Patrick Thomson
@patrickjthomson.bsky.social
Head of research analysis and policy at the Standard Life Centre for the Future of Retirement. Think tank thinking about helping people achieve long term financial security www.standardlife.co.uk/centre-for-the-future-of-retirement
The other interesting aspect is how this makes the whole life course more stretched out, with people starting later, working later and living longer
library.standardlife.co.uk/changing-jou...
library.standardlife.co.uk/changing-jou...
November 17, 2025 at 12:57 PM
The other interesting aspect is how this makes the whole life course more stretched out, with people starting later, working later and living longer
library.standardlife.co.uk/changing-jou...
library.standardlife.co.uk/changing-jou...
And to complete the picture - the politics of who then pays for this. Large birth cohorts are also large voting blocs.
Until 2024* Baby Boomers had never "lost" a general election
(*presumably, haven't seen update of this chart)
Until 2024* Baby Boomers had never "lost" a general election
(*presumably, haven't seen update of this chart)
August 8, 2025 at 6:57 AM
And to complete the picture - the politics of who then pays for this. Large birth cohorts are also large voting blocs.
Until 2024* Baby Boomers had never "lost" a general election
(*presumably, haven't seen update of this chart)
Until 2024* Baby Boomers had never "lost" a general election
(*presumably, haven't seen update of this chart)
And for more analysis that no one is asking for...
Norway would win the knockouts if each match was based on who has the smallest gender pay gap.
Norway would win the knockouts if each match was based on who has the smallest gender pay gap.
July 16, 2025 at 12:55 PM
And for more analysis that no one is asking for...
Norway would win the knockouts if each match was based on who has the smallest gender pay gap.
Norway would win the knockouts if each match was based on who has the smallest gender pay gap.
Ahead of the Euro 2025 quarterfinals...
How would you feel if the officials added an additional 14 minutes of injury time at the end of the 90?
That's how much longer women in the UK need to achieve pay parity.
In Belgium it's just 1 extra minute
How would you feel if the officials added an additional 14 minutes of injury time at the end of the 90?
That's how much longer women in the UK need to achieve pay parity.
In Belgium it's just 1 extra minute
July 16, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Ahead of the Euro 2025 quarterfinals...
How would you feel if the officials added an additional 14 minutes of injury time at the end of the 90?
That's how much longer women in the UK need to achieve pay parity.
In Belgium it's just 1 extra minute
How would you feel if the officials added an additional 14 minutes of injury time at the end of the 90?
That's how much longer women in the UK need to achieve pay parity.
In Belgium it's just 1 extra minute
Agree huge diversity in how/when costs increase (health, social care, pensions) but also when economic activity declines
78% of people say they could do their job or one like it by the time they're 60, less than half at 70
78% of people say they could do their job or one like it by the time they're 60, less than half at 70
July 9, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Agree huge diversity in how/when costs increase (health, social care, pensions) but also when economic activity declines
78% of people say they could do their job or one like it by the time they're 60, less than half at 70
78% of people say they could do their job or one like it by the time they're 60, less than half at 70
Who do you picture working in the high-growth, high-tech sectors of rhe Industrial Strategy?
These sectors are older than average and all have a higher rates of early retirement.
We estimate this costs economy £31bn - we need to plan for this
www.standardlife.co.uk/centre-for-t...
These sectors are older than average and all have a higher rates of early retirement.
We estimate this costs economy £31bn - we need to plan for this
www.standardlife.co.uk/centre-for-t...
June 20, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Who do you picture working in the high-growth, high-tech sectors of rhe Industrial Strategy?
These sectors are older than average and all have a higher rates of early retirement.
We estimate this costs economy £31bn - we need to plan for this
www.standardlife.co.uk/centre-for-t...
These sectors are older than average and all have a higher rates of early retirement.
We estimate this costs economy £31bn - we need to plan for this
www.standardlife.co.uk/centre-for-t...
2 year old who loves nothing more than stickers and rainbows devastated when I come home from work wearing a rainbow sticker that wasn't for her...
June 19, 2025 at 9:52 PM
2 year old who loves nothing more than stickers and rainbows devastated when I come home from work wearing a rainbow sticker that wasn't for her...
Policy thinking on a topic like the State Pension helped by clear A/B choices even if cost neutral
Raising the AGE hits lower earners (most rely on it /feel effect of longer wait)
Limiting it's VALUE hit higher earners more (live longer and get more over lifetime)
academic.oup.com/oxrep/articl...
Raising the AGE hits lower earners (most rely on it /feel effect of longer wait)
Limiting it's VALUE hit higher earners more (live longer and get more over lifetime)
academic.oup.com/oxrep/articl...
June 11, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Policy thinking on a topic like the State Pension helped by clear A/B choices even if cost neutral
Raising the AGE hits lower earners (most rely on it /feel effect of longer wait)
Limiting it's VALUE hit higher earners more (live longer and get more over lifetime)
academic.oup.com/oxrep/articl...
Raising the AGE hits lower earners (most rely on it /feel effect of longer wait)
Limiting it's VALUE hit higher earners more (live longer and get more over lifetime)
academic.oup.com/oxrep/articl...
Surprising fact to me:
Environmental Taxes in the UK are lower now as % of GDP as any point in the last 25 years
Average household paid less in 2022 than they did in 1999. Not inflation adjusted - in actual £ terms
Taxes raise money but they also shape behaviour
www.ons.gov.uk/economy/envi...
Environmental Taxes in the UK are lower now as % of GDP as any point in the last 25 years
Average household paid less in 2022 than they did in 1999. Not inflation adjusted - in actual £ terms
Taxes raise money but they also shape behaviour
www.ons.gov.uk/economy/envi...
May 6, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Surprising fact to me:
Environmental Taxes in the UK are lower now as % of GDP as any point in the last 25 years
Average household paid less in 2022 than they did in 1999. Not inflation adjusted - in actual £ terms
Taxes raise money but they also shape behaviour
www.ons.gov.uk/economy/envi...
Environmental Taxes in the UK are lower now as % of GDP as any point in the last 25 years
Average household paid less in 2022 than they did in 1999. Not inflation adjusted - in actual £ terms
Taxes raise money but they also shape behaviour
www.ons.gov.uk/economy/envi...
This is an excellent Lords Select Committee session - nominally on the economics of ageing - but opens up all the big topics: ageism, productivity, career change, fertility, social care, and the 'nastiest, hardest problem in finance' @csfoot.bsky.social
parliamentlive.tv/event/index/...
parliamentlive.tv/event/index/...
April 29, 2025 at 3:41 PM
This is an excellent Lords Select Committee session - nominally on the economics of ageing - but opens up all the big topics: ageism, productivity, career change, fertility, social care, and the 'nastiest, hardest problem in finance' @csfoot.bsky.social
parliamentlive.tv/event/index/...
parliamentlive.tv/event/index/...
What about a "post-person"?
From kids play cafe
From kids play cafe
February 19, 2025 at 8:40 AM
What about a "post-person"?
From kids play cafe
From kids play cafe
More detail on the analysis here
With over 15m people expected to be undersaving or financially insecure in retirement
www.thephoenixgroup.com/phoenix-insi...
With over 15m people expected to be undersaving or financially insecure in retirement
www.thephoenixgroup.com/phoenix-insi...
February 2, 2025 at 1:00 PM
More detail on the analysis here
With over 15m people expected to be undersaving or financially insecure in retirement
www.thephoenixgroup.com/phoenix-insi...
With over 15m people expected to be undersaving or financially insecure in retirement
www.thephoenixgroup.com/phoenix-insi...
Interesting article on changing pension landscape
Wealthier /well pensioned people may end up shifting behaviour for tax reasons
But as our Phoenix Insights research shows - for more than half of people retiring between now and 2060 that's academic if they've undersaved
on.ft.com/4hCi1zJ
Wealthier /well pensioned people may end up shifting behaviour for tax reasons
But as our Phoenix Insights research shows - for more than half of people retiring between now and 2060 that's academic if they've undersaved
on.ft.com/4hCi1zJ
February 2, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Interesting article on changing pension landscape
Wealthier /well pensioned people may end up shifting behaviour for tax reasons
But as our Phoenix Insights research shows - for more than half of people retiring between now and 2060 that's academic if they've undersaved
on.ft.com/4hCi1zJ
Wealthier /well pensioned people may end up shifting behaviour for tax reasons
But as our Phoenix Insights research shows - for more than half of people retiring between now and 2060 that's academic if they've undersaved
on.ft.com/4hCi1zJ
This is something we're focusing on a lot as a policy area - it's really worrying!
www.thephoenixgroup.com/phoenix-insi...
www.thephoenixgroup.com/phoenix-insi...
January 27, 2025 at 11:02 AM
This is something we're focusing on a lot as a policy area - it's really worrying!
www.thephoenixgroup.com/phoenix-insi...
www.thephoenixgroup.com/phoenix-insi...
(Newspaper Headlines):
Zombie Apocalypse Set To Reduce YOUR Mortgage Rates
Zombie Apocalypse Set To Reduce YOUR Mortgage Rates
January 9, 2025 at 11:43 AM
(Newspaper Headlines):
Zombie Apocalypse Set To Reduce YOUR Mortgage Rates
Zombie Apocalypse Set To Reduce YOUR Mortgage Rates
Rapidly entering middle age as a nation
www.thephoenixgroup.com/phoenix-insi...
www.thephoenixgroup.com/phoenix-insi...
December 4, 2024 at 8:22 AM
Rapidly entering middle age as a nation
www.thephoenixgroup.com/phoenix-insi...
www.thephoenixgroup.com/phoenix-insi...
Yes age and life stage definitely a key factor in earnings (and assets). Average pay disguising the fact that most people will earn above and below across the arc of their life
www.thephoenixgroup.com/phoenix-insi...
www.thephoenixgroup.com/phoenix-insi...
November 26, 2024 at 3:12 PM
Yes age and life stage definitely a key factor in earnings (and assets). Average pay disguising the fact that most people will earn above and below across the arc of their life
www.thephoenixgroup.com/phoenix-insi...
www.thephoenixgroup.com/phoenix-insi...
And for interest, 47% of Carers have zero private pension saving at age 60-65. And those that do have 20% less in their pots than average
November 21, 2024 at 5:03 PM
And for interest, 47% of Carers have zero private pension saving at age 60-65. And those that do have 20% less in their pots than average
Today is Carers Rights Day
Only a quarter of people think they will be a carer before they reach state pension age.
In reality half of people become an unpaid carer by the age of 50
Only a quarter of people think they will be a carer before they reach state pension age.
In reality half of people become an unpaid carer by the age of 50
November 21, 2024 at 10:38 AM
Today is Carers Rights Day
Only a quarter of people think they will be a carer before they reach state pension age.
In reality half of people become an unpaid carer by the age of 50
Only a quarter of people think they will be a carer before they reach state pension age.
In reality half of people become an unpaid carer by the age of 50
Fascinating new stats looking at how working interacts with age and how that's changed post pandemic.
Previously mostly linked to age with oldest workers working from home. But now those in their mid careers most want to (or most able to?) work from home
www.thephoenixgroup.com/phoenix-insi...
Previously mostly linked to age with oldest workers working from home. But now those in their mid careers most want to (or most able to?) work from home
www.thephoenixgroup.com/phoenix-insi...
November 20, 2024 at 12:25 PM
Fascinating new stats looking at how working interacts with age and how that's changed post pandemic.
Previously mostly linked to age with oldest workers working from home. But now those in their mid careers most want to (or most able to?) work from home
www.thephoenixgroup.com/phoenix-insi...
Previously mostly linked to age with oldest workers working from home. But now those in their mid careers most want to (or most able to?) work from home
www.thephoenixgroup.com/phoenix-insi...
It's #equalpayday
The average woman in the UK never earns more than £20 an hour at any age.
Average man earns more than £20 /hr each year from their mid 30s to 60.
It impacts day to day and over a lifetime
www.thephoenixgroup.com/phoenix-insi...
The average woman in the UK never earns more than £20 an hour at any age.
Average man earns more than £20 /hr each year from their mid 30s to 60.
It impacts day to day and over a lifetime
www.thephoenixgroup.com/phoenix-insi...
November 20, 2024 at 12:06 PM
It's #equalpayday
The average woman in the UK never earns more than £20 an hour at any age.
Average man earns more than £20 /hr each year from their mid 30s to 60.
It impacts day to day and over a lifetime
www.thephoenixgroup.com/phoenix-insi...
The average woman in the UK never earns more than £20 an hour at any age.
Average man earns more than £20 /hr each year from their mid 30s to 60.
It impacts day to day and over a lifetime
www.thephoenixgroup.com/phoenix-insi...
The UK is rapidly entering middle age - find out how we save, work and retire is changing
www.thephoenixgroup.com/phoenix-insi...
www.thephoenixgroup.com/phoenix-insi...
November 20, 2024 at 11:29 AM
The UK is rapidly entering middle age - find out how we save, work and retire is changing
www.thephoenixgroup.com/phoenix-insi...
www.thephoenixgroup.com/phoenix-insi...
The average worker is 4 years older today than was the case in the mid 90s.
But there is huge sectoral variance
Agricultural workers remain oldest (over 48 on avg today)
Education less than 1yr older, Transport 9+
Accommodation and food services is only sector that is younger (under 35 today avg)
But there is huge sectoral variance
Agricultural workers remain oldest (over 48 on avg today)
Education less than 1yr older, Transport 9+
Accommodation and food services is only sector that is younger (under 35 today avg)
November 20, 2024 at 11:29 AM
The average worker is 4 years older today than was the case in the mid 90s.
But there is huge sectoral variance
Agricultural workers remain oldest (over 48 on avg today)
Education less than 1yr older, Transport 9+
Accommodation and food services is only sector that is younger (under 35 today avg)
But there is huge sectoral variance
Agricultural workers remain oldest (over 48 on avg today)
Education less than 1yr older, Transport 9+
Accommodation and food services is only sector that is younger (under 35 today avg)
We have higher employment rates for all ages once people do enter work. Particularly higher employment rates over the age of 50, and even more so among self employed.
But is that always through choice? And is work giving people what they want and need?
But is that always through choice? And is work giving people what they want and need?
November 20, 2024 at 11:29 AM
We have higher employment rates for all ages once people do enter work. Particularly higher employment rates over the age of 50, and even more so among self employed.
But is that always through choice? And is work giving people what they want and need?
But is that always through choice? And is work giving people what they want and need?