All Trustees articles – Page 5
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NewsTPR funding statement flags uncertainty impact for valuations
High levels of uncertainty surrounding inflation, interest rates, mortality, energy prices and economic growth will put additional pressure on trustees completing their tranche 17 valuations this year, according to the Pensions Regulator’s annual funding statement.
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NewsContribution notice of £3.6mn hints at ‘new era’ of TPR powers
Legal commentators have hailed what could be the start of a “new era” in the Pensions Regulator’s enforcement powers after its determinations panel handed down a contribution notice for more than £3mn to two individuals connected with the Meghraj Group Pensions Scheme.
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NewsAlmost half of schemes lacking cyber security testing
On the go: Almost half of pension schemes (43 per cent) have not tested the strength of their plan’s IT systems, processes and procedures for cyber crime protection, according to new research.
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NewsProfessional trustee market expected to grow and consolidate
Data crunch: The professional trustee market is expected to grow further over the next five years as up to 90 per cent of schemes make appointments, but the number of large companies is expected to almost halve, according to new research.
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NewsClara-Pensions plans Q3 deal after regulatory approval
Clara-Pensions is planning to announce its first transaction in the third quarter of this year, as founder and outgoing chief executive Adam Saron details the types of pension schemes that are likely to find value in the defined benefit consolidator’s business model.
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OpinionTPR: The Green Cross Code man
Broadstone’s technical director David Brooks details how trustees must help scheme members to avoid bad transfer decisions as the regulator takes a ‘Green Cross Code’ approach.
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NewsUSS and University of Southampton make AVC blunder
On the go: The Pensions Ombudsman has partially upheld a complaint against the University of Southampton and the Universities Superannuation Scheme trustee after a communication lapse saw a member continue to make annual voluntary contributions after her policy had ended.
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NewsGMP guidance ‘helpful’ but ‘could have gone further’ on conversion
The government’s supplementary guidance on guaranteed minimum pensions equalisation was broadly welcomed by the industry as it could save trustees “time and money”, but some have cautioned that the section on conversion will make little difference without legislation.
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NewsUSS trustee concerned by ‘misleading’ use of financial reports
On the go: The Universities Superannuation Scheme trustee has issued an update on scheme finances, and expressed its concern that previous use of monitoring statements by parties involved in the ongoing 2020 valuation dispute could be “misleading” members about the true state of the scheme.
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NewsCharge cap proposals criticised as govt launches illiquids consultation
The government has said it will “take time to consider” industry concerns around its proposals to exclude performance fees from the charge cap, and has launched a combined consultation into other ways in which to encourage defined contribution schemes to invest in illiquid assets.
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NewsPASA covers crossovers, tax and death benefits in GMP guidance
On the go: The Pensions Administration and Standards Association has launched guidance tacking frequently asked questions around guaranteed minimum pension equalisation, including tax implications, death benefits, commutation, and the ‘look-back’ approach for crossover members.
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NewsRegulator's notifiable events regime could be delayed
On the go: Industry commentators are asking whether the Pensions Regulator’s new notifiable events regime might be delayed, as the government has yet to respond to last year’s consultation into the expansion of the regulator’s powers.
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PodcastsPodcast: Natural capital can improve scheme returns but concerns remain
Podcast: Natural capital can improve scheme returns but trustees should not forget to consider their fiduciary duties of being able to pay pensions in the future and have a defensive investment strategy, argue Alina Donets, portfolio manager at Lombard Odier Investment Managers, and Stuart O’Brien, partner at Sackers.
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NewsRegulator’s CDC plans risk strangling the sector at its birth
The Pensions Regulator’s draft code of practice for collective defined contribution schemes is unnecessarily strict and risks severely hampering growth in the sector, industry bodies have warned.
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NewsPlumbing Pensions to use member funds to fight section 75 claims
The Court of Session in Edinburgh has granted Plumbing Pensions permission to use member funds to defend against legal claims from employers over its pursuit of section 75 liabilities.
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OpinionSchemes need to pay attention to members’ sustainable demands
Scheme trustees may be conflicted between sustainability and fiduciary duty, but the public are not – they want sustainability to be front and centre, argues Carol McNaughton Nicholls, associate partner at BritainThinks.
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NewsTPR’s web-based scheme return questions cause industry mayhem
Actuaries, trustees and consultants are disappointed with a new method introduced by the Pensions Regulator for scheme returns, pointing out that a web-based form with additional questions implemented this year has increased the risk of providing wrong information.
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NewsTPR not ruling out ‘value for money’ league tables
On the go: The Pensions Regulator is considering league tables as a way of implementing a new value for money framework for pension schemes, though it is not “leaning towards” them at present.
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NewsStrike suspended as schools and unions meet over teachers’ pensions
On the go: Unions have suspended plans for more strike action at 23 private schools to allow talks to take place over planned changes to teachers’ pensions.
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NewsTPR publishes guidance for trustees on Pension Wise appointments
On the go: The Pensions Regulator has published new guidance for trustees who will be required to offer Pension Wise appointments for savers who want to access their defined contribution pensions.