All articles by Benjamin Mercer – Page 37

  • News

    Government plans to push ahead with small scheme consolidation

    2020-06-30T00:00:00Z

    On the go: The government looks set to press ahead with plans to encourage small schemes to consolidate, according to analysis of consultation documents by LCP.

  • News

    Insolvency bill retains potential to damage DB schemes

    2020-06-29T00:00:00Z

    Government attempts to mitigate the risk its new insolvency legislation poses to defined benefit pension schemes have only been partly successful, and company moratoriums could still see schemes lose out on valuable contributions, experts have said.

  • News

    Widespread industry support for regulator’s Covid-19 response

    2020-06-29T00:00:00Z

    On the go: Industry professionals are “overwhelmingly positive” about the Pensions Regulator’s response to Covid-19, though they remain pessimistic about future prospects, according to a report from the Pensions Management Institute.

  • News

    OECD encourages regulators to be flexible in response to pandemic

    2020-06-26T00:00:00Z

    On the go: Policymakers should allow for regulatory flexibility in their approach to recovery plans to make sure that people saving for retirement stay the course during the Covid-19 crisis, the OECD has recommended.

  • News

    Work and pensions committee urged to open inquiry into scams

    2020-06-26T00:00:00Z

    On the go: The head of a transparency pressure group has written to the chair of the work and pensions committee to request it opens an inquiry into the scope and extent of pension scams.

  • News

    Seven-year scam poses ‘serious questions’ for TPR

    2020-06-25T00:00:00Z

    The Pensions Ombudsman has finally brought to a close a seven-year case that left members of three pension schemes looking to recoup losses in excess of £14m. However, questions have been raised about the effectiveness of the Pensions Regulator in this case.

  • News

    BoE governor reignites row between superfunds, insurers and regulators

    2020-06-24T00:00:00Z

    In an intervention which laid bare a deep divide both in the industry and between regulators, Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey has reignited a long-running feud between traditional insurers and advocates of new superfund models, while casting doubt on the Pensions Regulator’s ability to oversee consolidators.

  • News

    High Court rules ‘drafting errors’ sufficient to justify switch to CPI

    2020-06-23T00:00:00Z

    A High Court decision has found in favour of a pension scheme switching to the consumer price index from the retail price index, but only because of a drafting error in the scheme’s rules.

  • News

    MPs urge regulator to reassure struggling employers

    2020-06-22T00:00:00Z

    On the go: The Work and Pensions Committee has called for clarity from the Pensions Regulator over its Covid-19 enforcement procedures, voicing concerns that some “conscientious employers” will be reluctant to take advantage of easements.

  • News

    2020 set to be a record-breaking year for longevity swaps

    2020-06-22T00:00:00Z

    On the go: Demand for longevity swaps is expected to set new records in 2020, reflecting in part a slight slowdown in the bulk annuity market, according to a report by Willis Towers Watson.

  • News

    Aviva strikes £150m buy-in with General Healthcare Group

    2020-06-22T00:00:00Z

    On the go: Insurer Aviva has secured a £150m buy-in contract with the General Healthcare Group & Life Assurance Plan.

  • News

    Cash-strapped money printer cuts deficit repair contributions

    2020-06-19T00:00:00Z

    British banknote printer De La Rue has cut deficit repair payments to its defined benefit pension scheme, contingent on the success of its bid to raise an extra £100m in capital.

  • News

    Transparency initiative adds new tools following industry support

    2020-06-19T00:00:00Z

    On the go: The Cost Transparency Initiative has released additional resources and a new set of tools aimed at encouraging more schemes and asset managers to sign up to the standard, following a strong show of support by the industry for the framework it published last year.

  • News

    Peers push for clarity over insolvency measures

    2020-06-18T00:00:00Z

    On the go: Members of the House of Lords have pressed the government to provide clarity over the impact of new insolvency laws on pension schemes.

  • News

    Superfunds cleared to begin work under TPR interim regime

    2020-06-18T00:00:00Z

    The Pensions Regulator is to sanction the transfer of struggling corporate defined benefit schemes into commercial consolidators aiming to secure pensions at a lower cost than insurers, under a two-part interim regime unveiled on Thursday.

  • News

    Pensions compliance with furlough tapering ‘horrendously complicated’

    2020-06-16T00:00:00Z

    The Pensions Regulator’s updated guidance on auto-enrolment and defined contribution schemes is likely to lead to large numbers of mistakes being made, some experts predict, as employers have to grapple with the bifurcated system resulting from the slow death of furlough.

  • News

    Covid-19 leads to unexpected interest in bridging pensions

    2020-06-15T00:00:00Z

    On the go: The coronavirus pandemic has led to an increase in the number of defined benefit scheme members looking to bridging pensions, according to a report by Aon.

  • News

    Poor data management keeps ombudsman busy

    2020-06-12T00:00:00Z

    The Pensions Ombudsman has ruled in favour of a former bank employee in a dispute about the transfer of deferred pension liabilities, in a case reinforcing the impact that poor data management can have for schemes and members.

  • News

    Schemes to take a £5bn hit as analysts predict deflation

    2020-06-12T00:00:00Z

    On the go: Pension schemes already suffering the funding implications of Covid-19 could be facing a further £5bn of pressure, as the prospect of deflation later in the year produces a “ratchet effect”, according to analysis by LCP.

  • Features

    What is the purpose of pensions?

    2020-06-11T00:00:00Z

    What is the purposeof pensions?Growing pressure on trustees to ensure fundsare being invested ethically – whatever the costEnterkeywords.sh_embed {position: relative;height: auto;width:100%;z-index: 0;overflow: hidden;background-color: #222;color: white;font-family: 'Lato', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;}.sh_embed * {-webkit-box-sizing: border-box;-moz-box-sizing: border-box;box-sizing: border-box;}.sh_embed .sh-embed-bg {position: absolute;width: 110%;height: 110%;top: -5%;left: -5%;z-index: -1;background-color: rgba(0,0,0,.8);}.sh_embed #embed_article {display: none;}.sh_embed .sh-embed-img {display: ...