All Towers Watson/WTW articles – Page 8
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News
UK assets up but savers still look to bricks and mortar
UK occupational pension assets grew 16.9 per cent over 2017 to cement Britain’s position as the second-largest market in the world, but concerning trends in saver attitudes suggest market returns may be masking fundamental problems.
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Opinion
Market Outlook 2018: Storms in the distance?
For a bull run that has been thought of as the most hated in history, the years since the global financial crisis have been kind to pension scheme asset values.
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News
Consultants commit to flagging ESG factors
Sixteen investment consultancy firms have said that they will seek to ensure that pension schemes take into account environmental, social and governance factors where they are financially material.
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OpinionHas the interest rate hike affected annuities?
From the blog: Planning for retirement is as important now as it has ever been. With the ageing workforce, interest rate hikes and the changing pension landscape, there are a lot of external factors weighing down on the retirement saving plans of savers.
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OpinionData Crunch: Why DC market measures are so confusing
Magnus Spence from research specialists Spence Johnson gives an update on the estimated size of the workplace defined contribution scheme market.
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News
PASA selects members for Transfers Working Group
The Pensions Administration Standards Association has today announced the 23 members of its new Transfers Working Group, which aims to look closely at defined benefit transfer delays.
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News
AE review: Welcome reforms not due until mid-2020s
The government will introduce a package of measures to address issues with auto-enrolment, but questions remain over multiple jobholders and the self-employed, while the timescale has drawn criticism.
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FeaturesReuters adds MAC fund as trend expected to continue
The Reuters Pension Fund has invested in a second multi-asset credit fund and dropped a loans fund, as the lure of high risk-adjusted returns continues to draw investors to MAC products.
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News
Could DGFs deliver a better DC experience?
Analysis: The perceived wisdom of defined contribution investment had always been one that places an emphasis on simplicity.
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NewsCMA begins consultant investigation as FCA calls trustees 'weak'
The Financial Conduct Authority has finalised its referral of the investment consultancy industry to the Competition and Markets Authority, beginning an 18-month period of investigation into conflicts of interest in the sector.
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NewsScottish Widows switches DC defaults to target drawdown
Scottish Widows has changed the default investment strategy of its group personal pension plan clients to target flexible access drawdown instead of an annuity, as member demand continues to shift away from guaranteed income.
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News
More people accessing freedoms, but industry image concerns remain
The number of people taking advantage of pension freedoms increased in the second quarter of this year, but while this signals an increased awareness of freedom and choice, experts say there is still a need to improve trust in the industry.
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FeaturesPearson moves away from hedge funds into DGFs
The pension plan of publishing giant Pearson Group has scrapped its hedge fund exposure and invested in diversified growth funds, in a bid to control investment risk and costs as the scheme nears self-sufficiency.
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NewsUS withdrawal from Paris accord no threat to ESG investing
US president Donald Trump’s decision to pull out of the Paris climate accord will not affect the UK’s growing implementation of environmental, social and governance criteria on investment strategies, experts have said.
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FeaturesSmart beta: What drives schemes’ appetite for the strategy?
Smart beta is often seen as a more transparent, simple and low cost alternative to active management. Five experts discuss what is driving the appetite for smart beta among schemes and how the sector is evolving.
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Features
Is there a risk of crowding in smart beta?
Is there a risk of factor‑based portfolios becoming crowded, with increasing popularity potentially leading to overpricing and lower future returns? Eric Shirbini from ERI Scentific Beta, Julien Barral from bfinance, Alan Pickering from Bestrustees, James Price from Willis Towers Watson and Paul Black from Capital Cranfield debate whether crowding really is an issue within smart beta.
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Opinion
What drives the appetite for smart beta among UK pension schemes?
What is drawing pension schemes to smart beta? Eric Shirbini from ERI Scientific Beta, Julien Barral from bfinance, Alan Pickering from Bestrustees, James Price from Willis Towers Watson and Paul Black from Capital Cranfield discuss transparency and trustee training.
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OpinionComplexity is rife - and no one is benefiting
From the blog: Asset owners are struggling to balance the growing complexity with the governance needed to oversee their assets effectively.
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Features
How has the smart beta sector evolved?
How has the smart beta market developed? Eric Shirbini from ERI Scientific Beta, Julien Barral from bfinance, Alan Pickering from Bestrustees, James Price from Willis Towers Watson and Paul Black from Capital Cranfield discuss the range of new opportunities and how the sector has changed.
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Opinion
Mastertrusts have the next milestone in sight
Mastertrusts are on their way to becoming a dominant force in the UK pensions system, having woven themselves into the fabric of workplace defined contribution provision.