Robbie whispers a conspiracy
I don’t expect to get conspiracy from bit10’s financial advisor (or to be interested in what he says at all to be honest) but robbie turned out to be both amusing *and* interesting. This is a substantial achievement for someone with actuarial roots!
Some stories…
Aparently some big shots once demanded reasons why their pension pay-outs had been cut and wanted the answer. Two of them sat there whilst robbie told ‘em the facts. “You both draw huge pensions and there simply aren’t the funds. So the only way to make your pay-outs go up is for one of you to die”. Excellent. Bet they both checked under their cars for a few months after that!
But the most interesting conversation with Robbie was that about the demographic of the UK - a hot topic right now but interesting for so many other reasons.
Apparently, in the year 2020, 40% of the population will be pensioners. This will cause a cataastrophe for the government in terms of pension funds and probably for others too. Robbie points out more depressing facts and by the end of it I feel that I should probably kill myself now to do society a favour. One less mouth to feed when I retire in 2044 (if I’m lucky!) . But no! It gets worse.
Robbie tells of the “doomsday situation”. This is when they discover a cure for cancer and people stop dying. There are now no more funds to look after these whithered 90 year olds who used to do “cool stuff on the webbymethingy”. Oh woe is me and my doomed generation.
But no… it gets worse! What if they already have found the cure for cancer and they aren’t letting on because of the afore mentioned doomsday affect!
Oh the ethical web we weave!
So what did this conversation do for my political persuassion? Well, I once thought the welfare state was good for one’s health but after an hour with Robbie - I wasn’t so sure. I’m seeing logan’s run in my mind’s eye and suddenly it ain’t bizarre fiction.
Is there a red dot flashing in your palm, Steph?
P.S - I’m amused I’m not the only one blogging at all hours!