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Latest news and analysis
Call for action on member representation as MNT numbers fall by a third
Sole trustee arrangements are on the rise as member-nominated trustees are declining, according to data obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request.
Bulk annuities update: Aviva insures vehicle manufacturer’s DB scheme
The latest headlines from the bulk annuities sector, including deals for Aviva, M&G, and Canada Life, as well as details of Just Group’s recent acquisition by Brookfield Wealth Solutions.
Appointments: People’s, Isio, WTW, Hymans, Arc, IGG
The latest hires, promotions and appointments for the week ending 3 April 2026.
Smart Pension names Lawrence as chief investment officer
James Lawrence was previously Smart’s director of investment proposition, and has worked for the pension fund since 2021. The master trust aims to hit £10bn in assets this year.
DB trustees eyeing surplus release as part of endgame plan, says L&G
Bulk annuities remain a key element of most defined benefit pension schemes’ endgame planning, but running on and accessing surplus is becoming a more popular option.
DC schemes back British Business Bank’s £200m venture capital fund
Aegon and the Natwest Cushon master trust have finalised investments in the British Growth Partnership Fund, contributing to a £200m capital raise for the venture capital vehicle.
Latest video
Video: Shadow pensions minister Helen Whately on mandation
Ahead of a vote in the House of Lords on the Pension Schemes Bill, Conservative MP Helen Whately spoke on her party’s opposition to the mandation power for a special episode of the Always a Pensions Angle podcast.
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‘Don’t call us lay trustees’: AMNT on why member reps must be taken seriously
Kate Upcraft of the Association of Member Nominated Trustees recounts her experience as an elected scheme representative and why the role is so important for pension funds of all kinds.
TPR: We need the marketplace to innovate to deliver in the new pensions era
In an exclusive column for Pensions Expert, the Pensions Regulator’s chief executive Nausicaa Delfas explains the importance of innovation to address the challenges and capture the opportunities of the next few years.
Democratisation 2.0: From access to outcomes in UK pensions through Value for Money
Following the latest consultation on the Value for Money framework, Philip Hodges, a director at Guiide, explains the importance of including decumulation strategies and outcomes in assessments of value.
Pensions UK: Mandation, markets and the future of pensions
Pensions UK’s new defined contribution policy chief Phil Brown looks back at the trade body’s investment conference earlier this month and the key themes and talking points that emerged.
Latest features
Call for action on member representation as MNT numbers fall by a third
Sole trustee arrangements are on the rise as member-nominated trustees are declining, according to data obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request.
Special report: The Pension Schemes Bill in the House of Lords
The landmark legislation begins its report stage this week, with peers still debating more than 180 amendments to the Pension Schemes Bill. Pensions Expert explores what is up for discussion over the next two weeks.
Why Nest is embracing deliberative democracy
The UK’s largest master trust is exploring innovative ways in which to achieve better member representation within its governance structure.
To insource or to outsource? That is the question
Three of the UK’s largest pension investors take different approaches to the balance of insourcing and outsourcing investment expertise and capabilities, as Louise Farrand reports.
What does Alphabet’s 100-year bond mean for UK pension schemes?
The entry of Google’s owner into the UK bond market made an undeniable splash, but the impacts on key fixed income investors such as DB pension schemes are more likely to be gentle ripples, writes Bradley Gerrard.
Call for action on member representation as MNT numbers fall by a third
Special report: The Pension Schemes Bill in the House of Lords
Why Nest is embracing deliberative democracy
To insource or to outsource? That is the question
What does Alphabet’s 100-year bond mean for UK pension schemes?
Latest on Defined Benefit
Call for action on member representation as MNT numbers fall by a third
Sole trustee arrangements are on the rise as member-nominated trustees are declining, according to data obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request.
Bulk annuities update: Aviva insures vehicle manufacturer’s DB scheme
The latest headlines from the bulk annuities sector, including deals for Aviva, M&G, and Canada Life, as well as details of Just Group’s recent acquisition by Brookfield Wealth Solutions.
DB trustees eyeing surplus release as part of endgame plan, says L&G
Bulk annuities remain a key element of most defined benefit pension schemes’ endgame planning, but running on and accessing surplus is becoming a more popular option.
Small scheme insurance boom drives record number of buy-in deals in 2025
Legal & General dominated 2025’s pension insurance market in terms of new business volumes, but data from LCP shows that sub-£100m transactions are driving competition and “exceptional” pricing.
People news
Appointments: People’s, Isio, WTW, Hymans, Arc, IGG
The latest hires, promotions and appointments for the week ending 3 April 2026.
Smart Pension names Lawrence as chief investment officer
James Lawrence was previously Smart’s director of investment proposition, and has worked for the pension fund since 2021. The master trust aims to hit £10bn in assets this year.
Appointments: LCP, TPT, Aptia, Hymans Robertson, L&G
The latest hires, promotions and appointments for the week ending 27 March 2026.
Appointments: LPFA, PIC, Broadstone, Eversheds, Aptia
The latest hires, promotions and appointments for the week ending 20 March 2026.
Latest videos from Pensions Expert
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Latest on Defined Contribution
Smart Pension names Lawrence as chief investment officer
James Lawrence was previously Smart’s director of investment proposition, and has worked for the pension fund since 2021. The master trust aims to hit £10bn in assets this year.
DC schemes back British Business Bank’s £200m venture capital fund
Aegon and the Natwest Cushon master trust have finalised investments in the British Growth Partnership Fund, contributing to a £200m capital raise for the venture capital vehicle.
Peers fail in bid to hold government to account on salary sacrifice cap
The government has succeeded in overturning a House of Lords decision on the salary sacrifice cap and the policy will now be enacted as set out in November’s Budget.
How alts and active management aid Australian pension outperformance
With Australia’s superannuation system repeatedly held up as a model for UK defined contribution pension provision, a new study shows the impact of diversification into private markets and the use of active management models.
Latest on Dashboards
Employers ‘must address pension inadequacy’ to avoid long-term problems
The consultancy warns that retirement income shortfalls could hit companies hard by creating a demographic bottleneck in the workforce and driving stress-related drops in productivity.
Your dashboard needs you! MoneyHelper seeks consumer testers
Phase two of the testing process officially began this week, and MaPS has called on pension providers to spread the word among savers and scheme members to get them involved with the trials.
‘Dashboard health check’ urged as workers unsure of contributions
The Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) should introduce “pensions dashboard health checks” to help savers understand their financial positions, according to a new report from the Social Market Foundation.
Pension schemes seek to address data ‘debt’ issues with digital tools
Nearly 30 UK pension schemes have significantly improved the accuracy of their member data after adopting digital data enrichment technology over the past year, according to Heka Global.
