All Defined benefit articles – Page 204
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Features
BT suspends flexible retirement options during review
BT has suspended its flexible retirement option while it reviews the conditions under which it will consent to BT Pension Scheme members taking early payment of their pension while continuing to work at the communications company.
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FeaturesLafarge doubles contributions to cut deficit
Building materials manufacturer Lafarge has more than doubled its contributions to its UK pension fund after scheme and sponsor negotiated a beefed-up recovery plan to tackle the funding deficit.
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News
Consultants expect DC flexibility to drive DB member transfers
Defined benefit schemes could see a short-term increase in requests from members to switch their benefits into defined contribution schemes, due to potential government plans to restrict such transfers, benefit consultants have predicted.
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News
University funds running equity risk as holdings rise
University pension schemes have seen their equity holdings increase as a proportion of their portfolio, a survey of self-administered trusts in the sector has revealed, sparking debate among experts about their exposure to market volatility.
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Opinion
NAPF: Top of the DB regulatory agenda
Talking head: The NAPF’s Helen Forrest runs through the most important regulatory changes facing defined benefit pension scheme decision-makers – including unintended consequences of the Budget’s retirement reforms.
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Opinion
Why your biggest investment risk is ignoring your liabilities
Talking head: Investment columnist Rob Gardner looks at whether equities or bonds are looking better value for UK pension funds, and argues context is vital.
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News
Greater intermediary fee transparency needed to assess value, experts urge
News analysis: Investment management and consultant fees need to be more transparent to allow schemes to more accurately measure whether they are getting value for money, industry figures have said.
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FeaturesMineworkers scheme extends cash buffer to battle rising longevity
The Mineworkers Pension Scheme has secured a 10-year extension to the repayment deadline of its government-backed investment reserve, as it works to manage increased longevity among scheme members.
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Opinion
The latest on reconciling GMPs and how it affects your scheme
Aries’ Ian Neale gives scheme managers an update on reconciling guaranteed minimum pension entitlements and how schemes are coping with the issue, in this edition of Technical Comment.
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News
Schemes delay mergers over tax risk concerns
Schemes are thinking twice about undertaking bulk transfers of benefits to avoid the risk of passing on individual tax charges to members as they await final official rules.
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News
The Cut – Four lessons from the latest ONS pensions data
The Office for National Statistics revealed last week auto-enrolment has so far boosted the proportion of employees that belong to a workplace pension to 50 per cent from 47 per cent.
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FeaturesStrathclyde rebalances bond portfolio in drive for greater returns
Strathclyde Pension Fund has decreased its allocation to corporate bonds in favour of a wider absolute return bond strategy, to rebalance its portfolio as spreads tighten.
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Opinion
A scheme guide to changing longevity risk
In the latest Technical View, the Biogerontology Research Foundation’s Alex Zhavoronkov lays out the latest factors affecting longevity and how schemes and insurers are tackling it.
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News
Multi-asset exposure surges as schemes focus on volatility
The proportion of pension schemes with multi-asset fund exposure has risen to 83 per cent, up from 70 per cent just six months ago, as schemes look to control volatility and mitigate macroeconomic risk.
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NewsBP fund moves to guard against covenant risk
BP Pension Scheme has formalised a derisking framework with its sponsor to dampen covenant, asset value and investment risks, delegates at the National Association of Pension Funds’ investment conference 2014 heard last week.
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FeaturesAsset-backed funding on the rise as schemes beef up security
Industry experts have predicted asset-backed funding strategies would survive a Scottish independence 'Yes' vote as well as current regulatory scrutiny, as greater accessibility has seen the average size of these structures decrease.
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News
End of contracting-out adds urgency to CDC decision
Data analysis: Figures show more than four-fifths of active defined benefit members remain contracted out, as consultants have said the costs associated with ending the arrangement have bolstered the hunt for alternatives.
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News
Isle of Wight bolsters governance ahead of LGPS reform
Isle of Wight Pension Fund has identified areas ripe for improvement in its governance, including more frequent funding monitoring, as local government schemes brace for next year’s reforms to the sector.
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News
BT 'pleased' as 30,000 members seek Pie advice
BT has attracted interest for its pension increase exchange exercise from more than 30,000 members, as one of the highest-profile employers to offer the liability-reducing tool.
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Opinion
How to build your risk committee
As more defined benefit schemes follow a derisking plan towards their end point, monitoring and managing risk grows ever more important.