All Defined contribution articles – Page 139
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Opinion
What overseas DC systems can tell us about the post-Budget landscape
The retirement flexibility brought about by the Budget has left many schemes wondering how to best implement the at-retirement options.
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News
Low-cost passive DC loses ground as schemes seek ‘smoothed’ returns
The number of FTSE 100 trust-based defined contribution schemes using lower-cost, fully passive management for their default options has dropped by almost a half as diversified growth funds become more popular, research has found.
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Opinion
Confronting the less-discussed downsides of TDFs
LGIM’s Emma Douglas considers some of the downsides of target date funds for defined contribution scheme members, and how they can be addressed, in this week’s Informed Comment.
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Opinion
Nest: Meeting the challenges scale brings
Talking head: As its membership hits 1m, Nest CEO Tim Jones reflects on the challenges presented by the state-sponsored pension scheme’s ever-expanding scale.
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Features
Selex empowers members on AVCs with website add-on
The Selex Pension Scheme has extended the functionality of its online pensions software as it seeks to drive engagement among its members.
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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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Opinion
A blueprint for designing the DC growth phase
In this week’s Technical Comment, Schroder’s David Heathcock marks out the investment consensus that aims at a “smoother ride” for scheme members, rather than accepting greater volatility in the hunt for long-term returns.
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News
Charge cap consultation ramps up governance, weakens employers
News analysis: Defined contribution scheme representatives will see governance responsibilities increase after the pensions minister announces further reforms to ensure members get value – with a backdrop of industry debate on the charges cap.
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News
Tech SME: scheme and fee transparency crucial to AE
Technology company Fluidata has said simplicity and transparency of pension arrangements and fees are key to smaller employers navigating auto-enrolment successfully, as it struggled to see value in private providers.
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OpinionEditorial: What you wish for
Last year in this column I asked the pensions minister to “go big or go home” on the charges cap, arguing that only a 0.75 per cent level – rather than 1 per cent – would justify the regulatory burden.
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Features
SME achieves almost zero opt-outs after enrolling early
Chartered surveyor Dalcour Maclaren has secured a virtually entire take-up of its defined contribution plan since it auto-enrolled its small workforce last year, and now the company is looking to streamline administration of the scheme.
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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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Features
Budget prompts schemes to revisit lifestyle and annuity options
Schemes that default members into annuity brokerage services are considering the implications of last week’s Budget announcement, with calls for the rules around income drawdown to be simplified.
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OpinionEditorial: Like a wrecking ball
Well, you'd be lying if you said you saw it coming. The most fundamental change to pension saving in a generation was a controversial intervention in the evolution of defined contribution pension schemes.
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NewsBudget 2014: How historic DC changes affect your scheme
News analysis: Defined contribution scheme managers and trustees have seen their default investment strategies rendered “not fit for purpose” by this week’s historic Budget changes, which have fundamentally changed the run-up to retirement for workplace savers.
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News
Experts question multi-asset suitability for younger savers
The rise of multi-asset funds in defined contribution schemes has fed criticism over whether these strategies are taking a sufficient level of investment risk for 20-somethings with a long-term savings horizon.
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OpinionEditorial: Take the weight
There has been much discussion within these comment pages over recent years about the importance of driving up scheme quality in defined contribution schemes.
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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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Features
SME says auto-enrolment a 'doddle', advice unnecessary
F2 Chemicals has become the latest employer to question the need for external advice and has offered staff a new defined contribution scheme paying in more than the statutory minimum, ahead of its 2015 staging date.
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Features
AE non-compliance expected to increase as SMEs stage
News analysis: Consultants have urged employers auto-enrolling this year to ensure they are dedicating enough resources to the process, with the Pensions Regulator raising concerns about non-compliance.