All articles by Benjamin Mercer – Page 19
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NewsInsurers called to protect trustees against GMP claims
The lack of statutory protection afforded to trustees means the insurance industry will have to shield these professionals against claims related to guaranteed minimum pension equalisation in cases where benefits are secured with annuity providers, legal experts have warned, while uncertainty about trustees’ obligations remains.
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NewsBulk annuity deals’ strong momentum to carry on into 2022
On the go: Around £25bn worth of bulk annuity transactions is expected by the end of the year, recovering from a slow start and creating momentum expected to carry over to trades in 2022, according to Aon’s latest risk settlement market update.
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NewsRegulators propose DC-wide ‘value for money’ framework
The Pensions Regulator and the Financial Conduct Authority will be forcing defined contribution schemes to disclose more data around their investment performance, scheme oversight, and costs and charges, as they unveil a discussion paper looking at creating an “holistic framework” for assessing value for money in this sector.
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NewsInflation jump poses ‘a real challenge’ for pension schemes
The surge in inflation in August – the highest since records began in 1997 – could prove “a real challenge” for pension schemes, experts have warned, especially if it proves not to be a transitory phenomenon.
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NewsMorrisons schemes granted additional security in takeover bid
On the go: An agreement has been reached between a private equity manager and the trustees of Morrisons’ defined benefit schemes to grant additional security, as the attempted takeover of the supermarket chain progresses.
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NewsABI calls for govt to 'rethink' normal minimum pension age hike
The Association of British Insurers has called on the government to scrap its “complicated”, “arbitrary” and “confusing” plans to raise the normal minimum pension age “until something fit for purpose” has been developed.
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NewsCalls for climate reporting harmony as FCA and DWP rules diverge
The Financial Conduct Authority’s climate-related disclosure rules for asset managers, life insurers and its regulated pension providers should be brought into line with Department for Work and Pensions regulations to give greater clarity and consistency, the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association has said.
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NewsKent Pension Fund breaches LGPS regulations
On the go: Connection trouble with a third-party pensions administrator’s systems has caused staff productivity at the Kent Pension Fund to suffer, while poor record management by Kent Police led to a breach of Local Government Pension Scheme regulations.
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NewsTPR’s notifiable events regime more impactful than criminal powers
The new regime setting out what type of events trustees and employers are required to notify the Pensions Regulator about will have a greater potential to impact corporate activity than the regulator’s controversial new criminal powers, experts have warned.
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NewsBig schemes turn to fiduciary managers during pandemic
Data crunch: The average size of a pension scheme taking on a fiduciary manager rose by around 80 per cent during the Covid-19 pandemic, suggesting the flexibility afforded by the model was particularly attractive in turbulent market conditions, according to research from IC Select.
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NewsPublic sector schemes wary of TPR’s new code of practice
Public sector schemes should press on with implementing the Pensions Regulator’s new code of practice, Aon has said. However, schemes are concerned about the new rules and have asked for more clarity from the watchdog.
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NewsUSS pushes ahead with reform proposals despite strike threat
The Universities Superannuation Scheme trustee is to push ahead with a reform package agreed by USS employers, despite threats of strike action from the University and College Union.
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PodcastsPodcast: Industry ‘irritation’ with TPR’s code of practice could have been avoided
Podcast: The negative reaction of the industry to the Pensions Regulator’s new code of practice shows what can happen if consultations are handled poorly, says Tim Middleton, director of policy and external affairs at the Pensions Management Institute. He is joined by Steven Taylor, partner at LCP, to discuss consultations, collective defined contribution schemes, and flexibility within the defined benefit universe.
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NewsIndustry fears another missed dashboards deadline
On the go: The pensions industry doubts whether the pensions dashboards will be delivered on time, as more than three-quarters of respondents to a Pensions Management Institute survey said they thought the project would still not be operational by 2023.
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NewsDraft CDC regulations hampered by poor definitions, industry warns
The government’s consultation into draft regulations governing collective defined contribution schemes requires more work on definitions if these pension funds are to be properly implemented, with the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association warning it could create a “back door” for unscrupulous employers.
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NewsStrike action ‘inevitable’ after employers agree USS reforms
The University and College Union is to ballot its members over industrial action, branding strikes “inevitable” after employers agreed to press ahead with reforms of the Universities Superannuation Scheme.
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NewsTPR’s ESG guidance raises industry concerns on privacy and penalties
The Pensions Regulator’s draft guidance on climate change reporting and governance is not sufficiently clear on what constitutes compliance, and the watchdog needs to provide clarity on its approach to discretionary penalties, the Society of Pension Professionals has warned.
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NewsIndustry bodies to 'develop the case' for DC illiquid investments
Industry bodies including the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association, the Association of British Insurers and the Investment Association will “develop the case” for defined contribution schemes to invest in less-liquid assets, as part of a push to secure “long-term value” for its members.
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NewsEY fined £3.5m for Stagecoach pension audit failings
EY has been fined £3.5m and given a “severe reprimand” by the Financial Reporting Council, in part for failing to meet requirements when auditing Stagecoach’s defined benefit scheme obligations.
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NewsOmbudsman facing 'significant queue of work' from Covid-19
On the go: The Pensions Ombudsman is expecting demand to increase by 10 per cent in light of Covid-19, but is already facing a “significant queue of work” caused by the pandemic, according to its 2021-24 corporate plan.