This week – UCU announces strike ballot over USS dispute, National Audit Office reveals DWP has underpaid 134,000 pensioners, insurers urged to protect trustees against GMP claims, and task force bids to boost schemes’ voting powers.

Welcome to the investment services section of the Guides to Good Pensions, the buyers guide helping you to spot the best performers in the pensions and investment industries.

CPD: As the deadline for new regulations governing occupational defined contribution schemes draws near, Stephanie Hawthorne looks at how smaller plans are shaping up.

This week – ABI urges ‘rethink’ over normal minimum pension age hike, SPP warns dashboards may only provide illustrative figures, PLSA highlights discord over climate reporting rules, and Kent Pension Fund breaches LGPS regulations.

Podcast: Lincoln Pensions managing director Michael Bushnell explains how scheme trustees can effectively address climate change risk in their sponsor covenant analysis.

CPD: Sackers partner Georgina Jones explains the changes brought by the Pensions Regulator’s new code of practice, and what trustees should consider when adapting their practices to the new rules

This week – TPR unveils ‘notifiable events’ regime, the government introduces a new ‘health and social care’ levy plus dividend tax rise, 60 applicants declined in UK Stewardship Code revamp, and fears guidance ‘stronger nudge’ could cause mayhem.

Data crunch: LGPS funds awarded 37 mandates to asset managers during the second quarter, a time when these schemes and local authority pools increased their allocations to alternative investments.