Latest articles from Charlotte Moore

Making net zero a reality

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A net zero commitment means putting climate change at the heart of how portfolios are managed. Are UK DC schemes ready?

The future of TCFD

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Taking stock of TCFD

Ombudsman fines NHS trust £1,000 over additional pension ‘distress’

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The Pensions Ombudsman has ordered the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust to pay £1,000 to a scheme member for distress and inconvenience caused when payments were taken for an additional pension, which the complainant had wanted to set up but had not been actioned.

Nest Insight launches emergency savings trial

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On the go: Nest Insight, the research arm of the Nest master trust, has launched an emergency savings trial with financial wellbeing provider Wagestream to examine employee financial resilience and the impact of different nudges to encourage people to save.

BMA warns of spike in early retirements over tax relief reforms

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The British Medical Association has warned that the number of doctors choosing to reduce hours or retire early would increase were the government to proceed with reported plans to freeze the pensions lifetime allowance past 2026.

Schemes urged to revisit buyout plans in rising rate environment

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Rising interest rates and the subsequent fall in liability valuations and deficits have now made buyouts more affordable for a larger number of pension funds, with consultants urging schemes to restructure their investment strategy to make it more palatable to an insurance company.

Rising rates pose challenges for closed DB schemes’ LDI portfolios

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While interest rate and inflation hedges have helped many defined benefit schemes stabilise their funding positions, the current macroeconomic environment is creating challenges for some closed plans, which might not have the necessary collateral in place to meet high payments.

Clara-Pensions plans Q3 deal after regulatory approval

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Clara-Pensions is planning to announce its first transaction in the third quarter of this year, as founder and outgoing chief executive Adam Saron details the types of pension schemes that are likely to find value in the defined benefit consolidator’s business model.

Corporate bond managers urged to explain climate transition risks

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As defined benefit schemes are increasingly expected to replace their equity portfolios with corporate bond holdings in their journey to reach funding targets, pension funds and their asset managers are being urged to carefully assess companies’ attitudes to climate transition risks.

Pension funds advised to keep close eye on inflation

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Recent spikes in inflation have led consultants to advise schemes against buying overpriced hedges and urging them to stay underhedged over the next three years, while looking elsewhere for inflation-linked returns.