All articles by Pensions Expert – Page 10
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News
Huge gulf in UK workplace pension provision by sector
On the go: Pension provision and employer contributions vary wildly across UK employment sectors, with the financial services at the top and agriculture, forestry and fishing propping up the bottom of the tables.
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News
FTSE 350 deficit up to £51bn as political and financial turmoil ahead
On the go: FTSE 350 companies saw their pension deficit grow in July, from £48bn at the end of June to £51bn by the end of July, a £3bn increase. Funding levels were unchanged over the month at 94 per cent, according to Mercer.
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PodcastsPodcast: The future of trusteeship
Podcast: Is there a big difference in governance standards between boards with a professional trustee and boards without? Should lay trustees have to demonstrate how they have acquired a minimum level of knowledge and understanding? And what can be done to increase diversity on boards? In this episode, Laura Andrikopoulos, head of governance consulting at Hymans Robertson, discusses some of the Pensions Regulator’s ‘Future of trusteeship and governance’ consultation proposals, and what impact they might have on the industry.
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PodcastsPodcast: What the firefighters' and judges' case means for pensions policy
Podcast: The government was recently denied leave to appeal a Court of Appeal ruling that pension changes discriminated against younger firefighters and judges. What does this mean for government policy regarding public sector pensions? And how could the issue spill over into private sector pensions? In this episode, Rosalind Connor, partner at Arc Pensions Law, discusses the far-reaching implications of this landmark case.
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PodcastsPodcast: Putting a stop to unsuitable defined benefit transfer advice
Podcast: The Financial Conduct Authority recently expressed concern that too much of the defined benefit transfer advice it has seen to date is still not of an acceptable standard. In this podcast, Tom Selby, senior analyst at AJ Bell, and Bob Scott, senior partner at LCP, talk about the impact of increased regulatory scrutiny of transfer advice, the need for DB flexibility, and how schemes and employers can help members by appointing a dedicated independent financial adviser to their scheme.
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PodcastsPodcast: How will investment pathways help consumers?
Podcast: In January, the Financial Conduct Authority launched its consultation on investment pathways and other proposed changes to its rules and guidance. The consultation closed in April and the watchdog plans to publish its final rules and guidance in July. In this podcast, Jonathan Parker, director of DC and financial well-being consulting at Redington, discusses how investment pathways will help savers make more appropriate choices, and explains why smaller providers should not be exempt from the proposed regulations.
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PodcastsPodcast: Are you doing enough to engage scheme members?
Podcast: While technology is helping improve pensions communications across the industry, several challenges remain. In this PE podcast, Shola Salako, trustee representative at Dalriada Trustees, and Rhys Williams, strategy director at communications consultancy Quietroom, discuss the different ways in which schemes and providers can engage with members, and where they might be going wrong.
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NewsSnaps from PIPA 2019
Congratulations to all the 20th anniversary Pension and Investment Provider Awards winners, and thank you to everyone who made it a great night! Here are some snaps and tweets from the ceremony.
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OpinionDarbyshire joins LPP as head of pension admin
Data remains a key issue for pension funds, according to the Local Pensions Partnership’s Joanne Darbyshire.
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News
New pensions service calls for stakeholder views on financial wellbeing
On the go: The Money and Pensions Service will be carrying out a number of events across the UK between now and June, enabling stakeholders to discuss what is needed to boost financial wellbeing in local communities and across the country.
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News
Only 13% of organisations predict CDC adoption in next six years
On the go: Only 13 per cent of trustees and sponsors predict that their organisations will adopt a collective defined contribution scheme of some sort by 2025, according to research by Willis Towers Watson.
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PodcastsPodcast: Is LGPS governance up to scratch?
Podcast: From asset pooling and actuarial valuations, to administration and data, local government pension schemes have a lot to think about this year – meaning good governance is more important than ever. In this podcast episode, Kirsty Bartlett, partner at law firm Squire Patton Boggs, and Ian Colvin, head of LGPS benefits and governance at Hymans Robertson, discuss potential conflicts of interest, pressure on fund resources and the importance of focusing on administration.
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News
Scammer sentenced to three years in prison
On the go: A trustee has been jailed after fraudulently taking more than £29,000 from a pension scheme.
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PodcastsPodcast: How to select the right master trust
Podcast: Master trusts have until the end of March to complete their applications to the Pensions Regulator for authorisation. In this PE podcast episode, Ian McQuade, director at Muse Advisory, discusses master trust selection and how the watchdog’s authorisation and supervision regime will change the market.
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PodcastsPodcast: Improving the quality of professional trustees
Podcast: Last month, the Professional Trustee Standards Working Group published a set of new standards, which all professional trustees will be expected to meet. The group is also due to launch an associated accreditation framework later this year. In this episode of the PE podcast, Rachel Croft, director at Independent Trustee Services, explains what these new standards mean for schemes, how they will improve professional trustee quality, and whether increasing professionalisation and rising workloads could lead to the extinction of the lay trustee.
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NewsPIPA 2019: Have you made the shortlist?
Find out if you have been shortlisted for the 20 annual Pension and Investment Provider Awards organised by Pensions Expert. The winners will be announced at an exclusive black tie dinner at the Sheraton Park Lane Hotel in London on May 15.
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News
Aon mulling offer for Willis Towers Watson
On the go: Insurance brokerage and consulting giant Aon is reportedly preparing to submit a bid for rival Willis Towers Watson, in a move that would send shockwaves through the pensions advisory industry.
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News
Trustee who used scheme as ‘personal piggy bank′ pleads guilty
On the go: A Lancashire accountant has pleaded guilty to fraud after transferring more than £280,000 out of a pension scheme on which he was a trustee.
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News
PTSWG publishes new set of standards for professional trustees
On the go: Professional trustees will soon have to pass an initial application process to hold accreditation, and will have to demonstrate that they meet a new set of standards published today by the industry-led Professional Trustee Standards Working Group.
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News
Cardano agrees acquisition of Now Pensions
On the go: Pensions risk and investment management specialist Cardano has agreed to acquire 100 per cent of workplace pension provider Now Pensions from Danish pension fund Arbejdsmarkedets Tillaegspension.