All Aon articles – Page 11

  • News

    One in five FTSE 100 DB schemes could fail in a recession

    2017-10-18T00:00:00Z

    Twenty per cent of FTSE 100 defined benefit schemes would be at risk of failure in the event of an economic downturn, according to new research by Cardano and Lincoln Pensions.

  • Chris Parrott
    Opinion

    Separation of services could shake up fiduciary management

    2017-09-18T00:00:00Z

    There is no doubt that for several schemes, the appointment of a fiduciary manager has been a welcome addition to the support framework available to them.

  • Bloomberg
    News

    CMA begins consultant investigation as FCA calls trustees 'weak'

    2017-09-14T00:00:00Z

    The Financial Conduct Authority has finalised its referral of the investment consultancy industry to the Competition and Markets Authority, beginning an 18-month period of investigation into conflicts of interest in the sector.

  • Features

    Schemes regain faith in fid man evaluators

    2017-09-07T00:00:00Z

    Trustees have shown more inclination towards using third-party evaluators as part of the fiduciary management selection process, a new report has shown. Mid-sized schemes continue to flock towards fiduciary management.

  • News

    PLSA urges schemes to focus on ‘inputs’

    2017-09-05T00:00:00Z

    A new report on pension scheme governance calls for greater focus on improving the quality of structures and personnel, or ‘inputs’, and argues that processes have received excessive attention.

  • Opinion

    Positive EMD performance: Will it last?

    2017-09-04T00:00:00Z

    EMD survey: More than four years have passed since the taper tantrum, when the US Federal Reserve started to gradually tighten its quantitative easing programme, leading to investor panic and sell-off in some emerging markets.

  • Opinion

    Asset manager mergers: How they affect pension schemes

    2017-08-30T00:00:00Z

    Analysis: The recent uptick in mergers and acquisitions activity in the asset management industry has sparked debate among experts over potential ramifications for schemes. Fees, innovation and relationships with managers could all be affected.

  • News

    Calls for action on complexity at heart of DB transfer delays

    2017-08-09T00:00:00Z

    Increased demand for defined benefit pension transfers, lack of transfer experience among independent financial advisers and complexity of DB pensions is adding to transfer delays by putting strain on administrator resources, recent research has shown.

  • Bloomberg
    Features

    GKN scheme closures and debt issuance to combat £1bn deficit

    2017-07-28T00:00:00Z

    Engineering firm GKN has closed its UK defined benefit pension schemes to future accrual, and plans to use proceeds from a debt issuance to plug a £1bn deficit on its UK post-retirement obligations.

  • Scapa
    Features

    Scapa sticks to risk management strategy with Pie

    2017-07-21T00:00:00Z

    Adhesive tape manufacturer Scapa has carried out a pension increase exchange exercise, in its latest move to manage the cost and risk of its legacy defined benefit scheme.

  • Features

    Environment Agency fund in surplus with ESG

    2017-07-13T00:00:00Z

    Strong investment returns have lifted the Environment Agency Active Pension Fund into surplus, as it challenged the industry to collaborate to improve uptake of environmental, social and governance-related strategies.

  • News

    Pensions Institute: Relax DB promises to tackle PPF drift

    2017-06-21T00:00:00Z

    Stressed schemes and employers should be allowed to reduce pension increases and gain easier access to Pension Protection Fund-plus benefit-restructuring methods in order to minimise “PPF drift”, a new academic paper has said.

  • Opinion

    How do trustees choose the 'right' consultant?

    2017-06-20T00:00:00Z

    The Financial Conduct Authority’s final report on the asset management market revealed that the investment consulting sector has not escaped the watchdog’s scrutiny, but pinning down criteria for a good consultant is not easy.

  • Getty Images
    Features

    Manchester University upgrades investment strategy

    2017-05-18T00:00:00Z

    Trustees of the Manchester University Superannuation Scheme have adopted a new liability-driven investment strategy, while dropping a UK equity mandate in favour of global equities.

  • Suffolk goes green
    Features

    Suffolk scheme fills gaps with greenfield infra

    2017-05-04T00:00:00Z

    The Suffolk Pension Fund has added to its alternatives allocation, including a commitment to illiquid credit and an investment in a greenfield infrastructure fund, as experts have highlighted the importance of good governance when investing in illiquids.

  • Matthew Arends
    Opinion

    How has DB changed in 20 years?

    2017-05-04T00:00:00Z

    From the blog: April 2017 saw the 20 anniversary of the introduction of scheme actuaries. I don't expect there were many parties in celebration, but it made me think about how scheme actuaries, and defined benefit pensions, have changed over 20 years and what might happen next.

  • Is the 'gilts plus' model broken?
    Opinion

    Is the 'gilts plus' model broken?

    2017-04-28T00:00:00Z

    The best way to calculate scheme liabilities has been the topic of much debate since defined benefit deficits have started making the headlines. So is the gilts plus model appropriate? Six experts, including from the Pensions Regulator, come together to discuss the merits of different valuation methods.

  • Opinion

    How should trustees and employers negotiate valuations?

    2017-04-13T00:00:00Z

    Should trustees and scheme sponsors discuss valuation methodology or are there bigger concerns? Paul McGlone from Aon Hewitt, David Weeks from the Association of Member Nominated Trustees, Jonathan Reynolds from Capital Cranfield Trustees, Leslie Scrine from the M&G Group Pension Scheme, Andrew Cheeseman from Pan Trustees and Andrew Young from the Pensions Regulator talk about their experience on both sides.

  • Opinion

    What alternative valuation methods can schemes use?

    2017-04-13T00:00:00Z

    What options do schemes have apart from ‘gilts plus’ to find out how well funded they are? Paul McGlone from Aon Hewitt, David Weeks from the Association of Member Nominated Trustees, Jonathan Reynolds from Capital Cranfield Trustees, Leslie Scrine from the M&G Group Pension Scheme, Andrew Cheeseman from Pan Trustees and Andrew Young from the Pensions Regulator discuss scheme valuation methods.

  • Opinion

    Does ‘gilts plus’ lead to inappropriate investment strategies?

    2017-04-11T00:00:00Z

    Should valuation assumptions be a function of the investment strategy? What does the regulator say about the gilts-plus approach? Paul McGlone from Aon Hewitt, David Weeks from the Association of Member Nominated Trustees, Jonathan Reynolds from Capital Cranfield, Leslie Scrine from the M&G Group Pension Scheme, Andrew Cheeseman from Pan Trustees and Andrew Young from the Pensions Regulator discuss scheme valuation methods.