All Towers Watson/WTW articles
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People NewsAppointments: AMNT, Pi Partnership, Towers Watson, XPS
The latest hires, promotions and appointments for the week ending 21 March 2025.
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FeaturesInnovation needed to stop illiquid assets delaying bulk annuities
Consultancy giant Aon has written to insurers calling for more innovation on tackling illiquid assets held by pension schemes approaching the bulk annuity market.
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News2024 was record year for bulk annuities, data shows
Preliminary data on bulk annuity transactions shows that approximately £52bn worth of deals were completed last year – a new record.
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NewsEmployers recognise pension provision shortfalls, research shows
Employers are planning to address retirement adequacy over the next two years as they are concerned about their staff’s pension prospects, according to WTW.
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NewsCan a specialist service help endgame schemes manage illiquid assets?
The move has been prompted by an improvement in pension scheme funding levels among over the past twelve months, and presenting the option for risk transfer sooner than previously anticipated.
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NewsConsultants advise diversification as recession fears mount
As recession fears rise, investment consultants are advising institutional clients to ensure their portfolios are well diversified to reduce downside risks. They also advocate a degree of dynamic asset allocation in a bid to capitalise on changing market conditions.
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NewsIMI 2014 Deferred Fund signs £175mn partial buy-in
On the go: The £563mn IMI 2014 Deferred Fund has signed a partial £175mn buy-in with Pension Insurance Corporation.
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NewsFull scheme buy-ins to dominate market in 2023
On the go: With many defined benefit schemes advancing in their derisking plan due to higher gilt yields, WTW is expecting full scheme buy-ins to dominate a “busy market”.
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NewsConsultants advise asset owners to protect against tail risk
Amid high inflation, market volatility and mounting fears of recession, investment consultants are advising asset owners to consider implementing some form of tail-risk protection, while urging them to first focus on building well-diversified investment portfolios that could protect against downside risks.
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NewsValue over cost emphasised in new DC illiquid investment guides
On the go: Defined contribution scheme trustees are being encouraged to shift their focus on illiquid investments from cost to value, in a series of guides published by the Productive Finance Working Group.
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NewsBMA warns of spike in early retirements over tax relief reforms
The British Medical Association has warned that the number of doctors choosing to reduce hours or retire early would increase were the government to proceed with reported plans to freeze the pensions lifetime allowance past 2026.
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NewsUK gender wealth equity lags Europe at retirement
On the go: The UK has one of the largest gender wealth gaps in Europe, sitting below the global average and only just above the Netherlands, which is in last place for the continent.
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NewsExperts warn DWP rules could lead more schemes to LDI
With pension funds still dealing with the current market turmoil, experts point out the government’s proposed rules for defined benefit funding could force schemes into an even lower-risk environment, increasing the need for liability-driven investments.
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NewsSchemes urged to revisit buyout plans in rising rate environment
Rising interest rates and the subsequent fall in liability valuations and deficits have now made buyouts more affordable for a larger number of pension funds, with consultants urging schemes to restructure their investment strategy to make it more palatable to an insurance company.
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NewsRising rates pose challenges for closed DB schemes’ LDI portfolios
While interest rate and inflation hedges have helped many defined benefit schemes stabilise their funding positions, the current macroeconomic environment is creating challenges for some closed plans, which might not have the necessary collateral in place to meet high payments.
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NewsABI: Solvency II reforms would ‘disincentivise’ infra investment
The government’s proposed reforms to the Solvency II regime would not help to facilitate insurers’ investment into UK infrastructure, the Association of British Insurers has claimed in a consultation response.
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NewsWhitbread Group scheme secures £680mn buy-in
On the go: The £3bn Whitbread Group Pension Fund has secured a £680mn buy-in with Standard Life.
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NewsResearch group releases open source investment performance code
On the go: The Thinking Ahead Institute has released new open source data that pensions schemes can use to measure investment performance.