geopolitical tension" tells me that (3) DC is a waste of time! Thanks Matthew Arends and Aon for what I think was a promotion for #CDC !

Is my retirement under threat from "geopolitical tension"? henrytapper.com/2026/04/14/i... The craziness of (1) being in my 60s and  (2) seeing my pot yo yo with "geopolitical tension" tells me that (3) DC is a waste of time!

Is my retirement under threat from “geopolitical tension”? Damned be the word "geopolitical" it is not a word that means anything to ordinary people . "Geopolitical risk" may mean something to investment and actuarial gurus but what it translates into for ordinary folk  is "higher prices for the…

Better pensions at no risk and no strain on cashflow? Why not - CFO? henrytapper.com/2026/04/14/b... The idea that better pensions can be paid both from legacy investment and from future investment at little risk and strain on the cashflow is an idea that appeals

Better pensions at no risk and no strain on cashflow? Why not – CFO? I don't often plug my blogs Once they are written I have moved on. But yesterday afternoon I had reason to talk with a friend who runs a way of helping defined benefits to stay running on and as we talked, I thought of how he and…

KISS - Pensions need to be kept simple, stupid. henrytapper.com/2026/04/14/k... We should focus on work and pensions as delivering good pay and good deferred pay. That means delivering to scale and keeping things simple. Thanks to Peter Roos of Lumera for #KISS

KISS – Pensions need to be kept simple, stupid. Running this headline yesterday, Professional Pensions became confused between arguments for proliferation from the House of Lords and arguments from an administrator to consolidate pensions onto a few well run administration platforms. This article…

FOS - the hidden cost of "free" henrytapper.com/2026/04/13/f... I'm pleased that someone is  putting some planks for people to tread on as  they cross the FOS morass.

FOS – the hidden cost of “free” These last two weeks I have been publishing the case of Gavin H as presented to the world by Steve Webb. I found this moving testament on Linked in, liked by many I know. This is an advertisement from people providing legal services but (despite this) it contains…

Is now the time for Nest to invest £450m into US private credit? henrytapper.com/2026/04/13/i... “This isn’t a radical statement. It has become widely understood that, following the global financial crisis of 2008, risk moved from the formal banking sector into the private credit market”

Is now the time for Nest to invest £450m into US private credit? Donald Trump has cleared away legal barriers to employers that want to let workers put their 401(k)-retirement money into riskier but potentially higher-yielding assets like private equity, real estate funds and so on. The US…

How far can we use AI in administering pensions? henrytapper.com/2026/04/13/h...

How far can we use AI in administering pensions? Bob Ward, someone who I've known as a deep thinking on pensions administration since the days of Papdis and our hopes of simplifying AE contributions, has this to say as a comment on a recent blog on the administration of a future whole of life CDC…

Farage and Badenoch blew Brexit for me when they courted Trump henrytapper.com/2026/04/13/f... Courting Trump displays a lack of what the British thinks of as morality. Siding with Trump  is only a step from admiring Putin and disregarding the state of our planet.

Farage and Badenoch blew Brexit for me when they courted Trump I do not want Farage and Badenoch people leading my company. A year ago many prominent figures on the British right were vocal fans of Donald Trump, praising his plans to cut waste and tackle illegal migration. Following the Iran war,…

Two mature journalists tell us "hold your nerves and stay invested". henrytapper.com/2026/04/12/t... I can get you no nearer the wisdom of Stuart Kirk , but it is the same as Jeff’s. It seems tough when you’re faced with a crisis , but in hindsight – only two crisis’ hurt Stuart.

Two mature journalists tell us “hold your nerves and stay invested”. Jeff Prestridge is on the final lap of a marathon career. If you are a subscriber to Daily Mail's Money Mail but though I write article for them , I have no access so this tight-typed article is the nearest I can get to a…

The sharks using Brexit to prey on DB pensions. You don't have to go to Spain or Dubai to get poor advice on managing your retirement finances - try France. In this article, Des Cooney from Axis Consultants in Paris offers British expats  this advice In the mean-time expats should consider taking…

The tale of the “scammed” This is the testimony of one victim of a pension scam. I cannot verify whether every aspect is true, but it is not the work of a vindictive person. It has been written to help trustees of pension schemes to better protect members and for  Regulators to better help…

It’s not just IFAs that should be livid! Here is the note I wrote when I read New Model Advisers report On why FSCS cannot determine its current levy (uncertainty over Strand Capital) On why FSCS has to unravel its past compensation (uncertainty over Arch Cru) Today (Jan 4) FSCS published its…

Concerns over the money invested though Active Wealth (UK) Ltd This blog is about the investment solutions recommended by Active Wealth (UK) Ltd to members of the British Steel Pension Scheme (BSPS). Corporate structures The role of Vega Algorithms Custody and fund governance of 5Alpha 5Alpha fees…

Police probe at Port Talbot is thanks to Al Rush News that South Wales police have started an investigation into the pensions goings on in and around Port Talbot, is a major development. It escalates what was a pensions investigation into a criminal investigation. This could have radical…

"Prudence" is foresight and judgement; not "investment orthodoxy". henrytapper.com/2026/04/12/p... "Prudent trustees once managed investments sensibly for income and stability." Derek Scott

“Prudence” is foresight and judgement; not “investment orthodoxy”. The following beautiful comments from Derek Scott are worth reading several times The Scots would say “nae wise” of someone acting without sense — which fits much of today’s investment orthodoxy. PensionsOldie, meanwhile, shows…

Pensioners look on as insurers gloat. henrytapper.com/2026/04/12/p... There is something wrong about this. Insurers should not gloat that they will be investing what is currently our pension fund money.

Pensioners look on as insurers gloat. There is something wrong about this. Insurers should not gloat that they will be investing what is currently our pension fund money. The insurance companies expect £550bn of our money to insure and reinsure promises already secured in pension schemes.  This…

This worries me; I don't want to be governed by spivs henrytapper.com/2026/04/12/t... "Mr Tice has refused to answer the question directly, instead saying that he paid income tax on the dividends. ..the law doesn’t permit REITs to opt to defer their tax obligations" Dan Neidle

This worries me; I don't want to be governed by spivs henrytapper.com/2026/04/12/t... "Mr Tice has refused to answer the question directly, instead saying that he paid income tax on the dividends. That’s not an answer" Dan Niedle

This worries me; I don’t want to be governed by spivs Richard Tice is someone who attracts those who believe Reform can make Britain great again through being tough on those who cheat the system. He has served as Deputy Leader of Reform UK since 2024 and as the Reform UK Business, Trade and Energy…

The day the world turned orange (II) #GrandNational18 When I first went to Aintree six years ago, I wrote a blog called "the day the world turned orange". I had been caught out by the wonderful world of scouse and I've been going back to Aintree every spring since. I hadn't had reason to write…

The days the world turned orange – Grand National 2012 – 2026! The Grand National of 2012 will be remembered for good and bad. Detractors will point to the shocking deaths of According to Pete and Synchronised, the shambles of Sychonised's final minutes played out in the most desperate fashion.…

The Grand National - did your Dad ride in it? Did you win like Guy Opperman? henrytapper.com/2026/04/11/t... It’s something to remember back to distant off Grand Nationals but another to have a photo of your Dad riding in it!

The Grand National – did your Dad ride in it? Did you win like Guy Opperman? It's something to remember back to distant off Grand Nationals but another to have a photo of your Dad riding in it! 60 years since my dad rode in the 1966 #GrandNational as an amateur (white colours jumping the chair on…

An all party group promoting growth in pensions? Why didn't we know about them! henrytapper.com/2026/04/11/a... "We discussed how pension investment can play a bigger role in supporting local infrastructure, including social housing, and how we can unlock more opportunities for growth" Sarah Walker

An all party group promoting growth in pensions? Why didn't we know about them! henrytapper.com/2026/04/11/a... "We discussed how pension investment can play a bigger role in supporting local infrastructure, including social housing, and how we can unlock more opportunities for growth" Sarah Walker

An all party group promoting growth in pensions? Why didn’t we know about them! It is really pleasing to see Labour MPs getting pension people involved in the business of running this company. I would not have known much about Sarah Walker; I would not have known much about this group Pensions and…

Alternative ways to listen to Nico, Darren and now Richard and friends. I am pleased that Darren and Nico have answered the questions that have been put to them but slightly disappointed that more challenging questions have not been asked. Here are the questioners who have been answered in one go…

A former minister, the Pensions Bill and enactment. henrytapper.com/2026/04/11/a... The Treasury and DWP are as one with a pensions minister who is liked in both. We should take advantage of a benign time for pensions and make a difference. Thx @GuyOpperman

A former minister, the Pensions Bill and enactment. Guy Opperman has been an intermediary between the civil service and those getting their knickers in a twist about the Pension Schemes Bill. Thanks Guy. It's a valuable service that brings order and sense to the ping pong between the House of…

If you're posh you should buy an annuity today! henrytapper.com/2026/04/10/i... If people want to hang around a few months they may be lucky enough to have a boss that gets them a company CDC with the chance of an invested pension that pays out like an annuity, except with a pay rise

If you're posh you should buy an annuity today! henrytapper.com/2026/04/10/i... The FT are promoting annuities for good IHT reasons, but of course 85% of the population have nothing to fear from IHT – they’ll never have the assets to leave to create a problem.

If you’re posh you should buy an annuity today! If you are bold you will be measuring yourself, not for a suit but for an annuity, especially if you are over 55 and prepared to take a chance against the underwriters of the insurers. An annuity is cheap to buy right now , because it is backed by…

Pension providers should not be managing salary sacrifice – it’s none of their business. A comment came in yesterday from someone who understands the obligations of pension schemes and their fiduciaries. Sometimes I wonder if employers and providers know what they're doing when offering the option…

Why the government’s New Towns strategy is likely to fail henrytapper.com/2026/04/10/w... Rather than doing what has worked well elsewhere, and in the UK in the past, the Government’s approach will struggle to scale, place greater pressure on the public finances and keep gilts volatile

Why the government’s New Towns strategy is likely to fail henrytapper.com/2026/04/10/w... Rather than doing what has worked well elsewhere, and in the UK in the past, the Government’s approach will struggle to scale, place greater pressure on the public finances and keep gilts volatile

1m lowly paid pension payers will get £70 PA from HMRC henrytapper.com/2026/04/10/1... I hear a lot about investment “fiduciary duty” , but there’s fiduciary duty’s due to low earners who for 12 years have been ripped off by net payments from salary to pension.

Pensions are a larger part of our wealth (IFS). Pension wealth is higher still under CDC. henrytapper.com/2026/04/10/p... In this IFS report, pensions hold a bigger value in our wealth. If we moved from pot to pension, the importance of pensions over our whole life would be higher still.

Pensions are a larger part of our wealth (IFS). Pension wealth is higher still under CDC. I'm not a great fan of the Institute of Fiscal Studies who have found it hard to understand  pension as "wealth" . But this report has taken a step in the right direction In this IFS report, pensions hold a…

Why the government’s New Towns strategy is likely to fail Published on 8 April 2026 by Thomas Aubrey in Place & public policy As the UK government advances its New Towns agenda, Thomas Aubrey argues that current funding plans are ill-equipped to deliver infrastructure at scale, and makes the case…