2020 has been an exceptional year and throughout the uncertainty driven by the onset of Covid-19, the bulk annuity market has operated effectively, with total buy-in and buy-out volumes for this year set to become the second highest on record. The market has continued to offer schemes, across a range of sizes, with attractive opportunities to de-risk. This analysis of the bulk annuity market looks at the impact of 2020 and what it means for the years ahead.

At the beginning of the year, nobody could have predicted the events that we have seen. In this analysis, we explore how the economic turmoil of Covid-19 has impacted on the path to endgame.

While some schemes will have weathered the recent market volatility relatively unscathed, funding levels for many schemes will have worsened. Coupled with the difficulties facing UK businesses, reaching the DB endgame will now be a greater challenge for a lot of schemes. 

Even though it can be a long journey for DB pension schemes, it’s still imperative that you know all the options to navigate the issues you will face. A clear and simple decision-making framework is therefore needed to ensure you identify the direction that’s right for you. Barnett Waddingham introduces DB Navigator® – our five step framework, providing you with the knowledge, structure and tools to optimise your strategy for tackling the journey towards your DB endgame.