V-FM: The Pensions Podcast

In this episode hosts Darren and Nico chat to all round pensions industry legend Sally Bridgeland. Tune in to find out how Margaret Thatcher encouraged Sally to get on her bike, how James Bond style space lasers are nearing reality, and how Sally got into pensions (inducing a discussion on sexism in the city and some of the barriers that Sally and others face). We discussed the People's Pensions new RI policy, Pensions Bee research covering investment in tech giants and why actuaries can't count. We also, of course, chat about what Value for Money means to Sally.

In this episode of V-FM Pensions, co hosts Nico and Darren spend an hour chatting about the news, life and some of the the themes coming out of the podcast so far this year. We also, of course, discuss Arsenal. We chat about AE contribution rates, transfer incentives, at retirement, politics and value for money. And we pay tribute to Frank Field, who recently sadly passed away, for his contribution to politics and welfare reform. Nico also asks Darren about his new venture as part of Untamed Consulting.

In this episode of V-FM Pensions, hosts Darren and Nico chat to Royal London's Director of Policy Jamie Jenkins. As well as being a star billiards player, Jamie is a bit of a pensions legend having led the policy charge at Standard Life and now Royal London. Jamie is a PPI trustee, PLSA policy board member, and was one of three reviewers looking at how to improve auto enrolment back in 2017. We chat dashboards, at retirement, earth day, adequacy, and all the topics you would expect us to cover in just over an hour's worth of V-FM chat. In another V-FM first, we also find out a bit about billiards.

In this episode of V-FM pensions, hosts Nico and Darren chat to the CEO of Railpen John Chilman. As well as heading up one of the largest pension schemes in the UK, John is also chair of the PLSA Policy Board and chair of the Pensions Policy Institute's Finance Committee. We find out about a new Chechnyan law that means that this podcast will now be banned in that country (due to Nico's music...). We talk about all the classic VFM topics that you'd expect, including what motivates John and, of course, what value for money means to him.

In this episode of V-FM pensions, hosts Nico and Darren chat to the ABI's pensions and long term savings guru Rob Yuille. Rob's seen it all in his 12 years at the ABI and, along with his team, has been instrumental in feeding in to the big pensions policy debates and discussions. A discussion that covers the plethora of changes coming into effect at the beginning of the next tax year (cue discussion about the LTA and pensions tax relief), recent research on pot for life, TPR's climate commitments and a whole lot more, including, of course, Rob's take on value for money (with a couple of good analogies thrown in on cars and speakers....).

In the latest episode of V-FM Pensions, hosts Darren and Nico chat to Aviva's Managing Director (workplace) Emma Douglas. The usual canter through the V-FM staples of dashboards, productive finance, fees and charges and investments, is hijacked by some very important and timely health advice, a pop quiz on bamboo toilet roll, bin liners and, to top it all off, we had a very passable Yoda impression. We also had a big announcement with V-FM doing its first show with a live audience!! We had some technical issues while recording the podcast (basically Darren's computer metaphorically blew up) so had to record over two sessions, but we got there in the end!

In this episode hosts Darren and Nico spend an hour chatting to the CEO of Make My Money Matter Tony Burdon. We talk about what Tony is trying to achieve (alongside Richard Curtis) with Make My Money Matter, his innovative campaigns (have you checked out Oblivia Coalmine...?), and the power that pension schemes and insurers can leverage in delivering meaningful change to help tackle the world's climate challenges. We also chat pension freedoms ten years on and whether we need two regulators. Tony has had a really interesting purpose-driven career having worked at Oxfam before joining the Treasury (giving a certain Gordon Brown a 5 point ultimatum) and subsequently the Department for International Development (as it was at the time).

In this episode of V-FM Pensions hosts Darren and Nico chat to Executive Chair of Schroders Solutions James Barham. As well as the usual V-FM chat and a discussion about the news and topical pensions issues (including Jeremy Hunt's disclosure drive for UK pension funds and Hymans latest retirement research), we talk about the recently launched Lifetime Savings Report that Schroders have carried out with the Pensions Management Institute. We also, of course, ask James what value for money means to him.

In this episode of V-FM Pensions, Nico and Darren chat to the CEO of Pensions for Purpose, Charlotte O'Leary. This episode was recorded on the morning of Jeremy Hunt's 2024 Budget, so we had a bit of speculation, alongside discussion of some of the pre-announced pensions measures. We discussed the gender pensions gap, something Charlotte campaigns passionately about, moves by the Chancellor to force DC schemes to disclose their assets held in the UK and the introduction of Aus-style performance league tables, and the recent investment changes by The People's Pension. We also discuss systems change and whether fiduciary duty hampers Trustees from investing with a purpose. The episode ends on a discussion about fitness where Nico outrageously questions Darren's commitment to the fitness cause (Charlotte is an uber-athlete). But we also talk about the importance of neurodiversity in decision-making and keeping the mind as well as the body fighting fit. A fabulous episode!

In this episode of V-FM Pensions Darren and Nico chat to one of the architects of auto enrolment in the UK and current NEST CEO Helen Dean. Helen talks about her role in helping to deliver the biggest pension reform ever seen in the UK and the creation of NEST. This episode has it all.... pensions, the need for scale, productive finance, wider savings and financial wellbeing, and, of course, we ask Helen what value for money means to her.

In this episode of V-FM, the Pensions Podcast, hosts Darren and Nico spend an hour chatting to Joanne Segars. Having been in the driving seat behind the NAPF and PLSA for a number of years, and a stalwart of the pensions industry, Joanne now has an impressive portfolio career including chairing the Now Pensions trustee board, the LGPS Central Pool and Legal and General's Independent Governance Committee. She is also a member of CERN's pensions governance board (cue a couple of dodgy one liners from Darren). We talk about the gender pensions gap, pensions engagement, consolidation and supertrusts, and productive finance. We also, of course, ask Joanne what value for money means to her!

In this episode of V-FM, your hosts Nico and Darren talk value for money with Aon's Jo Sharples. An actuary by trade, Jo has spent her career in a variety of different roles at Aon and is currently CIO of Aon's DC solutions. As well as the usual V-FM chat, this episode covers the latest inflation figures and the PLSA's retirement living standards, calls from the People's Pension for a new Pensions Commission and a recent FT piece highlighting how climate change is affecting insurance and reinsurance availability.

In this episode of V-FM, Darren and Nico chat to Sir Steve Webb about politics, pensions and his time leading the pensions charge during his time as pensions minister. Steve was in post for 5 years and broke the mould of having a new pensions minister every nine months or so. He was instrumental in reviewing and helping to deliver the auto enrolment reforms and in the introduction of the single tier pension. He also had his finger prints on the pensions triple lock; the Lib Dem manifesto commitment that made its way into the Coalition Agreement. He certainly made the most of his time in the pensions hot seat! We talk PLSA retirement living standards, tax relief and the LTA, triple lock and the state pension, pensions freedom and choice, small pots consolidation and pot for life, and a whole lot more! We also find out what value for money means to Steve.

In this episode of V-FM, the pensions podcast, Darren and Nico chat the Pension Policy Institute's Chris Curry. Chris is also Principal of the Pensions Dashboards programme. As usual, topics for discussion are wide and varied: labour's pensions review, DC priorities for 2024, consolidation, the PPI's Policy Wheel, state pensions, admin, data and dashboards and, of course, what value for money means to Chris! (spoiler: it's the PPI!) As an added bonus, and in a V-FM podcast first, Nico gets to crack the first quantum mechanics joke on V-FM!

In the first V-FM special of 2024, Nico and Darren talk to Lord David Willets of Havant. Lord Willets served as Minister of State for Universities and Science from 2010 until July 2014, as well as being in John Major’s Government in the mid 1990s. He became a member of the House of Lords in 2015 and is President of the Resolution Foundation. This podcast has it all: intergenerational inequality and his book titled 'The Pinch', state pensions, housing, auto enrolment, and productive finance. We also, of course, ask Lord Willets what value for money means to him.

In this season opener, Darren and Nico chat to Scottish Widows' Pete Glancy and Rob Cochran. We welcomed Rob back to the pod to talk about his Mountain Warehouse rucksack, and Pete joined us to talk snooker and fine wines. In the podcast we look forward to the year ahead and chat about the importance of communicating effectively. We talk Big Zuu and pensions attention, pot for life, the pensions mirror, understanding members, and, of course, value for money and consolidation.

In this episode of V-FM Pensions, Nico and Darren look back on season one of the podcast, picking out some of the key themes and talking points that have been raised by our fantastic guests over the past year. We cover value for money, dashboards, at retirement, Mansion House reforms, small pots and a whole lot more! Seasons greetings to all our listeners! We'll be back with season two in 2024...!!

In this episode of V-FM Pensions, Nico and Darren chat to former Australian politician and now Super trustee, Nick Sherry. Nick squeezes in a cheeky reference to the cricket, but discussion quickly moves on to Aussie Rules (phew...!). Nick was Australia's first Superannuation Minister and has been instrumental in shaping the highly-regarded Australian system. We talk about all the topics you'd expect us to discuss and more: certainly lots of lessons for UK pensions from our friends down under.

In this episode of V-FM Darren and Nico chat to Paul Watson who has had a distinguished career shaping and helping deliver the Australian Superannuation system. We ban Paul from talking about cricket... but we cover loads of ground including illiquid investments, the mansion house reforms, dashboards, admin, net benefit and value for money, and pot for life to name just a few topics. Paul's visit was incredibly timely given the Chancellor's Autumn Statement announcements and it was great to hear Paul's perspective and insights on what this all might mean.

In this episode of V-FM: The Pensions Podcast Darren and Nico have a great chat with Railpen's Caroline Escott. Caroline wears many different hats and, in addition to being a senior investment adviser at Railpen, is Chair of NextGen and a trustee director for the Standard Life mastertrust. We, of course, discuss aspects of the autumn statement. But we also discuss stewardship, responsible investment and Caroline's fantastic work with Next Gen.