All articles by Alex Janiaud – Page 2
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FeaturesOutlook 2025: Dawn of the Dashboards
It is almost exactly a decade since the Financial Conduct Authority first recommended the creation of a “pensions dashboard” for consumers as part of its 2014 Retirement Income Market Study.
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FeaturesOutlook 2025: ‘Fit for the future’ consultation looms for LGPS funds
Change is afoot for the Local Government Pension Scheme, with consolidation plans from government and demand for more UK-focused investment. What will the next year bring?
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FeaturesOutlook 2025: New insurers set to make waves in busy DB market
From an evolving bulk annuity market to debates over the use of pension scheme surpluses, next year looks set to be as busy as ever for the defined benefit sector, writes Alex Janiaud.
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FeaturesDC master trusts: A consolidation conundrum
Consolidation has been one of the key themes of 2024. With the government determined to create defined contribution (DC) “megafunds”, there are many potential benefits and challenges of merging master trust, as Alex Janiaud reports.
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NewsSuperfunds trump insurers for schemes exiting PPF assessment
Consolidators could be a more popular future path for DB pension schemes seeking to exit the PPF’s assessment process, according to a survey.
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NewsAviva adds £750m private debt fund to LTAF roster
Momentum is building behind the long-term asset fund structure after a number of asset managers have launched strategies this year.
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FeaturesScheme consolidation: Lessons from the Netherlands
As the government sets its sights on creating pension “megafunds” in the public and private sectors, Pensions Expert takes a look across the North Sea to a country that has already taken a similar path.
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NewsCDC legislation planned for next year, says pensions minister
Pensions minister Emma Reynolds expects fresh legislation for collective defined contribution (CDC) schemes to be laid next year – but they are not expected to feature “directly” in the pensions bill.
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NewsProductive finance agenda ‘interferes with fiduciary duty’
The UK government wants to channel pension scheme investment into UK assets, which sits in tension with trustees’ legal obligation to invest in the interest of their members.
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NewsInterview: British Business Bank’s Louis Taylor
Pension funds need to rethink their historic preference for keeping fees down and embrace potentially attractive “net-of-fee” venture capital returns, British Business Bank chief executive officer Louis Taylor has told Pensions Expert.
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NewsMore ESG reporting raises risk of legal challenges for trustees
A lawyer has warned of increased litigation risk over environmental policies, saying that “it will only take one case for duties to be extended or flexed”.
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FeaturesIs better funding leading to changes to valuation dates?
After the BBC decided to bring forward its triennial valuation in light of improved funding, Pensions Expert looks at whether more schemes are likely to follow.
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NewsBiggest asset managers accused of blocking ESG shareholder proposals
Non-profit ShareAction says the lack of support by BlackRock and other major companies has stymied investors’ environmental and social ambitions.
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NewsPPF urged to consider FCA authorisation
The Department for Work and Pensions has encouraged the Pension Protection Fund’s board and executive to consider seeking authorisation by the Financial Conduct Authority, either for the PPF itself or for a subsidiary.
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NewsTPR appoints FCA’s Delfas as chief executive
On the go: The Pensions Regulator has appointed Nausicaa Delfas as its new chief executive, taking over from Charles Counsell, who is due to step down from the role in March 2023.
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NewsPub ordered to settle tab over missing pension contributions
On the go: The Pensions Ombudsman has ordered Town Wall Tavern to pay a former employee £1,000 and make up for missing pension contributions.
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NewsTPR warned of ‘levelling down’ in DB funding code consultation
Respondents to the Pensions Regulator’s first consultation on its imminent defined benefit funding code have told the watchdog of their concerns over schemes “levelling down” to meet its fast-track valuation pathway, as well as noting their fears over a loss of flexibility.
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NewsNearly three-quarters of DB reviews end in closure to accrual
On the go: Almost three-quarters of company reviews of their defined benefit pension schemes resulted in the plans closing to future accrual, according to new research.
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NewsSmaller schemes face ‘significant’ costs with TPR DB funding code
While the Pensions Regulator foresees an initial hike in implementation fees followed by reduced costs in the long term, experts have warned that the new defined benefit funding code will be particularly onerous for small schemes.
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NewsTPR rejects claim of having pressured schemes into LDI
The Pensions Regulator has pushed back against a suggestion put to the watchdog by MPs that it pressured some pension schemes towards liability-driven investments, when they did not think LDI was appropriate for them.