CSFI event – The Great Risk Transfer

Occupational pensions used to be organised and guaranteed by employers. Employee rights to holidays, sick pay and other benefits have been watered down by the “gig” economy. The “State” has pulled back from providing some benefits and become less generous with others.

Not only does this increase choice for individuals, which can be a good thing, it increases responsibilities. And as the choices may be complex, it begs the question of how well equipped they are to make financial decisions and where they can get help if they need it.

John Taylor, President of the IFoA, will lead off the discussion. He is a partner at Hymans Robertson LLP, based in Edinburgh, working on what is commonly described as “robo–advice”. His ambition is to make actuarial modelling accessible and meaningful to consumers as they seek to understand their financial choices. His previous roles include Managing Director at NEST, the state-backed pension scheme.

To respond, we are pleased to welcome:

• Helen Morrissey, spokesperson on retirement issues for Royal London since 2017. Helen comments on auto-enrolment, retirement income, pensions policy and financial resilience in retirement – particularly that of women. Prior to joining Royal London, Helen was a financial journalist for 14 years.
• Guy Rigden, CEO at MyBnk since 2016, having joined as expansion director in 2013. MyBnk is a charity that helps young people engage with personal finance by making it fun. Guy leads on policy and is a member of the Money Advice Service’s Financial Capability Board. Previously he spent 30 years in the City, including running Credit Suisse’s emerging EMEA equity business.
• Tim Sharp, Senior Policy Officer in the Rights, International, Social and Economics Department at the Trades Union Congress. He leads the TUC’s activity on employment rights having previously overseen its pensions and investment work. Before joining the TUC in 2014, he was a financial journalist, most recently the London-based City Editor for Scotland’s Herald newspaper.
• Josephine Cumbo, the FT’s pensions correspondent. She was recognised for her contribution to institutional pensions reporting at this year’s State Street press awards, and named National Journalist of the Year by the Society of Pension Professionals. She is also a columnist for Pensions Expert, a Governor at the Pensions Policy Institute, and one-time Olympic Torchbearer.