The Thinking Forward podcast brought to you by Standard Life

Saving habits: what can we learn from the US?

We chatted to David John, US pensions and retirement expert, about emergency savings, spending behaviours during retirement, and why some retirees really return to work.

What the US presidential election could mean for UK pensions

We chat about Biden vs. Trump, ESG, pension reform and financial planning with David John, US pensions and retirement expert.

What the UK can learn about auto-enrolment from New Zealand

Two leading experts on pension reform (Susan St John, Honorary Associate Professor, and Claire Dale, Research Fellow, both from the University of Auckland) discuss the merits of allowing pension withdrawals for home ownership, member engagement and financial education – and whether you really need tax incentives to encourage people to save for retirement. 

Financial wellness: what UK employers can learn from the US

Financial wellness has been a hot topic in recent years, but what does it actually mean? And how can employers be sure the support they provide to employees really makes a difference? The key lies in understanding people’s individual needs, says Blake Allison, founder and CEO at financial wellbeing consultancy LifeCents.

The cost-of-living crisis – what comes next?

Are we facing another lost decade in living standards? And, if so, what might this mean for interest rates, mortgage repayments and the labour market – and when might the UK return to economic growth? Find out in our discussion with Paul Johnson, Director at the Institute for Fiscal Studies.

Challenges facing the UK pension system: Is it time for a new review?

Sangita Chawla, Chief Marketing Officer at Standard Life, talked with Paul Johnson, Director at the Institute for Fiscal Studies, to discuss the recently launched Pensions Review report, insufficient pension contributions, the State Pension age – and why the UK pension system needs a review.

Pension dashboards - what are the opportunities and risks?

We speak to two world-leading experts on pension dashboards – from Sweden and Denmark – to understand how pension dashboards in the UK might affect engagement, and the importance of good data, robust controls, inclusivity, adopting a test-and-learn approach and managing expectations.

How the UK’s economic challenges may affect us in years to come

Sangita Chawla, CMO of Standard Life, speaks to Paul Johnson, CBE, Director at the Institute for Fiscal Studies, about shrinking household incomes, rising taxes, economic inactivity, possible public sector strikes and the challenges faced by younger people.

Lessons from Australian pensions market

In this episode, we discuss Australia’s pension system with the Honourable Nick Sherry, former Australian Minister for Superannuation and Senator for Tasmania. Covering its recent consolidation of funds, investment in infrastructure, and whether pension funds can play a larger role in social housing and supporting home ownership.