V-FM: The Pensions Podcast

V-FM Pensions #101: Smart chat with a smart fella - Jamie Fiveash UK CEO of Smart Pension

In this episode of V-FM Pensions, hosts Darren and Nico chat to CEO of Smart UK, Jamie Fiveash. Jamie is a DC and master trust expert, is on the PLSA Board, and has had the pleasure of being Darren's boss, not once, but twice.... 
As it's our 101st episode (finally we've got a new numbering system...) we play a little game of Room 101... what will our guest and hosts consign to history (hint: first Brexit rant of the year from Darren)?
Given the timing of the episode we had to talk about Trump.... but we spend most of our time chatting DC, productive finance, scale and consolidation, pensions reform and IHT.
We find out how Jamie got into pensions and, of course, ask what value for money means to him.
 

V-FM Pensions #100 (#94): Robin Ellison

In this episode of V-FM Pensions, hosts Nico and Darren chat to pensions lawyer extraordinaire, Robin Ellison.
Robin is not shy with his views on policy and regulation and the podcast takes a whistle stop tour through many of the issues the pensions industry is grappling with currently.
As well as welcoming the new pensions minister, we talk about Robin's foray into politics with the 'U' party, his views on regulatory policy and regulation including current initiatives to promote value for money and force consolidation, and a pension scheme investing in bitcoin. We also discuss climate change and the devastating fires in Los Angeles. We find out how Robin got into pensions and ask Robin what value for money means to him. Tune in to hear all this and a whole lot more! 
It's celebration time for VFM as this is the 100th episode of the podcast (including a number of specials that we have recorded over the past couple of years). Here's to the next 100 episodes!

V-FM Pensions #93: The podcast's response to the Government's Consultation on its proposed reforms to the DC pensions market

A Happy New Year to all our listeners!!
In this episode of V-FM Pensions, Darren and Nico kick off the year with an in depth discussion of the UK Government's consultation on reforms to the Defined Contribution pension market. This consultation is part of the Mansion House package of measures published on 14 November 2024.
We chat through the main elements of the consultation including: the (flawed?) premise behind the Mansion House agenda; what scale really means and what we actually mean by a default; bulk transfers without consent; and the role of employers and advisers in choosing a pension scheme.
This is our response to the Government's consultation. Fair to say it asks more questions than it answers, but we hope it helps and that others find it useful as they go about pulling together their own responses.

V-FM Pensions #92: A Merry Mansion House Christmas from Darren and Nico

After a few weeks break due to illness, V-FM Pensions is back for a Christmas special where Darren and Nico chat about Pensions and the Mansions House reforms and look forward to 2025.
 
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all our listeners. Here's to a fantastic 2025!

V-FM Pensions #91: Richard Sweetman

In this episode of V-FM pensions, hosts Nico and Darren chat to Broadstone's Richard Sweetman.
Due to illness, publication of this episode has been delayed, but not to worry as you can see how Richard's Mansion House predictions match up to what Rachel Reeve's announced during her maiden Mansion House speech.
We also discuss a Private Eye Article on the Budget, money and inflation in ancient Rome, pre-Budget tax speculation that never materialised, and the recent Lord Mayor's speech which called for more investment by pension funds into the UK.

V-FM Pensions #90: Žiga Vižintin from Slovenia's Pension Fund A

In this episode of V-FM Pensions hosts Darren and Nico chat to Žiga Vižintin, Director of Retirement Solutions at 'Pokojninska družba A pension fund' ('Pension Fund A') and author of the Irrational Retirement Blog.
We chat the US election, a news story about Nordic regulators sending a joint letter to European regulators urging simpler pension regulation, statistics from the European regulator EIOPA showing low pensions participation across Europe, an unnamed UK pension scheme allocating 3% to Bitcoin, and the presence of microplastics in the human brain and their potential health impacts.
We also discuss pension reform plans in Slovenia, including the potential introduction of auto-enrolment, and, of course, what value for money means to Žiga.

V-FM Pensions #89: Tan Suee Chieh

In this episode of V-FM Pensions, hosts Darren and Nico chat to Tan Suee Chieh, former CEO of Prudential Singapore, former CEO of Singapore's NTUC (National Trade Union Congress), and past President of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.
As well as chatting to Suee Chieh about how he got into pensions and value for money, we spend some time focussing on the proposed sale of Singapore’s NTUC Income to Allianz - a strong example of the importance of speaking up.
We also chat about the proposed acquisition of Redington by Gallagher, the launch of the new trustee company Aretas Trustees, and we send Andrew Warwick-Thompson our heartfelt best wishes.

V-FM Pensions #88: V-FM meets Pensions in Ten

In this episode of V-FM Pensions, hosts Darren Philp and Nico Aspinall join Broadstone's Simon Kew and David Brooks for a V-FM/Pensions in Ten mashup to discuss Rachel Reeve's first Budget as Chancellor of the Exchequer. 

V-FM Pensions #87: Tomorrow's Company's Jonathan Maguire

In this episode of V-FM Pensions, hosts Darren and Nico spend time chatting with Tomorrow’s Company Jonathan Maguire. Tomorrow’s Company is an organisation focused on inspiring businesses to be a force for good in society and Jon’s focus is on the state of the education system, particularly the lack of funding for special educational needs and the disconnect between the curriculum and the needs of young people.
Less pensions chat in this episode, but a really positive and insightful discussion where Jon talks about how we can and should be empowering and inspiring young people, developing their skills, and connecting them with local businesses and mentors.
Investing properly in our kids’ futures… what could be better value for money than that!?

V-FM Pensions #86: Jerry Moriarty, CEO of the Irish Association of Pension Funds

In this episode of V-FM Pensions, hosts Darren and Nico chat to the CEO of the Irish Association of Pension Funds, Jerry Moriarty.
As well as finding out what value for money means to Jerry, we learn about the Irish pension system and the proposed introduction of auto enrolment. We talk about lessons from the UK experience of introducing auto enrolment and pick up on the question of the FCA's value for money consultation which closed this week.
We also chat about the recently published Mercer Global Pensions Index (an annual ranking of pension systems worldwide based on adequacy, sustainability, and integrity) and discuss the proposed sale of a mutual insurer in Singapore including the objection and backlash it has created.