by Paul Sweeting | Mar 10, 2010 | All, Events, Learning, Longevity
I’m currently at the International Congress of Actuaries in Cape Town, and it’s amazing what you learn. For example, today I learnt that whilst mammals have X and Y chromosomes, with women having two X’s and men having an X and a Y, birds have W and...
by Paul Sweeting | Mar 10, 2010 | All, Industry News, Investment
Whilst at the International Congress of Actuaries, I took the opportunity to visit the University of Cape Town. This has a large and successful actuarial science program, and a lot of very bright students (and staff!). I spent my time at the university talking about...
by Paul Sweeting | Mar 10, 2010 | All, Pensions
The NAPF’s new investment council chairman Ray Martin has announced six changes he believes are needed to save private-sector defined benefit pensions. Reverse the Government’s decision to withdraw higher rate tax relief on pension contributions. Simplify the...
by Paul Sweeting | Jan 22, 2010 | All, Industry News
President Obama’s proposal to reduce the size of banks and split off the risky operations will, if implemented, reduce the risk of future systemic banking crises. However, it will still leave a number of problems in place. It is intended to cut the number of...
by Paul Sweeting | Jan 10, 2010 | All, Pensions
I have just returned from a very interesting trip to Japan. I was invited to give a series of lectures on enterprise risk management at the University of Kyoto, and to talk to members of the Institute of Actuaries of Japan in Tokyo about the way in which this subject...
by Paul Sweeting | Dec 18, 2009 | All, Pensions
I’ve been thinking about pension scheme valuations. Much of the discussion in this area is around what discount rate should be used to put a value on the liabilities. This means there is an implicit assumption that discounting the liabilities and comparing them...
by Paul Sweeting | Dec 4, 2009 | All, Pensions
A new report has shown that annuity rates have halved over the last 15 years, not least because of falling gilt yields. This is clearly important for people retiring from defined contribution plans, but it is also important for defined benefit schemes and their...
