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Latest news and analysis
Conservatives call on chancellor to rule out pension tax changes ahead of Budget
Helen Whately, the shadow pensions minister, told the Pensions UK Annual Conference that chancellor John Healey needed to give the country immediate assurances on tax changes to avoid people making irreversible decisions.
Employer adoption crucial to CDC success as confidence in new model grows
A poll of Pensions UK conference delegates found that more than half (53%) believed a lack of employer demand was the biggest barrier to adopting CDC – but speakers were more confident of wider take-up.
Bulk annuities latest: L&G seals £1.7bn deal with UBS; Royal London insures steel scheme
Legal & General has completed the biggest defined benefit pension scheme buy-in so far this year, insuring 7,000 members of a section of the UBS UK Group Pension Plan.
Superfund sector set to ‘take off’ as Clara onboards six schemes in unique deal
Following four deals announced this year, Clara-Pensions’ assets under management are now in the region of £2.5bn as consultants predict “exponential growth” for the superfund sector.
DB schemes navigate volatility to finish Q3 with stronger funding position
The PPF 7800 index reported that the total surplus across the 4,838 funds it covers reached £280.7bn at the end of September, equivalent to a funding ratio of 135%.
The next pensions scandal?
Thousands of women lose out on pension benefits when they divorce, with Excalibur Actuaries warning that unfair sharing arrangements have “all the hallmarks of another pensions scandal in the making”.
Women feel more negative than men about retirement
Only 53% of women feel positive about their later years, according to research from Smart Pension
Is the era of annuities over? The data which tells a different story
Standard Life has reported growing interest in fixed-term annuities, with retirees exploring ways to secure guaranteed income while retaining flexibility over future pension decisions.
Comment
Building blocks: How tokenisation could reshape DC pensions
Louise Farrand, executive director of the DC Investment Forum, explores how blockchain and tokenisation technologies could revolutionise pension scheme investing.
ABI: Surplus extraction - lessons from insurers
As DB schemes gain greater flexibility to extract surplus, the ABI’s Robyn Smith argues that lessons from insurance regulation could help ensure greater freedom is matched by robust safeguards for members.
SPP: Is your pension scheme ready for run-on?
The Society of Pension Professionals’ Guy Bottomley looks at how pension schemes can prepare for the new run-on and surplus release options opening up for them.
IFS: Which workers should automatic enrolment reforms target?
Raising minimum auto-enrolment contribution rates requires a more nuanced approach and can’t be one-size-fits-all, writes Heidi Karjalainen of the Institute for Fiscal Studies.
Latest features
Members still need a ‘human in the loop’ amid AI surge
Pension scheme members should be sceptical when using AI
VfM: What the industry said about the government’s Value for Money plans
From concerns over forward-looking metrics to calls for the framework to be expanded into decumulation, there has been a huge amount of feedback on the latest Value for Money consultation. Pensions Expert distils the main talking points.
In Depth: Pensions UK’s responses to crucial consultations as reform takes shape
With a trio of crucial consultations concluding this month, Nick Reeve explores what the pensions industry’s trade association is lobbying for and how it hopes to shape major reforms.
Sizing up the challenge: Managing the transition from buy-in to buyout
Insurers and consultants are confident about their ability to handle the high volume of bulk annuity deals, but juggling demand for resources as schemes transition from buy-in to buyout could be tricky, as Bradley Gerrard reports.
Climate, liquidity, AI: What investment committees should be thinking about
With two-thirds of 2026 behind us, Pensions Expert asks investment consultants for the key risks and opportunities that should be on trustees’ agendas going into the autumn.
Members still need a ‘human in the loop’ amid AI surge
VfM: What the industry said about the government’s Value for Money plans
In Depth: Pensions UK’s responses to crucial consultations as reform takes shape
Sizing up the challenge: Managing the transition from buy-in to buyout
Climate, liquidity, AI: What investment committees should be thinking about
Latest on Defined Benefit
Bulk annuities latest: L&G seals £1.7bn deal with UBS; Royal London insures steel scheme
Legal & General has completed the biggest defined benefit pension scheme buy-in so far this year, insuring 7,000 members of a section of the UBS UK Group Pension Plan.
Superfund sector set to ‘take off’ as Clara onboards six schemes in unique deal
Following four deals announced this year, Clara-Pensions’ assets under management are now in the region of £2.5bn as consultants predict “exponential growth” for the superfund sector.
DB schemes navigate volatility to finish Q3 with stronger funding position
The PPF 7800 index reported that the total surplus across the 4,838 funds it covers reached £280.7bn at the end of September, equivalent to a funding ratio of 135%.
The next pensions scandal?
Thousands of women lose out on pension benefits when they divorce, with Excalibur Actuaries warning that unfair sharing arrangements have “all the hallmarks of another pensions scandal in the making”.
People news
Appointments: featuring senior appointments and promotions at Hymans Robertson, WTW, Aptia and more
The latest hires, promotions and appointments for the week ending 9 October 2026.
Appointments: Industry stalwarts join Aviva and L&G IGCs; Zedra Inside Pensions hires three new trustee executives
The latest hires, promotions and appointments for the week ending 2 October 2026.
Appointments: New proposition lead at Smart; Border to Coast adds local investment manager
The latest hires, promotions and appointments for the week ending 25 September 2026.
West Midlands’ Brothwood to lead Pensions UK policy board
Trade body Pensions UK has appointed four new members of its board, including a new chair for its separate policy board to succeed John Chilman.
Latest videos from Pensions Expert
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Latest on Defined Contribution
Employer adoption crucial to CDC success as confidence in new model grows
A poll of Pensions UK conference delegates found that more than half (53%) believed a lack of employer demand was the biggest barrier to adopting CDC – but speakers were more confident of wider take-up.
The next pensions scandal?
Thousands of women lose out on pension benefits when they divorce, with Excalibur Actuaries warning that unfair sharing arrangements have “all the hallmarks of another pensions scandal in the making”.
Is the era of annuities over? The data which tells a different story
Standard Life has reported growing interest in fixed-term annuities, with retirees exploring ways to secure guaranteed income while retaining flexibility over future pension decisions.
The £42,000 retirement – and why it may have to wait
UK adults believe they need more than £42,000 a year after tax to feel financially secure in retirement, but many expect to work for longer – and increasingly see retirement as a gradual transition rather than a hard stop.
Latest on Dashboards
Why administrators are causing sleepless nights for DB trustees
Third party vulnerability is among the biggest cyber risks facing DB pension schemes, according to professional trustee survey
Digital services increasingly important to retirees, Aptia reports
As Pension Awareness Week begins, new research from Aptia shows more and more people are relying on their pension provider’s digital services to make key decisions about their retirement.
‘Life moments’ are key engagement points for employers, says WTW
Trustees and scheme managers expect members to use dashboards primarily around retirement and job changes rather than checking them regularly, according to the consultancy giant.
Bell says dashboard ‘has improved data quality’ as launch confirmed for 2027
The DWP has confirmed that 85% of schemes have connected to the dashboard ecosystem, with all in-scope schemes expected to meet the 31 October statutory connection deadline.
