All Consultants articles – Page 4
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News
UK pension schemes under-allocated to Chinese equities
UK pension schemes’ allocation to China as a percentage of global equities is generally inadequate, but there is no consensus as to how big the allocation should be, according to participants at Camradata’s Investing in China roundtable.
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News£6bn swap shows insurers’ appetite for longevity risk
On the go: A £6bn longevity swap by an unnamed UK pension scheme and the Prudential Insurance Company of America suggests that insurers’ appetite for longevity risk has not diminished, despite the uncertainty around the long-term impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.
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News
DWP admits DC chair’s statements fail policy objective
The Department for Work and Pensions has acknowledged that the introduction of chair’s statements has failed to meet the policy objectives set out by the department in 2014.
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NewsPandemic could have modest impact on mortality rates
On the go: If Covid-19 is confined to the two waves already registered, and the vaccination rollout programme is successful, the pandemic’s effect on mortality rates is likely to be marginal, new research from LCP has revealed.
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News
DB transfer values recover after February fall
On the go: Defined benefit transfer values increased in March to recover around a third of the drop seen in February, according to figures from XPS Pensions Group.
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TPR clarifies expectations in settlements policy statement
On the go: The Pensions Regulator published a settlements policy statement on Thursday with the overarching aim that these agreements offer fair and appropriate outcomes.
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News
Pension schemes’ liabilities overstated up to £60bn
On the go: Defined benefit schemes’ liabilities may be overstated from 1.5 per cent up to 3.5 per cent following the Covid-19 pandemic, according to pensions consultancy XPS.
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FCA rules could hit DB transfer market winners hard
On the go: More than a third (37.5 per cent) of the defined benefit transfer market was advised by just three firms in 2020, as St James’s Place, Royal London and AJ Bell increased their market share “dramatically”, according to a report from LCP.
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TPR’s criminal powers draft policy fails to repeal industry concerns
The Pensions Regulator’s draft guidance on its new criminal powers, published on Thursday, failed to allay fears about the new sanctions, since it will be able to prosecute anyone in connection with an offence and will no longer be bound by limitation periods.
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DWP delays fiduciary management consultation response
On the go: The Department for Work and Pensions’ response to the consultation on trustee oversight of investment consultants and fiduciary managers has been delayed until 2022.
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News
Border to Coast expands green infrastructure investment
Several pension funds, including the Local Government Pension Scheme pool Border to Coast, have provided the majority of the funding for a new €1.6bn (£1.4bn) renewable energy investment fund launched by the Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets.
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PodcastsPodcast: Tackling climate change will require a ‘step change’ in governance
Podcast: The government’s “revolutionary” plans to tackle climate change “ain’t half prescriptive” when it comes to pensions investments, and will require a “step change” in governance to achieve. So say Stuart O’Brien, partner at Sackers, and ITS director Tegs Harding, who also discuss the consequences of another row at the Universities Superannuation Scheme and the cartelisation of the advisory market.
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News
Guide launched to assess investment consultants’ climate competence
On the go: The Investment Consultants Sustainability Working Group has launched a guide to help trustees in assessing their investment consultants on climate competency.
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NewsPIPAs on hunt for Covid-defying performances
Pensions Expert’s annual awards are open for entries, with judges imploring providers that have not hid behind Covid excuses and managers that have truly set themselves apart on sustainability to come forward for consideration.
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News
FCA releases DB transfer advice assessment tool
On the go: The City watchdog has released an assessment tool to help financial advisers understand whether the defined benefit pension transfer advice they have given was suitable.
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News
Bulk annuities growth dependent on ‘jumbo’ deals and consolidators
On the go: While the UK bulk annuity market is expected to continue to thrive in 2021, its significant growth will depend on ‘jumbo’ deals and on the development of the consolidators’ market, according to Aon.
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News
RPI reform drives up inflation hedging cost
Demand for inflation hedging is now returning after it was suppressed during the government’s consultation on the retail price index. However, the limited supply of index-linked bonds is itself having an inflationary effect, according to Insight Investment.
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Trustees warned not to miss CMA’s self-certification January deadline
Fears are mounting that Christmas and remote working may cause trustees to miss a vital deadline in January to comply with new Competition and Markets Authority rules.
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OpinionTrustees need help to solve ESG puzzle
Trustee boards’ best efforts to make meaningful progress on environmental, social and governance considerations are hamstrung by a lack of standardisation and a lack of integrated consultant ratings, writes Tegs Harding of Independent Trustee Services.
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Consultants seek to push up industry sustainability standards
A new working group formed by 12 UK investment consultants is aiming to encourage standardisation of practices and meaningful action on sustainability among asset owners.