‘The Perils of Short-Term Thinking’

Aug 17, 2020 | Pensions

Both long-term care and pensions are a mess because every new government either dodges the issue or ditches any changes their predecessors have made. The corporate world, however, is no different. In the boom-boom Blair years, for instance, Lloyds bought Scottish Widows for £7bn, so that all of their advisers would have in-house investments and insurance to flog to customers. The next generation of bosses got rid of all the advisers and Scot Wids funds. And now they’ve linked up with Schroders to go back to Plan A, if there ever was such a thing. The cost of al this will, of course be written off/up/amortised or whatever. But think how many care homes it could have funded.

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“National insurance cut raises questions over state pension funding”

“National insurance cut raises questions over state pension funding”

In an election year, all parties will try to be all things to all men. Mostly, it’s only stuff which matters ‘on the doorstep’ which matters. In isolation, Mrs Miggins (not my invention) will be delighted that her pension has gone up with the highest measure of inflation; and no one running a business will be complaining that National Insurance has been reduced.

“Back to work for people aged 65”

“Back to work for people aged 65”

So is it ‘back to work’ or never stopping? And why? Because we’re cash-strapped and can’t afford to retire? Or healthier and realising that working can actually keep you healthy? Well, it all depends, of course.