Always a Pensions Angle

The Financial Conduct Authority recently expressed concern that too much of the defined benefit transfer advice it has seen to date is still not of an acceptable standard. In this podcast, Tom Selby, senior analyst at AJ Bell, and Bob Scott, senior partner at LCP, talk about the impact of increased regulatory scrutiny of transfer advice, the need for DB flexibility, and how schemes and employers c...

In January, the Financial Conduct Authority launched its consultation on investment pathways and other proposed changes to its rules and guidance. The consultation closed in April and the watchdog plans to publish its final rules and guidance in July. In this podcast, Jonathan Parker, director of DC and financial well-being consulting at Redington, discusses how investment pathways will...

While technology is helping improve pensions communications across the industry, several challenges remain. In this PE podcast, Shola Salako, trustee representative at Dalriada Trustees, and Rhys Williams, strategy director at communications consultancy Quietroom, discuss the different ways in which schemes and providers can engage with members, and where they might be going wrong. Hoste...

From asset pooling and actuarial valuations, to administration and data, local government pension schemes have a lot to think about this year – meaning good governance is more important than ever. In this podcast episode, Kirsty Bartlett, partner at law firm Squire Patton Boggs, and Ian Colvin, head of LGPS benefits and governance at Hymans Robertson, discuss potential conflicts of inter...

Master trusts have until the end of March to complete their applications to the Pensions Regulator for authorisation. In this PE podcast episode, Ian McQuade, director at Muse Advisory, discusses master trust selection and how the watchdog's authorisation and supervision regime will change the market. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last month, the Professional Trustee Standards Working Group published a set of new standards, which all professional trustees will be expected to meet. The group is also due to launch an associated accreditation framework later this year. In this episode of the PE podcast, Rachel Croft, director at Independent Trustee Services, explains what these new standards mean for schemes, how they wil...

2019 is predicted to break last year's record for bulk annuity deals. But with insurers being more selective, experts have stressed the need for defined benefit pension scheme trustees to make sure they are well prepared before approaching the market. In this episode, Marian Elliott, head of integrated actuarial at consultancy Redington, discusses the main drivers behind increased derisking activi...

New regulations coming into force this year mean pension schemes will be required to publish more-detailed statements of investment principles. These will address financially material environmental, social and governance risks, such as climate change. In this episode, Stuart O'Brien, a partner at law firm Sackers, discusses recent ESG-related developments, the danger of conflating ethical mat...

Last month, the government published a consultation on the consolidation of defined benefit pension schemes. What is the outlook for DB superfunds? And what should trustees consider if they are thinking about switching from a sponsor covenant to a consolidator covenant? In this episode, Alex Hutton-Mills, managing director at Lincoln Pensions, and Paul McGlone, president of the Society of Pension...

Earlier this month, the Department for Work and Pensions published its long-awaited feasibility report and consultation on how the industry can create online pensions dashboards. What does the industry make of the study? And how much progress is needed to make the project a success? In this episode, Girish Menezes, board director at the Pensions Administration Standards Association, and Anthony&nb...

Earlier this month, the Supreme Court ruled that Barnardo’s cannot change the inflation protection it provides to members of its defined benefit scheme from the retail price index to the consumer price index. So, what does the result mean for other DB pension funds and their sponsors? Matthew de Ferrars, pensions partner at law firm Pinsent Masons, and Faye Jarvis, pensions partner at law firm Hog...

Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond has delivered his Autumn Budget. To mull over patient capital and what might have been, Alex Janiaud is joined by James Riley, council member at the Society of Pension Professionals, and Steven Cameron, pensions director at Aegon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The popularity of liability-driven investment strategies among defined benefit pension funds has increased over the years. In 2017, the total notional value of liabilities hedged by LDI strategies continued to grow, rising to £965bn from £904bn, according to XPS Pensions research. In this episode, Nick Harvey, principal at XPS Pensions, discusses how scheme exposure to LDI has chang...

Last month, Pensions Expert reported that trustees of the Lloyds Bank Pension Scheme No.1 had overhauled the default offering for their DC members. In this episode, Lydia Fearn, head of DC and financial well-being at consultancy Redington, and Maria Nazarova-Doyle, senior investment consultant and head of DC investment consulting at JLT Employee Benefits, discuss the most important factors for tru...

Over the past few years, headlines highlighting several high-profile defined benefit pension cases have hammered home the importance of having a strong covenant. Mark Evans, director at Independent Trustee Services, and Adolfo Aponte, director at covenant specialists Lincoln Pensions, explain how trustees can keep tabs on their employer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for mo...

An advisory group to the government review of the Financial Reporting Council  is considering the role of actuaries  and the extent to which actuaries should be subject to formal regulation in response to the pensions-related nature of recent corporate failures. Bob Scott, senior partner at actuarial consultancy LCP and immediate past chair of the Association of Consulting Actuaries...

Eighty per cent of people are not sure whether they are saving the right amount for retirement, according to the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association. What can be done to help savers achieve a better income in retirement? In this episode, James Walsh, the PLSA’s policy lead on engagement, EU and regulation, discusses auto-enrolment minimum contribution increases, the self-employed, and confus...

Since the introduction of freedom and choice in 2015, more and more savers have showed an interest in defined benefit transfers. In this episode, Ben Roe, senior partner and head of member options at Aon, and Gary Evans,   board director at the Pensions and Administration Standards Association and chair of Pasa's Transfers Working Group, discuss the responsibilities of trustees and emplo...

The Pension Protection Fund's latest annual report shows it has weathered a record influx of defined benefit liabilities without much trouble. Chief financial officer Andy McKinnon discusses future challenges for the lifeboat amid a changing pensions landscape. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last month, the Financial Conduct Authority released its long-awaited Retirement Outcomes Review. Daniela Silcock, head of policy research at the Pensions Policy Institute, and Nathan Long, senior pension analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, discuss the FCA's consultation, including its decision not to impose a charge cap for drawdown products. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more...

Last month, chief executive of the Pensions Regulator Lesley Titcomb said she would be leaving the watchdog at the end of her contract in February 2019. The announcement came only a few months after the release of the government's defined benefit white paper, which outlined a vision for a stronger regulator with new powers. Sir Steve Webb, director of policy at pension and investment provider...

From the government's review of auto-enrolment, to the publication of its defined benefit white paper, the past 12 months have been a busy time regarding retirement saving. While a significant amount of progress has been made, plenty more is needed. In this podcast, Guy Opperman, minister for pensions and financial inclusion, discusses auto-enrolment, pensions for the self-employed and superfunds....

Under the Pensions Act 2004, at least one-third of a pension scheme’s trustees should be member-nominated. David Brooks, technical director at consultancy Broadstone, and Stephen Fallowell, former MNT at the Royal Bank of Scotland Group Pension Fund and committee member of the Association of Member Nominated Trustees, debate the merits of electing trustees versus selection by panel. Hosted on Acas...

As Local Government Pension Scheme pooling progresses, the £29bn Brunel Pension Partnership – which includes 10 LGPS funds, including the Environment Agency Pension Fund – has been one of the strongest advocates of responsible investing. In this podcast, Brunel’s chief executive officer, Dawn Turner, discusses how far institutional investors have come with sustainable investment, what progress nee...

In April, the Competition and Markets Authority published its working paper on trustee engagement with investment consultancy and fiduciary management. Caroline Escott, policy lead for investment and defined benefits at the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association, and Hugh Nolan, director at consultancy Spence & Partners, discuss the challenges faced by trustees engaging with these...