All articles by Tom Dines – Page 19
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Opinion
How to avoid a social media #fail at your scheme
Any other business: There may indeed be such a thing as too many tweets. Last week, UK police forces revealed there had been investigations into 828 breaches of social media guidelines, with many ending the individual’s career in the force.
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Features
Dixons Carphone uses restaurant discounts to win 80% sign-up for online portal
Electronics retailer Dixons Carphone has seen close to 80 per cent of employees log in to its new benefits portal since it was launched in June, after it offered members incentives in a bid to drive engagement.
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Features
RBS reviews recovery plan as interest rates hurt funding level
The Royal Bank of Scotland has extended its pension fund recovery plan and increased contributions following a slip in the funding level.
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News
Nest sizes up green technology as it sharpens ESG focus
Nest is looking to benefit from a low-carbon economy through investments in green technology, in a triennial update of its investment beliefs announced today.
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News
Church of England scheme boosts funding level with 20% equity growth
The Church of England Funded Pension Scheme has seen an improvement in its funding level thanks to asset outperformance, in particular from equities, as it looks to increase its illiquid asset holdings.
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Features
Unilever sees 26% opt-out from AE joiners on tax grounds
Unilever has seen slightly more than one in four of its tiny non-scheme member population opt out, with the majority close to or having reached the lifetime allowance limit for tax-privileged saving.
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News
Invensys terminates reservoir trust as surplus grows
Invensys Pension Scheme has exceeded full funding on a technical provisions basis and has taken the unusual step of terminating a reservoir trust that was set up to provide funding security after the employer was purchased.
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News
BBC plan sees slight deficit improvement as contributions bed in
The BBC has seen a small improvement in its accounting pension deficit as it embarks upon a 12-year plan of additional contributions to boost its scheme funding.
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Features
Unite mulls launching CDC scheme as unions back risk sharing
Unite is considering establishing a collective defined contribution scheme, as union groups voice their support for defined ambition benefit structures that share risk between employees.
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News
Court of Appeal upholds crown guarantee for BT Pension Scheme
The court of appeal has ruled to uphold a crown guarantee given to the BT Pension Scheme, making the government responsible for ongoing liabilities should the employer fail.
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News
Pearson scheme reaches full funding due to increased employer contributions
The defined benefit section of the Pearson Group Pension Plan has reached close to 100 per cent funding less than 18 months after agreeing a reduction in the length of its recovery plan.
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News
Trade body calls for review of charity pension rules
News analysis: The Charity Finance Group has called for a review to the regulations surrounding multi-employer pension schemes, claiming they can threaten charities’ ability to raise donations.
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News
PPF adds hybrid allocation, trims traditional assets
The Pension Protection Fund has revised its statement of investment principles, trimming its allocation to cash, bonds and equities as it seeks to capitalise on the illiquidity premia of so-called ‘hybrid’ assets.
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News
Environment Agency plans web comms overhaul to boost transparency
The Environment Agency Pension Fund is working on a redesign of its website as part of an ongoing communications drive to boost transparency and engagement among its members.
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Opinion
Conflict is good: what your trustee board could learn from Amazon
Any other business: Encouraging and making the most of conflict and disagreement is one of the key drivers of innovation at one of the world’s most high profile companies.
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News
Kingfisher nears surplus following sponsor property deal
Kingfisher Pension Scheme has revealed that a funding deal with its sponsor, which sees it draw from income-generating properties, has pushed its funding level close to 100 per cent.
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News
Lothian adds benefit extension as it looks to upgrade online services
Lothian Pension Fund has extended its online member services to allow members to calculate the pension they would get under voluntary redundancy, as well as introducing a data transfer system for employers to ensure accuracy.
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News
Oxfordshire latest to ditch hedge funds on fee and transparency concerns
Oxfordshire County Council Pension Scheme is axing its allocation to hedge funds in favour of diversified growth funds and infrastructure, as it seeks lower fees and greater transparency in investments.
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News
Northern Powergrid scheme looks to reduce risk with new investment strategy
Northern Powergrid Group Pension Scheme is exploring alternative means of reducing risk as its investment strategy matures, and is reviewing its property investment after “stagnant” performance.
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Features
Schemes line up bulk commutation after Budget grants derisking opp
Consultants have reported more schemes considering bulk trivial commutation exercises, in an attempt to drive down administration costs and liabilities, after the amount members could take as a lump sum was increased.