All Barnett Waddingham articles – Page 13
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News
'Unconflicted' MNTs have a place on trustee boards, experts say
Communicating complicated legislative changes, focusing on defined contribution governance and protecting members’ benefits are just a few of the challenges faced by trustee boards.
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NewsChancellor proposes ban on cold calling, refrains from pensions tax overhaul
In his first and last Autumn Statement, Chancellor Philip Hammond swapped the timing of the Budget and the Statement but had comparatively little to say about pensions for now; one of the larger measures – a consultation into pensions fraud – was welcomed by the industry.
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NewsThames Water pours money into LDI
Trustees of Thames Water’s two defined benefit pension schemes have been focusing on risk reduction over the past year, introducing a new liability-driven portfolio for both funds.
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FeaturesRexam reduces membership through commutation exercise
The Rexam Pension Plan has carried out a trivial commutation exercise, contributing towards a reduction in total membership as defined benefit schemes are trying to reduce costs.
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News
Schemes urged to look past 'Super Thursday' market movements
The FTSE 100 fell last week on the back of a High Court ruling that parliament must have a vote on the UK’s triggering of Article 50, while the Bank of England revised its inflation expectations upwards.
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News
Treasury scraps plans for secondary annuity market amid consumer protection concerns
Proposed reforms to create a secondary annuity market have been abandoned due to concerns about consumer protection and value for money.
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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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News
DC schemes drown in regulatory change and jargon
Trustees of occupational defined contribution pension schemes are increasingly failing to meet governance requirements due to excessive regulatory change, a panel of industry figures has said.
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FeaturesDHL transition exercise delivers savings for members
Postal and logistics company DHL has saved £2.3m for members of its UK defined contribution pension fund by trading investments between members at no cost following an investment transition.
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News
Schemes urged to revisit risk as deficits soar
Defined benefit pension deficits have escalated since last month, but despite the challenging environment and gloomy outlook, some experts say schemes should stay calm and consider re-evaluating their risk portfolios.
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Opinion
The shape of things to come: Could robo-advice transform pensions?
Would you take pensions advice from a robot? Robo-advice may be the flavour of the month, but not everyone in the pensions industry is convinced the future is fintech.
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NewsRailways scheme on track with cost management
The Railways Pension Scheme has saved £100m in fees, having restructured its external management and pooled fund arrangements, but despite being cost-conscious, the fund remains focused on net returns.
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News
Property or pension: Where downsizing could pay off
A new report warns people planning to downsize to smaller properties and using the proceeds to fund their retirements that the resulting income will only be a fraction of a workplace pension.
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Features
Carclo deficit highlights pitfalls of equity exposure
Technical plastics manufacturer Carclo is adding liability-driven investment mandates and continued support for diversified growth funds to its defined benefit scheme portfolio, after poor equity market performance saw its deficit almost double.
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News
LDI crucial part of portfolio despite low yields, experts say
Schemes must not leave themselves vulnerable to interest rate risk by ignoring seemingly expensive liability-driven investment strategies, according to panellists at a Pensions Expert event on LDI held last week.
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News
Recent pension deficit reductions are unlikely to be sustainable
A survey of FTSE 100 companies’ pension schemes showed that during 2015 the overall pension deficit was reduced by £15bn, mostly by lower salary assumptions and higher discount rates, but experts say the trends responsible for the reduction have now reversed.
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NewsSwitching BSPS indexation to CPI could set legal precedent
A four-week public consultation on the British Steel Pension Scheme launched by the government this week could pave the way for an indexation switch aimed at significantly reducing Tata Steel’s pension liabilities, which could reverberate across the private sector.
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NewsNetwork Rail plans £19m savings following NI cost hike
Network Rail expects to save around £19m annually following a swath of amendments to two of its schemes to mitigate the increased costs of contracting-out cessation, as many schemes either absorb the cost or close.
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News
Cash flow is important but not pressing, experts say
For the first time, the Pensions Regulator explicitly included cash flow considerations in its annual funding statement, published last week. Industry insiders welcomed the move, but said the statement has raised other equally important concerns.
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FeaturesSelex cuts costs with new Care structure
The Selex Pension Scheme has moved to a career average revalued earnings structure following the results of its latest triennial valuation, in an attempt to cut costs and reduce risk.