Changing World, New Opportunities

In this episode, hosts Louise Farrand and Dave Whitehair sit down with Ben Lewis, head of Mercer's investment DC workplace proposition, for a wide-ranging conversation about how Mercer's master trust is building out its investment strategy for the long term. Ben covers the move into private markets, how Mercer is thinking about the full member journey from accumulation through to retirement, and w...

In this week’s episode of the podcast, we speak to Tegs Harding, trustee chair of the Legal and General master trust’s investments committee. Investment has been high on the master trust’s agenda. Tegs and her colleagues realise that members are better off when they take more risk for longer – and that has been a big theme of the changes they have been making over the last few years. They have int...

This week on the podcast, we chat to Jo Sharples, chief investment officer for Aon’s DC solutions. Jo shares her wisdom about investment, revealing her ‘sleep at night strategy’ – we love this idea. We discuss the importance of cutting out the noise and sticking to your guns in times of short term volatility. Jo explains why she has just made an allocation to long-dated government bonds in the gro...

Lorna Blyth, head of investment proposition for Aegon UK, joins Dave and Louise for this week’s podcast. We learn about Lorna’s career path, from dreams of art college to working her way up through the ranks of a pension provider and into investment – with a lot of hard work and exams completed along the way. Lorna is responsible for investment proposition for Aegon's DC workplace business from th...

We’re back! On this week’s DCIF podcast, Dave and Louise catch up with Naomi Clark. Naomi, who is USS’ head of investment product management, came on the podcast several years ago in season two – so this was a perfect chance to catch up with her and find out how USS’ investment strategy has evolved. Naomi gives us a fascinating insight into how USS achieves diversification in the uncertain world w...

In this episode, hosts Louise Farrand and Dave Whitehair sit down with Jonathan Parker, head of DC at Redington and chair of the investment committee for the Aviva Master Trust, for a deep dive into how one of the UK’s largest master trusts is reshaping investment strategy for the decade ahead.   Jonathan talks through why Aviva has made a major move into private markets and what th...

In this episode, hosts Louise Farrand and Dave Whitehair chat to Steve Charlton, DC and solutions managing director for SEI across EMEA and Asia.   Steve takes us through SEI’s goals-based investment philosophy, explaining how the master trust starts with members’ retirement income needs and designs portfolios backwards from that objective. He outlines why SEI maintains a high-equity, factor-...

In this episode, hosts Louise Farrand and Dave Whitehair chat to Veronica Humble, CIO at NatWest Cushon. Veronica takes us through how Cushon is shaping its investment strategy for a changing world, from expanding its private markets allocation to exploring opportunities in venture capital. She explains the team’s approach to diversification, governance, and long-term risk management, particularly...

In this episode of the DCIF’s podcast, hosts Louise Farrand and Dave Whitehair sit down with James Monk, investment director at Fidelity’s FutureWise.  James explains why the FutureWise team is embracing private markets – but hasn’t signed the Mansion House Accord. We dive into how FutureWise is using LTAFs and peer beneath the bonnet at its private markets allocations, plus hear more about J...

In this episode of Changing World, New Opportunities, hosts Louise and Dave sit down with Liz Fernando, chief investment officer at Nest. Liz explains how Nest is reshaping DC investing, moving beyond pot size to focus on retirement income and member outcomes. She shares her reflections on why investors could be in the midst of a regime change and what this may mean for asset allocation. Liz also...

In this latest episode of Changing World, New Opportunities, hosts Louise Farrand and Dave Whitehair sit down with James Lawrence, director of investment proposition at Smart Pension. Smart Pension has made headlines for its forward-thinking approach, combining bold investment ideas with a strong focus on member outcomes. As a tech-led disruptor in the DC market, it is innovating on multiple front...

In this season of the DCIF’s podcast, Dave and Louise are chatting to master trust chief investment officers. And who better to start us off with a bang than Dan Mikulsis?! As well as being CIO of People’s Partnership, Dan is a podcast veteran; in a former role, he hosted LCP’s own podcast, a top listen.   In this week’s episode, we cover a huge amount of ground. But just a few highlights: Da...

May we be so bold as to suggest that if you listen to one of our international episodes, it should be this one. Mark and Louise reflect on the key lessons they’ve learnt from their series of conversations with international pensions policymakers. What should UK policymakers take from the season? The episode is interspersed with nuggets of wisdoms from all our fantastic guests from all over the wor...

How do you solve a problem like giving pension savers a lifelong income? It’s a topic at the top of the pensions industry’s mind – and Nest has been thinking hard about how to solve the conundrum.   In this week’s bonus episode of the DCIF’s podcast, Nest’s Gareth Turner talks to Mark and Louise about how it is approaching retirement. Nest has developed the Retirement Blueprint, which Gareth...

Iceland’s pension system has been following us around. Rated an impressive number two in the latest Melbourne Mercer Pension Index and name-dropped by several previous guests on the show this season, nevertheless Iceland has flown beneath the radar in terms of global recognition. We put that right in this week’s episode of the podcast! Mark and Louise chat to Bjorn Asgrimsson, analyst at Iceland’s...

This week on the podcast, we were lucky enough to be joined by pensions royalty! Keith Ambachtsheer tells Mark and Louise all about Canada's system. This episode contains all the wisdom and deep expertise you'd expect from someone like Keith, who over the years rubbed shoulders with economists like Harry Markowitz and William Sharpe. Keith tells us about his dramatic entry into the pensions world...

This week’s podcast is out now! In it, we take a fascinating dive into Sweden’s DC system with Mats Langensjö. First off, we find out how Sweden’s AP funds work. Mats describes one highly unusual feature of the Swedish DC system: a government-run fund selection agency which has the job of hiring and firing fund managers. How did this come about? And what criteria does it use? Mats explains all. Ma...

In this episode, the Godfather of auto-enrolment, Mark Iwry, tells us the story of how it was introduced in the USA. We peek inside the doors of the US government and find out how Mark and his colleagues helped employers to shape both their investment strategies and the wider DC system.   The US’ auto-enrolment journey wasn’t without its tricky moments. Mark tells us of a memorable encounter...

In this week’s episode, former pensions minister Steve Webb talks to us about defined ambition, the lessons he’s learned from international pensions systems, and why pendulums tend to swing back.    Steve reflects on some subjects which are dear to our heart, including lessons he learnt from overseas, reflects on what he’s proud of and what he would go back in time to change, if he could...

This week, Mark and Louise speak to Professor Hans van Meerten about the Netherlands’ pension system. Hans is a lawyer and academic, specializing in EU and Dutch pensions law.   We find out why the Netherlands is going through some big pension reforms, despite being top of the international league tables. From his legal perspective, Hans explains why he’s a critic of the current Dutch CD...

Jerry Moriarty is the outgoing CEO of the Irish Association of Pension Funds. In this episode, we chat about how Ireland’s pensions system is evolving, the similarities and differences between the Irish and UK pension systems, and the feature of the Irish pensions system that Mark and Louise most envy.   We hear an update on how auto-enrolment is going in Ireland and the consolidation which i...

This week on the podcast, we chat to Paul Watson about the Australian superannuation system.  Paul has spent years as a senior executive in the superannuation fund world, most recently at Hostplus, one of Australia’s largest supers. We learn how the value for money debate has been ‘run and won’ in Australia, how Aussie superfunds got to grips with investing in private markets and why the Auss...

Welcome to a brand new season of  Changing World, New Opportunities!  This season, we’re chatting to international policymakers and pensions experts about their DC systems. What are the challenges? What would they change about it? And – crucially – what can we learn in the UK? Diane Maxwell kicks off the season with a bang. The former retirement commissioner for New Zealand gives us the...

This week’s guest is Tim Orton, CIO at Aegon. We enjoyed chatting about how making the world better for his grandchildren feeds into Tim’s passion for combatting climate change. 2022 caused him to think differently about diversification, risk and members’ journeys. Plus, Tim tells us why Aegon signed the Mansion House Compact. Enjoy the episode!

This week, Lorna and Louise really enjoyed talking to Naomi Clark, head of investment product management at USS. We find out about Naomi's long and winding road into pensions - from an English degree, via a start in shipping, to where she is today. Naomi tells us about a bumpy start to USS' private markets journey and shares the reason why USS hasn't signed the Mansion House Compact. Please note t...