John Ralfe @johnralfe.bsky.social · 01/03/2026According to this letter replying to my article for the Church to lock-in its DB surplus would be against scripture! 010
John Ralfe @johnralfe.bsky.social · 18/02/2026My @ft piece on Church pensions ft.com/content/0cba44… "By holding 70% in “risky” assets "The Church is playing a dangerous game of double-or-quits, like betting money at the casino" - www.ft.com/content/0cba44a0-2c3a-43…ft.comChurch of England pension fund tempts an earthly reckoningThe fund is in surplus after a period of high interest rates, but it is heavily invested in risky assets 230
John Ralfe @johnralfe.bsky.social · 18/02/2026My FT piece on Church pensions ft.com/content/0cba44… via @ft "By holding 70% in “risky” assets @churchofengland is playing a dangerous game of double-or-quits, like betting money at the casino. Would parishioners be happy if they knew what was going on with their donations?"ft.com 020
John Ralfe @johnralfe.bsky.social · 17/02/2026Watch out for my @financialtimes.com piece on @churchofengland.org pensions "The Church is playing a dangerous game of double-or-quits, just like betting money at the casino." 020
John Ralfe @johnralfe.bsky.social · 03/02/2026www.telegraph.co.uk/money/pensio... my latest @telegraph.co.uk piece on Richard Tice, @reformuk.bsky.social and LGPStelegraph.co.ukReform’s public sector pension plan is doomed to failureAttempts to cut back councils’ cash contributions will merely kick the can down the road 132
John Ralfe @johnralfe.bsky.social · 19/12/2025See my FT letter on the MPs' pension scheme - junk bond holdings and undisclosed investment management costs 021
John Ralfe @johnralfe.bsky.social · 30/11/2025My letter in today's Sunday Times on Jeremy Hunt's pension 073
Reposted by John RalfeHelen Barnard @helenbarnard.bsky.social · 23/09/2025Just to be clear: - Paracetamol does not cause autism. - Sadiq Khan is not introducing Sharia law in the UK - We do not have a massive free speech problem here. - Britain is not on the verge of civil war. These are not controversial subjects or contested, they're just not true. 642502622
Reposted by John RalfeFinancial Times @financialtimes.com · 21/08/2025What’s gone wrong for WHSmith? on.ft.com/4lHE0H8on.ft.comWhat’s gone wrong for WHSmith?We don’t know. But we’re prepared to take a guess 392
Reposted by John RalfeAlexander Clarkson @aphclarkson.bsky.social · 13/08/2025The stronger likelihood is that this summit is more likely to be the geopolitical equivalent of a loud farting noise that causes much embarrassment before everyone moves on 56811
Reposted by John RalfeDavid Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · 04/08/2025Extraordinary that anyone gives creedence to Osborne’s views on economics. Clearly thinks he knows more than Bailey about financial stability. 11429
Reposted by John RalfeTom Robinson @tomrobinson.com · 29/07/2025As Stephen Yaxley Lennon's public profile continues to rise, so do the chances of this Graham Keyes cartoon coming true each time TRB goes out on tour... 815943
John Ralfe @johnralfe.bsky.social · 29/07/2025See p12 of PrivateEye HP sauce on Rachel Reeves Mansion House Speech. My contribution on Alastair King's claims about the wonders of private equity = his numbers were "the usual wishful thinking from people who want to charge retail investors an arm and a leg". 020
John Ralfe @johnralfe.bsky.social · 22/07/2025Just been on Times Radio with Kate McCann talking about increasing the SPA, getting rid of the Triple Lock and public sector pensions 000
Reposted by John RalfeDanny Deraney @dannyderaney.bsky.social · 11/07/2025On the 36th anniversary of Mel Blanc's passing, a classic. The time he went on Letterman in 1982. Within a minute, he did not disappoint. 25566157
John Ralfe @johnralfe.bsky.social · 02/07/2025"If Rachel ReevesMP wants to risk our pensions, she should start with her own" telegraph.co.uk/money/pensions… See my latest Telegraph piece on TPRgovuk conflict of interest in last week's newly minted regulatory policytelegraph.co.uk 000
Reposted by John RalfeFinancial Times @financialtimes.com · 30/06/2025 Dressing up or giving up? The heatwave trials of commuter clothing on.ft.com/3GdMWW3 | opinionon.ft.comDressing up or giving up? The heatwave trials of commuter clothingLondoners are attempting to adapt their wardrobes to a sweltering Tube journey, with mixed results 3164
Reposted by John RalfeCitizen Screen @citizenscreen.bsky.social · 21/06/2025On June 21, 1948, Columbia Records introduced the long-playing (LP) record album at a press conference held at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. 1204
Reposted by John RalfeEdwin Heathcote @edwinheathcote.bsky.social · 21/06/2025Buried deep in the BBC iplayer is this gorgeous film with Martin Scorsese talking about Powell and Pressburger. His commentary is beautiful, insightful and really moving. Recommend it. www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...bbc.co.ukMade in England: The Films of Powell and PressburgerEminent American film-maker Martin Scorsese shares his lifelong love affair with the films of Powell and Pressburger. 0122
John Ralfe @johnralfe.bsky.social · 08/06/2025“And the bill contains no details of how pensions will be protected if cash is withdrawn. Member security must be a priority with strict rules on repaying amounts if funding deteriorates.” 000
John Ralfe @johnralfe.bsky.social · 08/06/2025“The DWP figures estimate just a fraction of this – under £12bn – will be paid out over the next 10 years, mainly because most companies want a full buyout with an insurance company." 100
John Ralfe @johnralfe.bsky.social · 08/06/2025“Forget about £160bn of pension surpluses just waiting, as Rachel Reeves said, to be paid out to ‘drive growth and boost working people’s pension pots’." 100
John Ralfe @johnralfe.bsky.social · 08/06/2025theguardian.com/business/2025/jun/07/pensions-report-cuts-rachel-reeves-planned-growth-funds-from-160bn-to-11bn?CMP=share_btn_url @theguardian.com article based on my analysis on behalf of PIC. See my quotestheguardian.comPensions report cuts Reeves’ planned growth funds from £160bn to £11bnChancellor had anticipated surpluses from final salary schemes would boost investment in UK economy 110
John Ralfe @johnralfe.bsky.social · 04/06/2025telegraph.co.uk/money/pensions/state-pensions/reforms-attack-public-sector-pensions-doesnt-far-enough/ See my latest piece, on MPs' pensions with name checks to Rachel Reeves, Dame Meg Hillier, Dame Harriet Baldwin , @richardtice.bsky.social @nigelfarage1.bsky.socialtelegraph.co.ukReform’s attack on public sector pensions doesn’t go far enoughI doubt Farage will be rushing to agree a complete overhaul of the unfair system 010
John Ralfe @johnralfe.bsky.social · 14/05/2025telegraph.co.uk/money/pensionstelegraph.co.ukPensionsRead The Telegraph's expert advice and the latest headlines on state pensions here. 000
John Ralfe @johnralfe.bsky.social · 27/04/2025Didn't you have 5 years as pensions minister to tackle this problem? 020
Reposted by John RalfeAlan Beattie @alanbeattie.bsky.social · 27/04/2025Fact-check: no they won’t, no they aren’t, no it won’t and no it isn’t. 25598149
Reposted by John RalfeAlexander Clarkson @aphclarkson.bsky.social · 25/04/2025At this point Steve Witkoff at meetings with Putin comes across as one of those socially desperate hedge fund billionaires willing to pay 10 million dollars for Beyonce to sing at their nephew's wedding 412715
John Ralfe @johnralfe.bsky.social · 23/04/2025Again, I didn't know that - I read the first of the Cazalets recently 010
Reposted by John RalfeRobert Armstrong @robarmstrong.bsky.social · 22/04/2025FT comment section still undefeated: 25810
John Ralfe @johnralfe.bsky.social · 18/04/2025youtube.com/watch?v=mAto... Ernie Watts on sax makes this (1981)youtube.comThe Rolling Stones - Waiting On A Friend (From The Vault: Hampton Coliseum - Live In 1981)YouTube video by Mercury Studios 000
John Ralfe @johnralfe.bsky.social · 18/04/2025The problem with wealth taxes - on.ft.com/4iqdSyX via @FT very interesting by @philipcoggan.bsky.social As I have said before, the BMA has a de facto veto on pension tax policy - many of their members have very large public sector pensions - so no government will ever levy a wealth tax on pensionson.ft.comThe problem with wealth taxesTaxing the rich is a tantalising prospect for the cash-strapped UK government — but imposing a levy that is both fair and effective is fraught with difficulty 020
John Ralfe @johnralfe.bsky.social · 13/04/2025A lot of very good replies to my piece - this isn't one of them 000
John Ralfe @johnralfe.bsky.social · 12/04/2025Thanks. Although your bond portfolio fell in value as interest rates rose the income - coupon - remained unchanged and the redemption value remained unchanged. Or to put it another way, the cost of buying an annuity also fell. That's the beauty of fixed-income. 100
Reposted by John RalfeSimon Gompertz @gompertz.bsky.social · 11/04/2025Worth a read if you have the FT - be wary of claims that shares always outperform the long run 001
John Ralfe @johnralfe.bsky.social · 11/04/2025Are equities ‘always’ better in the long term? - on.ft.com/4i8VKt6 My latest FT piece. "Why won't firms pushing the "equities always outperform in the long run" mantra put their money where there mouth is, & offer a cheap guaranteed equity product?on.ft.comAre equities ‘always’ better in the long term?For most 20-year outcomes, equities will certainly beat boring bonds, but there are many where they will lose 330
Reposted by John RalfeHelene von Bismarck @helenebismarck.bsky.social · 07/04/2025"We do not base our choice on the goodness of democracy, which may be doubtful, but solely on the evilness of a dictatorship, which is certain." 718443
Reposted by John RalfePhilip Coggan @philipcoggan.bsky.social · 06/04/2025After Howard Lutnick claims uninhabited islands may be used to get round Trump tariffs, evidence emerges that Heard Island penguins are disguising themselves as chickens to escape tax 031