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Latest news and analysis
Fiduciary duty: Trustees urged to make best decisions, not ‘least challengeable’
Proposed guidance will not replace or alter the underlying principles of trustees’ fiduciary duty but will instead give trustees more clarity on what they can take into account when making investment decisions.
Appointments: New proposition lead at Smart; Border to Coast adds local investment manager
The latest hires, promotions and appointments for the week ending 25 September 2026.
Insurers urged to give more information on post-deal customer service
LCP and Law Debenture are calling for insurers to disclose comparable data around customer service and administration to help trustees make decisions on bulk annuity transactions.
Retirees ‘could lose out’ through guided retirement without strong defaults
As policymakers continue to develop legislation around guided retirement and default solutions, behavioural research indicates that care must be taken in product design.
Individuals losing confidence in retirement savings, research shows
Many individuals expect to rely increasingly on their own investments and are losing confidence in retirement savings, according to international research by Amundi.
Attractive pricing expected to keep bulk annuity market bouyant through 2026
Attractive insurance pricing should lead to a busy end to 2026 for the bulk annuity market, despite muted volumes in the first half, according to new analyses.
West Midlands’ Brothwood to lead Pensions UK policy board
Trade body Pensions UK has appointed four new members of its board, including a new chair for its separate policy board to succeed John Chilman.
Life expectancy and NHS strain ‘hurting the UK’s pension system’
The UK has dropped in an international ranking of retirement systems due to strains on the country’s health system and stalling life expectancy.
Comment
Guided retirement: designing pension systems that work with and for human nature
Paul Sweeting of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries introduces new research that explains why it is critical that the industry works together to get guided retirement solutions right.
Beyond the workplace: Mapping the changing DC pensions market
With the defined contribution sector facing profound changes, the Pensions Policy Institute’s Shantel Okello explains how the organisation’s latest research aims to capture as big a picture of the landscape as possible.
Paul Maynard: The pensions minister's post-reshuffle plans and priorities
Former pensions minister Paul Maynard opines on Torsten Bell’s reappointment and what it means for the multi-faceted UK pension reform ‘roadmap’.
Prospect: Self-employed workers need more help to save for retirement
Steve Thomas, deputy general secretary of the trade union Prospect, says it is not enough just to encourage more saving among self-employed people – they need a sustainable, affordable way to do so.
Latest features
VfM: What the industry said about the government’s Value for Money plans
From concerns over forward-looking metrics to calls for the framework to be expanded into decumulation, there has been a huge amount of feedback on the latest Value for Money consultation. Pensions Expert distils the main talking points.
In Depth: Pensions UK’s responses to crucial consultations as reform takes shape
With a trio of crucial consultations concluding this month, Nick Reeve explores what the pensions industry’s trade association is lobbying for and how it hopes to shape major reforms.
Sizing up the challenge: Managing the transition from buy-in to buyout
Insurers and consultants are confident about their ability to handle the high volume of bulk annuity deals, but juggling demand for resources as schemes transition from buy-in to buyout could be tricky, as Bradley Gerrard reports.
Climate, liquidity, AI: What investment committees should be thinking about
With two-thirds of 2026 behind us, Pensions Expert asks investment consultants for the key risks and opportunities that should be on trustees’ agendas going into the autumn.
Inside the deal: How collaboration helped Mercer’s master trust seal a triple buy-in
As the derisking options for small defined benefit pension schemes increase, experts from Stephenson Harwood and Mercer share insights on how pooled arrangements have been able to secure insurance deals for some of the smallest clients.
VfM: What the industry said about the government’s Value for Money plans
In Depth: Pensions UK’s responses to crucial consultations as reform takes shape
Sizing up the challenge: Managing the transition from buy-in to buyout
Climate, liquidity, AI: What investment committees should be thinking about
Inside the deal: How collaboration helped Mercer’s master trust seal a triple buy-in
Latest on Defined Benefit
Insurers urged to give more information on post-deal customer service
LCP and Law Debenture are calling for insurers to disclose comparable data around customer service and administration to help trustees make decisions on bulk annuity transactions.
Attractive pricing expected to keep bulk annuity market bouyant through 2026
Attractive insurance pricing should lead to a busy end to 2026 for the bulk annuity market, despite muted volumes in the first half, according to new analyses.
TPR data shows continued funding improvements as new regime looms
Data from the Pensions Regulator shows continued improvement in funding levels for defined benefit pension schemes, as trustees review endgame options amid an expanded menu of options.
Murray takes over as chair for Railways Pension Scheme
Richard Murray is taking over from Christine Kernoghan as chair of trustees for the £36bn multi-employer pension scheme for the railways sector.
People news
Appointments: New proposition lead at Smart; Border to Coast adds local investment manager
The latest hires, promotions and appointments for the week ending 25 September 2026.
West Midlands’ Brothwood to lead Pensions UK policy board
Trade body Pensions UK has appointed four new members of its board, including a new chair for its separate policy board to succeed John Chilman.
Appointments: Gateley, TPT, Norfolk, Arc, Howden, Canada Life
The latest hires, promotions and appointments for the week ending 18 September 2026.
Murray takes over as chair for Railways Pension Scheme
Richard Murray is taking over from Christine Kernoghan as chair of trustees for the £36bn multi-employer pension scheme for the railways sector.
Latest videos from Pensions Expert
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Latest on Defined Contribution
Retirees ‘could lose out’ through guided retirement without strong defaults
As policymakers continue to develop legislation around guided retirement and default solutions, behavioural research indicates that care must be taken in product design.
Individuals losing confidence in retirement savings, research shows
Many individuals expect to rely increasingly on their own investments and are losing confidence in retirement savings, according to international research by Amundi.
Employers keen to embrace AI to support member comms
WTW’s latest UK DC Pensions and Savings Survey found that 80% of employers believe AI will “fundamentally change” communications and engagement around pensions and retirement.
Work and Pensions Committee to review auto-enrolment minimums
The parliamentary committee has launched an inquiry that will seek to inform the work of the Pensions Commission around low earners and pension saving.
Latest on Dashboards
Digital services increasingly important to retirees, Aptia reports
As Pension Awareness Week begins, new research from Aptia shows more and more people are relying on their pension provider’s digital services to make key decisions about their retirement.
‘Life moments’ are key engagement points for employers, says WTW
Trustees and scheme managers expect members to use dashboards primarily around retirement and job changes rather than checking them regularly, according to the consultancy giant.
Bell says dashboard ‘has improved data quality’ as launch confirmed for 2027
The DWP has confirmed that 85% of schemes have connected to the dashboard ecosystem, with all in-scope schemes expected to meet the 31 October statutory connection deadline.
Always A Pensions Angle: Fit for the Future, Dashboards, and Retirement Living Standards
This week sees the podcast team looking at the LGPS, which has a little more time to get Fit for the Future as some important deadlines have been extended. There are also updates on dashboards, AI, and Retirement Living Standards.
