All Opinion articles – Page 26
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OpinionIs there a future for equities in DB?
Data Crunch: Corporate defined benefit schemes have been shifting allocations away from equities as a means of reducing funding volatility and focusing on assets that can deliver contractual cash flows.
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OpinionFix democratic deficit before mandating professional trustees
If the Pensions Regulator really wants a professional trustee on every board, it should prove that this will add value, says the Association of Member Nominated Trustees’ David Weeks, arguing that more immediate action should be taken to address weakening member representation on scheme boards.
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OpinionWhy face-to-face member engagement outdoes digital… for now
The London Pension Fund Authority’s Robert Branagh explains why meeting members in person can quell scam fears and inform strategy on environmental, social and governance issues.
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OpinionPension funds should quiz their managers on voting
ShareAction’s Jeanne Martin says asset owners have a duty to question their asset managers on voting policies, as some of the biggest players were found to be blocking progress on climate change.
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OpinionIs more needed to clean up fiduciary management?
Quantum Advisory’s Amanda Burdge says the welcome Competition and Markets Authority remedies for fiduciary management still leave the door open for managers to mark their own scorecards in some situations.
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OpinionElection policies we need but probably won’t get
With the next general election less than five weeks away, the main political parties are busily drawing up their policy pledges to win over voters.
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OpinionIntroduction of professional trustees should be gradual
The industry remains divided over whether trustee boards should be mandated to appoint a professional trustee because, while they might improve standards, they also lead to an increase in costs. To tackle this, the Pensions Management Institute’s Lesley Carline explains why the regulator should adopt a phased introduction of professional trustees.
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OpinionWhat does ‘value’ mean for UK DC schemes?
Data crunch: Broadridge Financial Solutions’ Jonathan Libre dissects the ongoing debate around cost versus quality when it comes to delivering value to members, and why the market might be shifting away from a focus on low costs.
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OpinionGMP issue still needs more input from government
Looking back at the Pensions Administration Standards Association’s priorities over 2019, David Pharo says there are still questions around the treatment of certain member classes when undertaking guaranteed minimum pension equalisation.
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OpinionIgnore ESG risks at your peril
Last week this government’s new environmental, social and governance regulations came into force.
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OpinionIt is time for the industry to face up to its data problems
Poor record-keeping has long been the elephant in the room in the pensions sector.
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OpinionSeven features that define DB pension schemes
Jonathan Libre, a principal in the Emea Insights team at Broadridge Financial Solutions, discusses seven key factors that define DB pension funds, and how they can provide a useful framework through which schemes can be examined.
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OpinionMaster trust regulation: Lessons from South Africa
Paul Williams of Baker McKenzie draws upon his experience in South Africa to argue that, in time, the UK’s master trusts will be seen as financial products, not pension schemes – and regulation will have to adapt.
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OpinionSite visits: Get to know a fiduciary manager before you tie the knot
Selecting a fiduciary manager is just like marriage: you want to take time to select the right partner. Trust comes from knowing people well and seeing them often. Much like selecting a partner for life, you want to know the whole family (firm), not just the edited bits online (the beauty parade that many rely on in selection).
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OpinionDC schemes: Is it time for a reboot?
Buck’s Mark Pemberthy says pro-transparency regulation is welcome, but risks overlooking wider requirements for defined contribution stakeholders to report on how they help members achieve an adequate retirement.
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OpinionShifting trustee mindsets: ESG integration just means risk management
Columbia Threadneedle’s Chris Wagstaff outlines how trustees can comply with upcoming regulatory requirements, despite the lack of universal definitions for ESG risk.
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OpinionTurkeys don’t vote for Christmas
Too much of the pensions industry serves its own interests rather than those of its members, says CEM Benchmarking’s John Simmonds. The problem, he argues, lies in the role of scale. But is bigger truly better when it comes to pensions?
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OpinionAmid Brexit chaos, RPI end could rock pensions
Editorial: Welcome to the September issue of Pensions Expert, one which comes amid untold levels of turmoil in the world around us.
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OpinionRegulator still sparing AE breach employers’ blushes
When it comes to bad bosses not doing the right thing by their staff, the Pension Regulator likes to talk tough.
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OpinionPPF’s role in company restructuring and insolvency events
The Pension Protection Fund’s Malcolm Weir sets out the difference in roles played by the pensions lifeboat and the regulator in insolvency cases, and how best for companies to navigate restructuring.