All Actuarial articles – Page 12
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Features
Dyfed 97% funded but private schemes lag behind
The Dyfed Pension Fund is approaching solvency as an investment review is set to largely stick with the scheme’s equity-heavy asset allocation, making for a sharp contrast to the situation at many private sector schemes.
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OpinionHow has DB changed in 20 years?
From the blog: April 2017 saw the 20 anniversary of the introduction of scheme actuaries. I don’t expect there were many parties in celebration, but it made me think about how scheme actuaries, and defined benefit pensions, have changed over 20 years and what might happen next.
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OpinionIs the 'gilts plus' model broken?
The best way to calculate scheme liabilities has been the topic of much debate since defined benefit deficits have started making the headlines. So is the gilts plus model appropriate? Six experts, including from the Pensions Regulator, come together to discuss the merits of different valuation methods.
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News
Nolan: Inflexible actuaries and trustees harm DB employers
Trustees and their actuaries must consider the impact of deficits and funding negotiations on struggling defined benefit sponsors, the president of the Society of Pension Professionals has warned.
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Opinion
How should trustees and employers negotiate valuations?
Should trustees and scheme sponsors discuss valuation methodology or are there bigger concerns? Paul McGlone from Aon Hewitt, David Weeks from the Association of Member Nominated Trustees, Jonathan Reynolds from Capital Cranfield Trustees, Leslie Scrine from the M&G Group Pension Scheme, Andrew Cheeseman from Pan Trustees and Andrew Young from the Pensions Regulator talk about their experience on both sides.
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Opinion
What alternative valuation methods can schemes use?
What options do schemes have apart from ‘gilts plus’ to find out how well funded they are? Paul McGlone from Aon Hewitt, David Weeks from the Association of Member Nominated Trustees, Jonathan Reynolds from Capital Cranfield Trustees, Leslie Scrine from the M&G Group Pension Scheme, Andrew Cheeseman from Pan Trustees and Andrew Young from the Pensions Regulator discuss scheme valuation methods.
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FeaturesPost Office surplus raises union affordability complaints
The Post Office section of the Royal Mail Pension Plan remains in surplus, its latest funding update shows, just weeks after it was closed to future accrual amid union consternation.
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Opinion
Does ‘gilts plus’ lead to inappropriate investment strategies?
Should valuation assumptions be a function of the investment strategy? What does the regulator say about the gilts-plus approach? Paul McGlone from Aon Hewitt, David Weeks from the Association of Member Nominated Trustees, Jonathan Reynolds from Capital Cranfield, Leslie Scrine from the M&G Group Pension Scheme, Andrew Cheeseman from Pan Trustees and Andrew Young from the Pensions Regulator discuss scheme valuation methods.
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FeaturesCentrica drills for returns with high-yield allocation
The Centrica Combined Common Investment Fund, which manages holdings for the energy giant’s pension schemes, has trimmed its exposure to corporate bonds, reweighting its portfolio towards high-yield debt.
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FeaturesMore pensioners to be offered Pie at Metal Box
The Metal Box Pension Scheme is planning to offer a pension increase exchange to more pensioner members this year, having offered one to some members in 2015.
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FeaturesBAE Systems' Airbus section ready for take-off
British defence giant BAE Systems has created a new scheme section for Airbus employees, to increase transparency while giving direct responsibility to the companies involved.
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News
'Greenest of green papers' explores DB sustainability options but lacks urgency
A wide-ranging government green paper is exploring a number of possible changes to improve the sustainability of defined benefit schemes, but although experts welcomed the variety of issues discussed, some noted a lack of urgency.
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OpinionHow should DB funding be measured?
Schemes should make the discount rate a function of the investment strategy rather than vice versa, says JP Morgan Asset Management’s Sorca Kelly-Scholte.
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NewsJohn Lewis slashes deficit with CPI switch
Retailer John Lewis has agreed a new recovery plan with the trustees of its defined benefit scheme after a large reduction in the funding deficit, due in part to a change in inflation indexing.
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News
How has LDI changed over the last year?
Have falling interest rates over the last year finally persuaded trustees and sponsors that yields may not revert to the mean, or do they expose liability hedging as expensive flattery of scheme balance sheets? Axa Investment Managers' Jonathan Crowther, Barnett Waddingham's Sophia Heathcoat, Dalriada Trustees' Simon Cohen, Hymans Robertson's Alen Ong, Law Debenture's David Felder and Standard Life Investments' Mark Foster discuss.
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OpinionAre the select committee’s DB recommendations workable?
From the blog: The Work and Pension Committee’s DB report is exceptionally well written, but are any of its main recommendations actually workable?
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News
Pinpointing life expectancy could cut deficits by £25bn
Using more accurate assumptions on longevity could be the key to bringing down defined benefit pension scheme deficits, new research shows.
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NewsContribution hike prompts pension protest at Bangor University
Public sector union Unison has protested against Bangor University’s plans to raise pension contributions, but despite the demurral, changes will be going ahead this month.
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FeaturesKingfisher ups hedging level as scheme slips into surplus
Screwfix and B&Q owner Kingfisher’s defined benefit fund has extended its programme of hedging interest and inflation risk, allowing the scheme to maintain its strong funding level amid a low-yield environment.
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FeaturesStagecoach tightens governance reins with scheme merger
Stagecoach Group has merged one of its smaller pension plans with its £1.3bn defined benefit scheme, but the company has maintained a separate section for the smaller fund, keeping liabilities separate while potentially sharing some costs.