All Investment articles – Page 95
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Features
Secondhand annuity market takes shape but risk of poor deals looms
Analysis: The government has confirmed it will soften the tax hit for those looking to take advantage of the secondary annuity market, but some experts are concerned the financial services industry holds all the cards in getting the best deal.
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OpinionHow DC trustees can determine ‘good value’
From the blog: Trustees of occupational pension schemes that provide money purchase benefits are now required to assess and report annually on the extent to which member-borne charges and transaction costs under their scheme represent good value for members.
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OpinionAn outstanding year for pensions…
Editorial: And by that I mean we’re coming to the end of 2015 with several gargantuan issues left outstanding, hanging over the heads of schemes and providers.
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OpinionDerisking dead ends
Editorial: If you’re short of gift ideas for your favourite veteran trustee or scheme manager, the Pension Protection Fund’s Purple Book could be a good shout.
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News
Net bond sales to institutions remain in the red
Data Analysis: Net retail sales of bonds have come back into the black, according to latest data from the Investment Association, but the asset class is still facing resistance from institutional investors such as pension funds.
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News
DB funding pressure rises but scheme closures plateau
Data Analysis: The aggregate funding level of UK defined benefit schemes has deteriorated again despite asset allocation trends moving towards lower-risk investments, but the number of schemes open to new members has stayed level.
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FeaturesCash flow crisis: How to avoid becoming a forced seller
Sweeping closures of defined benefit schemes across the UK will limit the pain of future liabilities for sponsors, but have created a growing problem many pension funds have been slow to recognise: a cash flow crisis is on the horizon.
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OpinionCOP21: Three sectors pension funds should worry about after Paris
From the blog: With a binding climate agreement likely to be signed at the COP21 summit in Paris this month, UK pension funds need to be aware of which companies and sectors are managing their climate risks, and which are not.
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News
Tough timescales for asset pooling put LGPS on the spot
The government’s much-anticipated criteria for the reform of Local Government Pension Scheme investment contains few surprises, but industry experts have raised concerns over the tight timescales for funds to prepare and implement complex proposals.
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Features
Shropshire profits from infra but schemes struggle to fill targets
Shropshire County Pension Fund’s infrastructure investment gained 40 per cent during 2014/15, but entry into the asset class remains a challenge for some UK pension funds.
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OpinionHow underpricing political risk could hit pension funds
As the UK considers future relations with Europe, MFS Investment Management’s Madeline Forrester explores what a possible exit means for UK pension funds.
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OpinionAnd now for the weather…
From the blog: I described in a previous blog a game of epic procrastination that pension schemes like to play: Not Today, Tomorrow Better!
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NewsHow consumer behaviour is changing schemes’ property portfolios
News Analysis: The evolving habits of UK consumers have compressed yields across the retail property sector over recent years, but experts say there are still attractive opportunities for pension fund investors searching for returns.
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News
LGPS pooling puts in-house investment in the spotlight
News Analysis: Local authority pension fund pooling activity is gathering pace ahead of an upcoming government consultation on criteria for cutting costs, bringing with it a push towards greater in-house investment capability.
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NewsIs your scheme in the know about securities lending?
Investment experts have laid out the steps schemes should take to minimise risks when allocating to securities lending, and warned of the potential they face for illiquidity and loss of voting rights.
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OpinionInfrastructure opportunity too good to ignore
From the blog: Infrastructure debt is gaining recognition as an asset class that can offer pension schemes stable income-oriented returns over long-term horizons, but accessing this opportunity isn’t always straightforward.
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Opinion
LPFA: Forging working groups with common goals
Talking Head: The LPFA’s Susan Martin considers the tangible goals and timetable for LGPS change that could come out of the Autumn Statement.
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Opinion
Aligning admin systems in the pre and post-retirement worlds
Managing the risks associated with post-retirement investment is a tricky business. Data specialist Veratta’s Tom Nimmo explains how administration plays a key part in getting it right.
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OpinionSafe as houses?
Editorial: How individuals assess risk and reward is extremely complex. Data from the Office for National Statistics this week showed people would prefer to take a punt on property over pensions to deliver a retirement income.
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OpinionA relativity problem in the funding universe
Talking Head: Employer covenant has finally achieved the prominence it deserves in the assessment and monitoring of defined benefit scheme risks – in regulatory terms at least, following the Pensions Regulator’s funding code in 2014 and its follow-up guidance this August.