Customisation of index strategies and direct ownership of equities is a more efficient and cost-effective way of investing sustainably than using ‘off-the-shelf’ index products, according to SigTech, which offers quant technologies to investors. 

On the go: The Pensions Regulator has dropped controversial plans to limit the amount funds can put into illiquid assets after the government urged trustees to invest in more long-term assets such as infrastructure to support the UK recovery.  

This week — GPs' pension portal needs a health check, the fallout from the McCloud/Sargeant judgments could cause problems for dashboards, a call for greater diversity among asset managers, and a growing deficit at the Universities Superannuation Scheme.

Podcast: Kim Gubler, chair of the Pensions Administration Standards Association, and David Saunders, senior partner elect at Sackers, discuss defined contribution consolidation, the Aon and Willis Towers Watson abandoned merger, new developments in the pensions dashboards project and the regulator’s review of schemes eligible for the Fraud Compensation scheme.  

The pensions risk transfer market will pick up for the last six months of 2021 with an expected strong pipeline after a subdued first half, according to Legal & General and Willis Towers Watson.

Administrative burdens from the McCloud/Sargeant judgments to remedy age discrimination could delay the staging of public pension funds onto dashboards and cause confusion for members.

On the go: The trustee of the Meggitt defined benefit scheme has agreed a funding plan with Parker Hannifin as part of its deal to acquire the British aerospace and defence markets components company.

Video: Keith Guthrie, deputy chief investment officer at Cardano, discusses how schemes can be ready to invest in a world where climate change and sustainability are now among the top priorities.