All Governance articles – Page 18

  • News

    Regulator finds lack of consistency in IGCs

    2020-06-24T00:00:00Z

    On the go: The Financial Conduct Authority is concerned about a lack of consistency in the way independent governance committees operate, which means that members of some workplace pension schemes may not be receiving value for money.

  • News

    Peers push for clarity over insolvency measures

    2020-06-18T00:00:00Z

    On the go: Members of the House of Lords have pressed the government to provide clarity over the impact of new insolvency laws on pension schemes.

  • News

    Fiduciary managers outperform during coronavirus crisis

    2020-06-10T00:00:00Z

    Analysis: A year after emerging from the scrutiny of the Competition and Markets Authority, fiduciary managers are now embracing transparency to advertise outperformance of traditional advised defined benefit schemes.

  • News

    Lockdown spikes fears of democratic deficit in LGPS

    2020-06-05T00:00:00Z

    As the Covid-19 crisis unfolds, there could be a worrying governance and democratic deficit in some local authority pension schemes, with only 27 per cent of councils having virtual pension committee meetings.

  • Podcasts

    Podcast: 'Crystal ball-gazing' makes ethical investment tough for trustees

    2020-06-05T00:00:00Z

    Trustees aiming to make ethical investment decisions can find it tough to justify them without recourse to a crystal ball, as the legal requirements are ill-defined, says Irwin Mitchell’s pensions partner Penny Cogher. In this episode she’s joined by independent consultant and long-time pensions expert Malcolm McLean for a discussion covering capital-backed endgame deals, the complications of new insolvency laws, and some morally dubious LGPS investments.

  • News

    Brunel achieves carbon intensity reduction target

    2020-06-04T00:00:00Z

    Brunel Pension Partnership has achieved its target of reducing the carbon intensity of its active portfolio by 7 per cent a year in time for the UN’s World Environment Day, but smaller schemes saddled with pooled products may lack the clout required to emulate them.

  • Greig McGuinness
    Opinion

    More than a number: what it means to be a professional trustee

    2020-06-02T00:00:00Z

    Dalriada’s Greig McGuinness recounts his experience of accreditation as a professional trustee, and gives his thoughts on the responsibility to uphold the profession that comes with completing the process.

  • Opinion

    Trustees must face hard governance truths after Covid shake-up

    2020-06-02T00:00:00Z

    Our daily lives will inevitably change once the Covid-19 crisis is over.

  • News

    USS divests from coal, tobacco and weapons manufacturers

    2020-06-01T00:00:00Z

    The UK’s largest pension scheme has announced it is to divest from selected coal, tobacco and weapons manufacturers, following years of campaigning by members and activist groups.

  • News

    Chair’s statement template to ease trustee headaches

    2020-05-28T00:00:00Z

    On the go: The Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association has released a new template designed to help trustees of well-run defined contribution schemes avoid being caught out by chair’s statement requirements.

  • George Currie
    Opinion

    Templates help, but govt help is needed on chair’s statements

    2020-05-28T00:00:00Z

    As the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association releases templates to help trustees avoid pitfalls in defined contribution chair’s statements, George Currie appeals for greater regulatory flexibility in how punishments are dished out.

  • Opinion

    How will pandemic affect employer contributions longer-term?

    2020-04-24T00:00:00Z

    Over the past few weeks, the Pensions Regulator has been publishing a range of guidance for schemes and employers, which among other easements effectively gives the green light for trustees to consider the deferral of deficit reduction contributions for a period of up to three months.

  • News

    ESG-focused investments show durability through market meltdown

    2020-04-17T00:00:00Z

    The Covid-19 pandemic has shown how important environmental, social and governance factors are when making investment decisions, according to analysts.

  • News

    Covid-19: Disruption for DC schemes; social impact woes

    2020-03-27T00:00:00Z

    While defined contribution trustees are being warned they could be facing more disruption than just investment volatility, institutional investors are calling on companies to mitigate the coronavirus social impact. At the same time, risks of cybersecurity and fraud are on the rise. Read our round-up of pensions and finance news about the coronavirus outbreak.

  • News

    HSBC ahead of curve with TCFD compliance

    2020-03-23T00:00:00Z

    As the government seeks powers to mandate pension schemes to disclose their climate change risks, the HSBC Bank (UK) Pension Scheme is already on its second report under the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures.

  • News

    Volatility exposes trustees’ slow reaction times

    2020-03-20T00:00:00Z

    Volatility playing havoc with defined benefit funding ratios may speed the transition towards fiduciary management and consolidation of final salary schemes, according to governance specialists.

  • News

    L&G to launch fossil fuel free fund

    2020-03-16T00:00:00Z

    On the go: PensionBee will offer Legal & General’s first fossil fuel-free fund, in response to demand from consumers to exclude oil from their pension investments.

  • News

    Cheshire Pension Fund questions members on investments and ESG

    2020-03-13T00:00:00Z

    The £5.8bn Cheshire Pension Fund is gauging the views of its members and participating employers on its investment strategy and environmental, social and governance policy.

  • News

    Trustee boards display unacceptable lack of diversity

    2020-03-13T00:00:00Z

    On the go: The Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association has published a guide to improving diversity and inclusion in pensions, amid enduring concerns over groupthink and prejudice in the trust-based system.

  • Opinion

    The biggest driver of change in DC

    2020-03-03T00:00:00Z

    Data Crunch: Broadridge’s Jonathan Libre looks at recent changes in legislation in the defined contribution space and how these schemes have adapted to a fast-evolving world of requirements.