All articles by Pensions Expert – Page 16

  • News

    TPR to prosecute recruitment firm

    2018-04-03T00:00:00Z

    The Pensions Regulator is to prosecute recruitment company Workchain Ltd and seven of its directors and staff for unauthorised access to a computer programme. They are accused of logging into the company pension scheme using employees' details to opt them out of the scheme.

  • News

    Fast Pensions in provisional liquidation following investigation

    2018-04-03T00:00:00Z

    Six companies, including Fast Pensions and FP Scheme Trustees, have been placed in provisional liquidation by the High Court following an investigation by the Insolvency Service, the government agency has said.

  • Opinion

    DC default funds: Is there too much focus on cost?

    2018-04-03T00:00:00Z

    Paul Todd, director of investment development at Nest, Lydia Fearn, head of DC and financial wellbeing at Redington, and Keith Stephenson, director of finance and resources at the Association of Commonwealth Universities, discuss designing defined contribution default funds for better outcomes.

  • How to ensure good value for members
    Opinion

    How to ensure good value for members

    2018-03-29T00:00:00Z

    From governance and investment to member engagement and communications, seven experts, including HR directors, look at how employers, providers and trustees can ensure better outcomes for members of defined contribution schemes. 

  • News

    Ofwat queried on water companies' DB closure plans

    2018-03-29T00:00:00Z

    Chair of the Work and Pensions Committee Frank Field has written to Ofwat, the utilities regulator, about proposals by United Utilities and Anglia Water to close their defined benefit schemes to future accrual while continuing to pay out large amounts to shareholders.

  • News

    CWU members vote for Royal Mail deal

    2018-03-28T00:00:00Z

    The Communication Workers Union has announced that its members have overwhelmingly voted in favour of a deal with Royal Mail over pensions and pay.

  • News

    Nortel reaches PPF-plus after nine years of 'scorched earth'

    2018-03-28T00:00:00Z

    The UK Nortel Pension Scheme has retrieved enough assets from the insolvency of its communications giant parent to buy out benefits at a level above that guaranteed by the Pension Protection Fund.

  • Opinion

    Which communication strategies are best at boosting engagement?

    2018-03-27T00:00:00Z

    Mark Rowlands from Nest, Caroline Roberts from VisitBritain, Andy Cheseldine from Capital Cranfield, Nasir Rafiq from Islamic Relief Worldwide, Ami Bartrip from the Financial Times, Rosemary Lemon from Hays and Jason Green from Finance & Technology Research Centre discuss communication and engagement.

  • News

    Industry welcomes FCA transfer advice rules

    2018-03-26T00:00:00Z

    The Financial Conduct Authority has published new rules on pension transfer advice following its research that showed a high proportion of advice was not suitable. It is also seeking views on contingent charging among others. The industry has welcomed the additional clarity provided in this area.

  • News

    UK sees launch of first superfund

    2018-03-20T00:00:00Z

    The UK is seeing the launch of its first so-called superfund, designed to consolidate defined benefit schemes, with an initial £500m of capital subject to transaction approvals. 

  • Opinion

    Governance and investment: What are the duties of employers and providers?

    2018-03-20T00:00:00Z

    Andy Cheseldine from Capital Cranfield, Nasir Rafiq from Islamic Relief Worldwide, Ami Bartrip from the Financial Times, Caroline Roberts from VisitBritain, Mark Rowlands from Nest, Jason Green from the Finance & Technology Research Centre and Rosemary Lemon from Hays consider the responsibilities of employers and providers in relation to scheme management and default investment.

  • News

    TPR and FCA seek input for joint strategy

    2018-03-19T00:00:00Z

    The Pensions Regulator and the Financial Conduct Authority are jointly calling for input on regulating the pensions and retirement sector.

  • News

    DB white paper promises tougher fines and consolidation drive

    2018-03-19T00:00:00Z

    Employers who wilfully or recklessly put their defined benefit pension schemes at risk are in the firing line of new punitive fines announced in a government policy statement released on Monday.

  • News

    BT sweetens DB closure with promise of 'hybrid' scheme

    2018-03-19T00:00:00Z

    BT has announced the closure of its defined benefit scheme and agreed to work with the Communication Workers Union over a forthcoming ‘hybrid’ solution.

  • News

    Govt says it has learnt from BSPS saga

    2018-03-19T00:00:00Z

    Lessons "can and will be" learnt from the British Steel Pension Scheme events, the government has said, but stands by the outcome involving a regulated apportionment arrangement and new pension scheme.

  • News

    United Utilities faces two-day strike over pensions

    2018-03-15T00:00:00Z

    About 1,500 United Utilities employees are expected to walk out on Friday and Monday because of the company's plans to change the final salary scheme to a hybrid arrangement. 

  • News

    Canary Wharf govt hub to include ombudsman but not FCA

    2018-03-14T00:00:00Z

    The Pensions Ombudsman has said it is moving offices from London Victoria to a newly renovated "government hub" in London's financial district Canary Wharf on April 3 this year. This follows a previous announcement by the Financial Conduct Authority that it will move from Canary Wharf to Stratford in north east London this year.

  • News

    New British Steel Pension Scheme meeting size and funding tests

    2018-03-14T00:00:00Z

    Under the terms of the agreement between Tata Steel UK and the BSPS relating to the regulated apportionment arrangement, the New BSPS will only go ahead if certain conditions are met – including conditions related to size and funding level.

  • News

    Field urges FCA to cast net wider on transfer advice

    2018-03-14T00:00:00Z

    The Work and Pensions Committee has urged regulators “to get their houses in order now” to protect pension scheme members from another mis-selling scandal.

  • Pensions Expert Roundtable
    Opinion

    How can employers, providers and trustees work together to ensure good governance?

    2018-03-13T00:00:00Z

    Rosemary Lemon from Hays, Caroline Roberts from Visit Britain, Nasir Rafiq from Islamic Relief Worldwide, Mark Rowlands from Nest, Ami Bartrip from the Financial Times, Jason Green from Finance & Technology Research Centre and, Andy Cheseldine from Capital Cranfield, discuss the importance of governance in delivering good member outcomes.