All Opinion articles – Page 29
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OpinionUSS dispute has exposed a transparency deficit
Brexit may be inflaming passions across the country, but away from the headlines an equally heated debate has been raging among scheme advisers, managers and members over the serious matter of how to value pensions.
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Opinion
Could thematic investment help engage DC members?
Data crunch: Thematic funds struck a chord with European investors last year, pulling in significant sums of money. To a large extent, their popularity can be attributed to the simple fact that they invest in accordance with themes that the general public understand and relate to. With this in mind, could thematic investment approaches improve defined contribution member engagement?
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OpinionBetter communication can ease rush to transfer out of DB
Transfers from defined benefit pension schemes have proved attractive in recent years, but there are serious questions over their suitability for many. Trustees cannot afford to shy away from helping their members, and the Pension Protection Fund wants to help, says Sara Protheroe.
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OpinionMortality screening: What you need to know
We do not like to talk about death. Even though it is part of an administrator’s daily routine, it is a subject many of us prefer to avoid, writes Claire Montgomery of Trafalgar House.
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OpinionSuperfunds: A safer prospect for members?
Aside from the constant, almost deafening chatter surrounding Brexit, the Department for Work and Pensions consultation on defined benefit consolidation – or superfunds – has been the talk of the pensions town over the past few weeks.
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OpinionTrustees must go the extra mile for their members on transfers
Trustees are often caught between a rock and a hard place when it comes to defined benefit transfers.
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OpinionTPR: 2019 must see member security improve
The Pensions Regulator’s Fiona Frobisher reminds us of the regulatory developments scheduled to improve pensions in 2019, and ramps up the pressure on poorly run small schemes to consider the emerging regulated consolidation market.
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OpinionData crunch: Consolidation will change shape of both DB and DC
Unlike pension systems in the rest of Europe, where large-scale pension funds are common, the UK is characterised by a large number of small, single-employer pension schemes. Some argue the disparate nature of UK pensions has created inefficiencies that should be addressed through consolidation.
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OpinionHow to beat volatility in 2019
With an eye purely on the numbers, it might be tough to pinpoint exactly what has led to the worst year for stock markets since the end of the global financial crisis.
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OpinionThe unseen funding target
Most defined benefit schemes are headed for buyout or self-sufficiency, but few acknowledge this aim in any formal way. Regulators look set to change this soon, writes Society of Pension Professionals president Paul McGlone.
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OpinionReducing your 2019-20 PPF levy
There are three main things trustees need to consider when it comes to re-execution of contingent assets, explains Giles Bywater, a pensions partner at law firm Mayer Brown.
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OpinionIs consolidation only for the healthy?
Gatemore’s Mark Hodgson says the benefits of consolidators for weaker schemes are far from clear, and argues for a rethink of the framework on downgrading defined benefits.
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OpinionWhat to consider when agreeing a recovery plan in 2019
Matt Harrison, managing director at covenant specialists Lincoln Pensions, explains how recovery plans have been agreed in practice and how this may change due to an evolving regulatory landscape.
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OpinionThe government’s pensions priorities for 2019
Aries Insight’s Ian Neale says government and regulators should look to restore public trust in pensions in 2019, ensuring previous priorities such as the pensions dashboard do not fall by the wayside.
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OpinionIs it time to update your communications strategy?
Secondsight’s Mark Bingham discusses the role of the employer when it comes to pensions communication, from choosing a multi-channel approach, to keeping things simple and free from jargon.
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OpinionRefinancing pension debt – an underutilised option?
In a market crying out for high-quality corporate debt it is surprising that more corporates are not seizing the opportunity to refinance pension debt with more conventional financial debt, argues Penfida’s Paul Jameson.
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OpinionFive challenges in pensions administration for 2019
The Pensions Administration Standards Association’s Lorraine Harper argues that 2019 could see the administration of pension schemes reach a tipping point from which it could change irrevocably.
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OpinionThe legal view: Will Brexit affect regulation?
Crystal ball-gazing on Brexit is complicated by a febrile political environment, writes Walker Morris’ Ruth Bamforth, but in most scenarios regulation of pension schemes is likely to remain on the same course.
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Opinion
Hedging Brexit: An unfortunate necessity for trustees
Politicians have failed to give pension funds the certainty they need in their preparations for Brexit, and trustees must now attempt to insulate their portfolios against a number of threats, writes Kames Capital’s Stephen Jones
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OpinionEqualisation will dominate court cases in 2019
Equalisation of guaranteed minimum pensions dominated the legal headlines in 2018, and the issue looks set to rumble on in several cases next year, write Samantha Brown and Tim Smith of Herbert Smith Freehills.