All Professional trustees articles – Page 15

  • Opinion

    Are the days of the lay trustee numbered?

    2017-09-27T00:00:00Z

    Pensions Expert 20th Anniversary: For all that is made of the asymmetry of knowledge in the trust-based pension system, anecdotes abound of times when lay trustees have proved their worth.

  • News

    TPR campaign outlines governance basics

    2017-09-19T00:00:00Z

    The Pensions Regulator has launched a new campaign directed at trustees and their advisers, as part of a wider push to raise governance standards, but experts say its success relies on collaboration and engagement from all stakeholders.

  • News

    PLSA urges schemes to focus on ‘inputs’

    2017-09-05T00:00:00Z

    A new report on pension scheme governance calls for greater focus on improving the quality of structures and personnel, or ‘inputs’, and argues that processes have received excessive attention.

  • Colin Richardson
    Opinion

    Trustee standards – an impractical election fever

    2017-08-30T00:00:00Z

    From the blog: There is much debate on how to improve trustee standards. The Pensions Regulator has consulted and responded on what it calls 21st century trusteeship, and many ideas abound.

  • Kevin LeGrand
    Opinion

    It’s time to rethink trustee standards

    2017-08-14T00:00:00Z

    From the blog: The Pensions Regulator’s recent findings of large variations in trusteeship standards have thrown up questions about the governance of pension funds. 

  • News

    TPR naming and shaming aims to boost trusteeship

    2017-08-14T00:00:00Z

    The Pensions Regulator has reaffirmed its commitment to improving standards of trusteeship, with a series of policies that place a particular focus on the role of professional and independent board members.

  • Bart Heenk
    Opinion

    How consultants can prepare for scheme consolidation

    2017-07-03T00:00:00Z

    Avida International’s Bart Heenk explains why consultants should embrace scheme consolidation, and how they can prepare for change.

  • Opinion

    How are DGFs being used in DC?

    2017-06-27T00:00:00Z

    How are defined contribution schemes using diversified growth funds, and what roles do member engagement and cost constraints play? Naomi L’Estrange from 2020 Trustees, Shuntao Li from Barnett Waddingham, Neil McPherson from Capital Cranfield, Murray Taylor from JLT Employee Benefits, and Percival Stanion from Pictet Asset Management discuss DGFs in DC and the issue of fees.

  • Claire Bell
    Opinion

    GDPR: Why trustees need to take notice

    2017-06-23T00:00:00Z

    Claire Bell explains how schemes should prepare to comply with the new data protection regulation ahead of its launch next year.

  • Opinion

    What defines a professional trustee?

    2017-06-16T00:00:00Z

    Laura Clarke from law firm CMS gives tips on what to look for in a professional trustee in the absence of a regulatory requirement for qualification.

  • Opinion

    Is professionalism the answer to the governance dilemma?

    2017-06-13T00:00:00Z

    A trend among schemes towards delegation and using professionals means the question how trustees can monitor those who advise them becomes ever more pressing.

  • Getty Images
    News

    BA judgment shows value of diligent minute-taking

    2017-05-22T00:00:00Z

    British Airways has lost a legal battle against the Airways Pension Scheme involving the trustees' decision to introduce a 0.2 per cent discretionary increase, as experts have stressed the importance of carefully documenting all decision-making processes.

  • Opinion

    Should trustees review their advisers more often?

    2017-05-08T00:00:00Z

    Analysis: There are myriad tasks involved in running a pension scheme, so time is precious and efficiency is key. But when it comes to evaluating advice, how can trustees measure performance, and should they be reviewing their consultants more frequently? 

  • News

    TPR guidance: Welcome set of principles or waste of time?

    2017-03-30T00:00:00Z

    While some have welcomed the Pensions Regulator’s recently published and extensive collection of investment guidance for those running defined benefit pension schemes, there are some concerns over the effectiveness of the information for time-stretched or less diligent trustees.

  • News

    Better trusteeship key to any future DB plans

    2017-03-22T00:00:00Z

    Efforts to improve the level of experience and competence of trustee boards must not come at the expense of diversity, politicians have warned, as dealing with groupthink remains a key concern in defined benefit pensions.

  • News

    Trustees overlook strategic objectives due to deficit distraction

    2017-02-01T00:00:00Z

    Deficits distract the majority of trustees from focusing on the ultimate goal of paying members’ pensions, recent research has found, but some experts highlighted the role of covenant strength and scheme size in deciding where the priority should be.

  • Opinion

    How has the debate on value for money developed?

    2017-01-30T00:00:00Z

    Jacqui Reid from law firm Sackers takes a temperature check on the value for money debate.

  • Illustration by Ben Jennings
    Opinion

    What earns you trust?

    2017-01-20T00:00:00Z

    Editorial: Gloomy predictions led to a sliding pound ahead of Prime Minister Theresa May’s speech on Brexit last week, but instead her assertions meant that sterling rose, bringing some hope to currency markets (and those of us who are looking to travel this year).

  • SAUL
    Features

    Saul relocates trustees in cost-cutting drive

    2017-01-18T00:00:00Z

    The Superannuation Arrangements of the University of London has saved more than £500,000 by relocating its trustee team as part of a wider push to improve cost efficiency.

  • News

    How to choose a professional trustee for your scheme

    2017-01-18T00:00:00Z

    Any other business: A regulatory burden that has proved too much even for some professional trustees and a challenging investment environment mean running a scheme has arguably never been harder. So should schemes appoint professional trustees, and what qualities do they need to look for?