All Professional trustees articles – Page 6
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NewsPPF 7800 surplus jumps £25bn in September
On the go: The latest update of the PPF 7800 Index shows the aggregate surplus of the 5,318 defined benefit schemes measured jumped by more than £25bn to £108.8bn at the end of September, up from £83.2bn at the end of August.
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OpinionLook behind the mask to better understand colleagues’ struggles
With World Mental Health Day 2021 being celebrated on Sunday, Sarah Brennan, professional trustee at Dalriada Trustees, shines a light on the importance of supporting people with mental health issues in the workplace.
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PodcastsPodcast: Mandating net zero could ‘cut straight through’ fiduciary duties
Podcast: The government mandating default funds be aligned with ‘net zero’ would be a way around concerns about fiduciary responsibility, but there are questions about what this would mean in practice. Stuart O’Brien, partner at Sackers, and Gareth Stears, pensions technical consultant at Aries Insight, discuss environmental, social and governance issues, social housing, and the Pensions Regulator’s controversial criminal powers.
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NewsSTV Group reaches agreement on DB schemes’ valuations and funding
On the go: Glasgow-based media company STV Group has reached an agreement with the trustees of its two defined benefit schemes over its December 2020 funding valuations and recovery plans.
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NewsTrustees on the hook as ‘high street’ advice market goes into free fall
Trustees are being saddled with the burden of sourcing financial advice for members as the high street advice market goes into free fall, halving in just three years, LCP has said.
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PodcastsPodcast: No way to avoid the indexation ‘rules lottery’ as inflation bites
Podcast: High inflation will spur more schemes to look to switch from the retail price index to the consumer price index, but there is still no way around the “rules lottery”. Eversheds Sutherland partner Stuart Earle and Aon partner Lynda Whitney discuss inflation, the botched attempt to raise the normal minimum pension age, and a new value for money framework.
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NewsRiver and Mercantile joins green gilts issuance
On the go: River and Mercantile has announced its participation in the government’s inaugural green gilts issuance.
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NewsStrike ballot set for October in ongoing USS row
On the go: The University and College Union has announced it will ballot staff over strike action in October following a breakdown in negotiations over the Universities Superannuation Scheme’s controversial 2020 valuation.
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NewsInsurers called to protect trustees against GMP claims
The lack of statutory protection afforded to trustees means the insurance industry will have to shield these professionals against claims related to guaranteed minimum pension equalisation in cases where benefits are secured with annuity providers, legal experts have warned, while uncertainty about trustees’ obligations remains.
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NewsMorrisons schemes granted additional security in takeover bid
On the go: An agreement has been reached between a private equity manager and the trustees of Morrisons’ defined benefit schemes to grant additional security, as the attempted takeover of the supermarket chain progresses.
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NewsPMI launches new diploma for pension professionals
On the go: The Pensions Management Institute is launching a new diploma in pension trusteeship.
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NewsBig schemes turn to fiduciary managers during pandemic
Data crunch: The average size of a pension scheme taking on a fiduciary manager rose by around 80 per cent during the Covid-19 pandemic, suggesting the flexibility afforded by the model was particularly attractive in turbulent market conditions, according to research from IC Select.
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NewsDraft CDC regulations hampered by poor definitions, industry warns
The government’s consultation into draft regulations governing collective defined contribution schemes requires more work on definitions if these pension funds are to be properly implemented, with the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association warning it could create a “back door” for unscrupulous employers.
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NewsStrike action ‘inevitable’ after employers agree USS reforms
The University and College Union is to ballot its members over industrial action, branding strikes “inevitable” after employers agreed to press ahead with reforms of the Universities Superannuation Scheme.
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NewsTPR’s ESG guidance raises industry concerns on privacy and penalties
The Pensions Regulator’s draft guidance on climate change reporting and governance is not sufficiently clear on what constitutes compliance, and the watchdog needs to provide clarity on its approach to discretionary penalties, the Society of Pension Professionals has warned.
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NewsTPR to amend single code as industry slates new requirements
The Pensions Regulator’s combined code of practice has been dealt a blow after widespread industry criticism forced it to scrap new rules on unregulated investments, while the fate of its proposed “own risk assessment” remains uncertain.
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PodcastsPodcast: Covid-19 could have killed the PLSA
Podcast: The Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association “could have died” from the financial damage wrought by the Covid-19 pandemic, and was only saved thanks to prudent long-term planning. Richard Butcher, managing director of PTL, reflects on his tenure as PLSA chair in an episode covering guaranteed minimum pensions guidance, master trusts and bespoke indices for environmental, social and governance investments.
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NewsTPR threats enough to secure fair treatment for hybrid scheme
On the go: The Pensions Regulator’s issuance of a warning notice against a scheme sponsor has been sufficient to restore parity between it and other creditors.
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NewsDaily Mail pension schemes to benefit from RMS sale
On the go: Daily Mail and General Trust pension schemes could stand to benefit from the £1.4bn sale of insurance risk business RMS to Moody’s that is part of a broader restructuring at DMGT.
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NewsChallenges of green regulation should not be underestimated
On the go: More than a quarter of defined benefit pension schemes are only aiming for minimum compliance with new rules and regulations around climate change, the challenge of which should not be underestimated, LCP has warned.