Not even being stuck in a snow drift can stop David Davison from thinking of the pensions question - in fact, it provides inspiration.
As a victim of the recent inclement weather there were a couple of things which struck me as I spent four hours in my car going nowhere. Firstly, how kind people can be in difficult circumstances: I was fortunate that two university students came to my aid to help dig my car out without any ulterior motive other than to help a stranded motorist. The other was that, as we dug the snow for long periods of time, we just didn’t seem to be getting anywhere. **Pension analogy alert** – you can see one coming a mile off.
But it’s true, I keep digging the car out only the next day to be in exactly the same, or more likely, an even worse position, although at least I have had the opportunity to use some colourful language while experiencing a mounting sense of disbelief – also like DB pensions.
As if that’s not bad enough what could possibly make it worse:
- no option on the shovel size (contributions)
- no option to use grit or salt (flexible investment or funding)
- your neighbour pilling all his snow on your drive (last man standing arrangements )
Even for the two students with their genuinely altruistic motives, having someone take the snow they’ve dug and dump it in their common room might be a step too far!
At least witnessing the such a charitable and unselfish act gave me some encouragement that with a bit of effort we might be able to dig ourselves out, although I suspect not without the snow (accrual) stopping, or at the very least building up at a slower rate.
