Latest articles from Benjamin Mercer

McCloud remedy could take two years to implement, PLSA warns

On the go: The Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association has warned it may take more than two years for the Local Government Pension Scheme to implement the McCloud remedy, casting doubt on the government’s proposed timeframe.

South Yorkshire pensions to go green by 2030

On the go: The South Yorkshire Pensions Authority, responsible for administering the county’s £9bn local authority pension scheme for its 160,000 members, has adopted a net-zero by 2030 policy to govern its portfolio.

2020 risk settlement market could hit £50bn

On the go: Despite the turmoil caused by coronavirus and the government’s lockdown policy, 2020 could still be a record-setting year for the risk settlement market, with final volumes reaching or even exceeding £50bn, according to estimates from Aon.

Housing associations could face significant contribution hikes

On the go: The upcoming Social Housing Pension Scheme valuation could reveal a deficit of £1.5bn, almost £500m higher than expected following the last valuation in 2017, according to a report from LCP.

CDC pensions ‘would be 70% higher’ than traditional DC

On the go: A new guide published by Willis Towers Watson estimates that collective defined contribution pensions would be on average 70 per cent higher than traditional defined contribution, and 40 per cent higher than typical defined benefit schemes.

LGPS wades into Israel-Palestine row with UN blacklist engagements

At least two Local Government Pension Scheme funds are undertaking engagements with companies linked to contested Israeli settlements, Pensions Expert can reveal.

Aon warns USS consultation could confuse employers

Aon has warned that the consultation document presented by the trustee of the Universities Superannuation Scheme will be of only limited use to employers, and may leave some unable to make vital decisions.

Arguments for DC consolidation stronger than for DB

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Podcast: The pace of defined contribution consolidation could accelerate on the other side of the coronavirus pandemic, but mergers are a less obvious boon for define benefit, say Squire Patton Boggs partner Kirsty Bartlett and Hadassah Shulman, senior associate at Taylor Wessing.

Fund managers’ ESG claims outperform reality

A third of asset managers are still not engaging on climate change, according to analysis by Redington. But of those that do, experts warn that their environmental, social and governance ratings may not be all that they appear.

Scheme members wait on up to £25,000 from GMP equalisation

On the go: Some defined benefit scheme members could still be waiting on payments of up to £25,000 resulting from guaranteed minimum pension equalisation, according to research by XPS Pensions.