The Joy Of Pensions

OK, it’s not sex, though at least I have now grabbed your attention.  But can pensions ever be fun? I have to admit that the thought of a pensions dedicated event did not fill me with enthusiasm. Fair play then to Melanie Stern, and her team at Financial Director magazine, who put together a really enjoyable and informative evening at the London Stock Exchange last week.

Of course it helps if your speakers are entertaining, and in Kevin Wesbroom and Jackie Daldorph from Hewitt Associates,  Allan Course, an independent pension trustee, and Michael Johnson, author of a Centre for Policy Studies paper on changes to state, private sector and public sector pensions, Melanie had made some wise choices.

Kevin and Jackie set the scene with an amusing overview of the current pensions scene, including the election pledges of the three main parties, the key issues that nobody seems prepared to address, public sector pensions and the likely impact of NEST and NEO. Allan highlighted some of the challenges that pension fund trustees were facing in a world that wants to move away from final salary pension schemes.

Yet it was Michael who advanced the notion that the problem with pensions was the concept of pensions themselves. He strongly advocated a wider more flexible savings method that was more in tune with the uncertain times that we were now facing.

There is an argument that says that pensions are “so 20^th century”, and they are in desperate need of a rebrand for the new millennium.  Certainly the original aim of Lloyd George to provide a few years of well earned rest and recreation for 70 year olds following a lifetime’s toil does not match with today’s possibility of the retirement period lasting almost as long as the working life that has to pay for it.

The pensions model as we know it would appear to be broken. New ways of thinking are essential if we are to reach the stage where pensions will occupy our minds more than sex does with sufficient wherewithal to enjoy our twilight years. The evening spent with Financial Director magazine was a valuable step in the right direction.

Wanted – FDs with a vision

John Vincent, co-founder of Leon Restaurants  and head of Vasari Global, is frustrated by empty companies. In a recent blog in Management Today  he railed against zombie businesses that focus on share price with little or no concern for people and society.  He believes that companies need to have a sense of mission beyond the share price, or they won’t last.

I can relate to that.  There is nothing worse than a company that has no purpose other than to make money. Indeed it is clear that a business that pursues profit without any thought for the way that it does so is unlikely to be sustainable.

But hang on.  Apparently I am not supposed to think like that.  I am a finance director.  It seems I don’t get this vision thing.  I am a process guy who likes nothing better to wallow in the numbers and cut “unnecessary” costs.  That is apparently why FDs do not make good CEOs.

Balderdash.  Good FDs are good precisely because they do get this vision thing.  They can look beyond the numbers and appreciate the difference between cost and value.  They do understand how wealth is created. 

However they also know how easily it is destroyed.  Indeed there is an argument to say that some CEOs have too much vision and that a little focus on the numbers would not do them any harm at all.

The truth is that a good CEO is a good CEO regardless of his or her discipline.  They articulate the vision, support the processes, engender trust and ultimately create wealth.

Actually I do have a vision.  It is of a business that I have helped to know where it has been, know where it is going and know that it has enough fuel in the tank to get there. It may not be bright and fluffy, but it is reasonable and achievable, and has helped a number of CEO “visions” succeed.

Why did I enjoy this year’s IOD convention so much?

IOD Convention 28 April 2010

Well, it started with a very pleasant breakfast with Tim Campbell (of the Apprentice fame) who delivered a passionate and motivational speech about minding your P’s and Q’s. He went on to describe his work at “The Bright Ideas Trust” – a mentoring and business support service for 16-30 year olds NEET’s (not in employment education or training) who are seeking to start their own business. Speaking to him after his speech, I was most impressed by his self confidence and commitment to helping young people less fortunate than himself.

The formal convention proceedings commenced promptly at 10.05 with an introduction from Miles Templeman, IOD Director General, about leadership, closely followed by an esteemed list of speakers including:

• Sir Martin Sorrell – WPP Group
• Stephen Green – HSBC Bank
• Dame Kelly Holmes – Championing the Delhi Commonwealth games
• Vincent Cable, George Osborne and Lord Mandelson – Political representatives.

 The best, however in my opinion, were the personal experiences shared by the entrepreneurs such:

• Will King – Founder King of Shaves –  “Life is for living, laughing and working”;
• Emma Hanson CBE – Chairman of A4E – “I was the naughty girl at school”;
• Simon Calver – CEO LoveFilm – “Performance measures steer my ship”.

However, Tristam Mayhew, the Chief Gorilla at Go Ape, saved the best for last when he said “The best decision I made was hiring a part-time FD one day a week”.

The perfect end to a great day.