Latest articles from Stephanie Baxter

Solvency II reforms ‘could unlock £100bn in productive finance’

Jens P Raak/Pixabay

The Treasury has published its final Solvency II reform proposals, which are expected by the industry to unlock more than £100bn in long-term productive assets such as social infrastructure and green energy.

IA cracks down on exec pensions misalignment with workforce

News on the go

On the go: The Investment Association is increasing its crackdown on FTSE companies where executive pension contributions are not aligned to most of the workforce, according to its latest annual pay guidelines for FTSE companies. 

Two-fifths of sponsors uncertain on accounting for Covid-19

News on the go

On the go: A significant proportion of defined benefit pension scheme sponsors are still working out whether and how to make an allowance for Covid-19 in their year-end accounts due to a range of issues, according to LCP.

TPR revamps guidance on fiduciary management tender processes

Umkehrer/iStock

The Pensions Regulator has published updated guidance on the tender process for fiduciary management services and trustees, setting objectives for investment consultants as it prepares to take over regulation of these duties this autumn.

Experts warn schemes of recession and inflation risks after BoE rate rise

John Sibley/Reuters

The Bank of England has announced its highest rate hike in 27 years, lifting its base rate by 0.5 per cent to 1.75 per cent in a bid to control rising inflation, with warnings of an imminent recession creating fresh challenges for UK pension schemes.  

TPR unveils new scam-busting plan amid cost of living crisis

Fotoware

The increase in the cost of living may leave savers more vulnerable to scammers, the Pensions Regulator has warned, as it unveils a three-year plan to protect individuals from pension scams.

Falling bond yields drive down July FTSE 350 surplus by £9bn

News on the go

On the go: The pension funding surplus of the UK’s biggest 350 listed companies fell last month amid choppy markets and falling bond yields.

TPR chief backs using tax returns to bring self-employed into pensions

Paul Maguire/Dreamstime

The Pensions Regulator’s chief executive, Charles Counsell, has backed using self-assessment tax returns to encourage more self-employed to save into pensions, in a bid to tackle huge levels of pensions under-saving in the cohort.

Annuities make slow comeback as retirees look for income certainty

Bloomberg

After a decline in annuity sales following the pension freedoms, the market seems to have levelled off with purchases accounting for around 10 per cent of total market share, according to the Pensions Policy Institute.