All Aon articles – Page 11
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News
PLSA urges schemes to focus on ‘inputs’
A new report on pension scheme governance calls for greater focus on improving the quality of structures and personnel, or ‘inputs’, and argues that processes have received excessive attention.
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Opinion
Positive EMD performance: Will it last?
EMD survey: More than four years have passed since the taper tantrum, when the US Federal Reserve started to gradually tighten its quantitative easing programme, leading to investor panic and sell-off in some emerging markets.
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Opinion
Asset manager mergers: How they affect pension schemes
Analysis: The recent uptick in mergers and acquisitions activity in the asset management industry has sparked debate among experts over potential ramifications for schemes. Fees, innovation and relationships with managers could all be affected.
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News
Calls for action on complexity at heart of DB transfer delays
Increased demand for defined benefit pension transfers, lack of transfer experience among independent financial advisers and complexity of DB pensions is adding to transfer delays by putting strain on administrator resources, recent research has shown.
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FeaturesGKN scheme closures and debt issuance to combat £1bn deficit
Engineering firm GKN has closed its UK defined benefit pension schemes to future accrual, and plans to use proceeds from a debt issuance to plug a £1bn deficit on its UK post-retirement obligations.
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FeaturesScapa sticks to risk management strategy with Pie
Adhesive tape manufacturer Scapa has carried out a pension increase exchange exercise, in its latest move to manage the cost and risk of its legacy defined benefit scheme.
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FeaturesEnvironment Agency fund in surplus with ESG
Strong investment returns have lifted the Environment Agency Active Pension Fund into surplus, as it challenged the industry to collaborate to improve uptake of environmental, social and governance-related strategies.
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News
Pensions Institute: Relax DB promises to tackle PPF drift
Stressed schemes and employers should be allowed to reduce pension increases and gain easier access to Pension Protection Fund-plus benefit-restructuring methods in order to minimise “PPF drift”, a new academic paper has said.
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Opinion
How do trustees choose the 'right' consultant?
The Financial Conduct Authority’s final report on the asset management market revealed that the investment consulting sector has not escaped the watchdog’s scrutiny, but pinning down criteria for a good consultant is not easy.
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FeaturesManchester University upgrades investment strategy
Trustees of the Manchester University Superannuation Scheme have adopted a new liability-driven investment strategy, while dropping a UK equity mandate in favour of global equities.
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FeaturesSuffolk scheme fills gaps with greenfield infra
The Suffolk Pension Fund has added to its alternatives allocation, including a commitment to illiquid credit and an investment in a greenfield infrastructure fund, as experts have highlighted the importance of good governance when investing in illiquids.
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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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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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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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News
Delays in transfer value process threaten member outcomes
The Pensions Regulator has been asked to look at streamlining the process for providing cash equivalent transfer values, after complaints from advisers that delays in schemes providing necessary information meant members were missing out.
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News
Lack of consultant feedback threatens scheme governance
PLSA Investment Conference 2017: More than half of professional trustees and consultants rate their clients’ decision-making capabilities as acceptable or below, as industry figures have urged a rethinking of boardroom psychology.
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News
Buyouts more affordable but only for a handful of schemes
Buyouts have become more feasible as annuity pricing for non-pensioners has improved, but some experts say many schemes still have a long way to go before being able to afford a buyout or buy-in transaction.
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OpinionSchemes should consider strategic currency hedging
Aon Hewitt’s Lucinda Downing makes the case for currency hedging and states where and how schemes can do so.