All Consultants articles – Page 7
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News
CMA referral still likely for advisory firms as FCA consultation closes
Apathy from the investment consulting industry to pro-competition measures suggested by the ‘big three’ firms is set to pave the way for a referral of the industry to the Competition and Markets Authority.
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Opinion
Will the FCA market study revolutionise pensions?
AB Global’s David Hutchins on why the recent final report on asset management will set a welcome direction of travel, and why both consultants and trustees should be brought within the FCA framework.
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Opinion
How consultants can prepare for scheme consolidation
Avida International’s Bart Heenk explains why consultants should embrace scheme consolidation, and how they can prepare for change.
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Opinion
An industry under pressure
It had to happen at some point: the Financial Conduct Authority has set its sights on the investment consulting market.
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News
Watchdog referral looms for investment consulting industry
Industry-led proposals to minimise conflicts of interest in investment consulting have been rejected by the Financial Conduct Authority, bringing firms a step closer to investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority.
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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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Opinion
DC Debate Q2 (part 2): The limits of DC
In the second DC Debate of 2017, seven defined contribution specialists discuss why schemes will look for more delegation, whether member engagement can be counterproductive, and if auto-enrolment should be extended.
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Opinion
Should trustees review their advisers more often?
Analysis: There are myriad tasks involved in running a pension scheme, so time is precious and efficiency is key. But when it comes to evaluating advice, how can trustees measure performance, and should they be reviewing their consultants more frequently?
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Opinion
How to ensure your consultants are not conflicted
There are a number of crucial points trustees should consider in making sure their advisers’ conflicts are appropriately managed, says Matt Riley from PTL.
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Opinion
Mastertrusts have the next milestone in sight
Mastertrusts are on their way to becoming a dominant force in the UK pensions system, having woven themselves into the fabric of workplace defined contribution provision.
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Opinion
How much delegation is right for your scheme?
Would your trustee board benefit from more delegation? Dinesh Visavadia from Independent Trustee Services takes a look at fiduciary management and delegated consulting.
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Opinion
Openness is the key to creating better solutions
Redington’s Dan Mikulskis on competition in the consultant market and why open debate is necessary for continued success.
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News
FCA market study: All-in fee might not be all-in cure
The consultation stage of the Financial Conduct Authority’s market review of the asset management industry closed last week, with experts welcoming the boost to transparency but remaining reticent over proposals for an all-in fee structure.
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News
Trustees overlook strategic objectives due to deficit distraction
Deficits distract the majority of trustees from focusing on the ultimate goal of paying members’ pensions, recent research has found, but some experts highlighted the role of covenant strength and scheme size in deciding where the priority should be.
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Opinion
Data crunch: Who advises the DC scheme community?
SpenceJohnson’s Magnus Spence looks at how the advisory market is developing and explains why second-tier firms are gaining ground with defined contribution schemes.
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News
FCA wants to strengthen duty on managers and consultants
About £109bn of investor assets is held by managers who charge high fees but do not offer significant variation from an index-tracking strategy, the Financial Conduct Authority’s interim report on competition in the asset management market has found.
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News
Select committee inquiry: What should change to safeguard DB?
As the deadline for submitting views on defined benefit to the Work and Pensions Committee has passed, experts say there is a need for greater flexibility, potential benefit reductions and increased powers for the Pensions Regulator.
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Opinion
How can schemes ensure they get impartial advice?
Eversheds’ Mark Latimour outlines what trustees must ask their advisers – and themselves – to ensure conflicts of interest do not influence advice.
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News
Member-borne commission ban could move costs elsewhere
The Department for Work and Pensions has launched a consultation on draft regulations for banning member-borne commission in auto-enrolment schemes, but experts said costs would still need to be shouldered elsewhere.
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Opinion
When knowledge is power: how to manage your advisers
Independent Trustee Services’ Janine Wood looks at whether your consultant has too much say in your scheme and how that could change.