Latest articles from Maria Espadinha

DB schemes reach 120% funding

News on the go

On the go: The aggregate surplus of the 5,215 defined benefit schemes in the Pension Protection Fund 7800 Index increased by £6.3bn in June, reaching a funding position of 120.1 per cent.

DWP recommends CMS partner as new Pensions Ombusdman

News on the go

On the go: The Department for Work and Pensions has announced that CMS partner Dominic Harris is the preferred candidate for the Pensions Ombudsman.

Almost half of LGPS funds expect to be fully funded by next valuation

News on the go

On the go: Forty-six per cent of Local Government Pension Scheme funds expect to be more than 100 per cent funded at their next triennial actuarial valuation, according to new research.

Guy Opperman reappointed pensions minister

David Mirzoeff/PA Images

Guy Opperman has agreed to return to his pensions minister post until a new leader of the Conservative party is elected.

Opperman: AE reforms are ‘doable’ by 2025

News on the go

On the go: Pensions minister Guy Opperman remains committed to introducing auto-enrolment reform, noting that implementation of new legislation is “doable” by 2025.

Opperman blames Webb for state pension errors

News on the go

On the go: Pensions minister Guy Opperman has blamed Sir Steve Webb for the litany of state pension failures the Department for Work and Pensions is now dealing with.

Small schemes disappoint on value for money requirements

Mikhail Konoplev/iStock

CPD: Despite new requirements that dictate small schemes need to access the value for money they provide to members, only a handful are complying with the rules, Maria Espadinha reports.

Two-thirds of small schemes unaware of VfM requirements

News on the go

On the go: The majority of schemes with less than £100mn in assets were unaware of their new value for money duties, with the Pensions Regulator prompting these pension funds to “either wind up or take prompt action to make improvements”.

Self-assessment pension trials results expected in summer

News on the go

On the go: The results of a trial to boost retirement savings for the self-employed, involving the existing self-assessment tax system, will be published in summer, a Treasury minister has revealed.

TPR warns trustees about imminent dashboards deadline

Pensions dashboard (teaser)

The Pensions Regulator has launched a campaign urging trustees to prepare for the pensions dashboards deadline, as new research shows that less than 10 per cent of schemes have begun to digitise the information they hold in preparation for the initiative.