All articles by Benjamin Mercer – Page 8
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NewsTPR aims for transparency in consolidated enforcement powers
The Pensions Regulator has launched a consultation into a new draft enforcement policy document that aims to consolidate existing enforcement policies governing defined benefit, hybrid, public sector and defined contribution pension schemes.
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NewsStandard Life’s sustainable switch and a new LGPS active fund
ESG spotlight: A roundup of the latest news on environmental, social and governance initiatives, including a new sustainable multi-asset profile from Standard Life, a £1bn sustainable global equities fund from LGPS Central, and an anti-scams pledge from the Universities Superannuation Scheme.
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NewsSchemes to weigh up £8bn cost of discretionary increases
Defined benefit schemes in the UK will have to weigh up the significant costs of granting discretionary increases later this year, which could add up to £8bn in liabilities across private sector DB schemes, according to Aon.
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NewsSome DB schemes will be subject to ‘stronger nudge’ requirements
On the go: Some defined benefit schemes will have to comply with the Department for Work and Pensions’ new “stronger nudge” requirements, due to come into force on June 1, dispelling suggestions that only defined contribution schemes would be affected.
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NewsGMP conversion bill receives royal assent
On the go: A private members’ bill aimed at clarifying and streamlining the process of guaranteed minimum pensions conversion has received royal assent.
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NewsTPR funding statement flags uncertainty impact for valuations
High levels of uncertainty surrounding inflation, interest rates, mortality, energy prices and economic growth will put additional pressure on trustees completing their tranche 17 valuations this year, according to the Pensions Regulator’s annual funding statement.
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NewsContribution notice of £3.6mn hints at ‘new era’ of TPR powers
Legal commentators have hailed what could be the start of a “new era” in the Pensions Regulator’s enforcement powers after its determinations panel handed down a contribution notice for more than £3mn to two individuals connected with the Meghraj Group Pensions Scheme.
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NewsInstitute and Faculty of Actuaries issues climate risk alert
On the go: The Institute and Faculty of Actuaries has published a new alert warning of the risk that actuaries may not be appropriately considering or communicating the impact of climate change, and has committed to releasing new guidance in this area.
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NewsAltus and ITM move first on next stage of dashboards journey
On the go: Financial services software company Altus and platform technology specialist ITM have been confirmed as the first participants in the Pensions Dashboards Programme’s “Alpha” stage to move forwards to the next development stage.
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NewsPodcast: ‘Pot follows member’ legislation needed to solve small pots problem
Podcast: Industry consensus is needed to support a ‘pot follows member’ solution to the small pots problem, with previous attempts to solve it having failed, says Henry Tapper, executive chair of AgeWage. He is joined by Tom McPhail, director of public affairs at the Lang Cat, to discuss small pots, commercial consolidators, and more McCloud woe for the Local Government Pension Scheme.
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NewsPLSA issues further clarification on HMRC’s GMP guidance
On the go: The Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association has posted a memo clarifying certain aspects of HM Revenue & Customs’ guidance on the tax treatment of guaranteed minimum pensions equalisation, looking specifically at the treatment of the interest element.
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NewsPolice Scotland warned of staff exodus after pension changes
Police Scotland is reportedly facing a staff exodus after changes to pension lump sum rules led 1,800 staff to query the size of the figure they will receive under the new system, with 400 having already decided to leave the service.
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NewsProfessional trustee market expected to grow and consolidate
Data crunch: The professional trustee market is expected to grow further over the next five years as up to 90 per cent of schemes make appointments, but the number of large companies is expected to almost halve, according to new research.
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NewsUSS and University of Southampton make AVC blunder
On the go: The Pensions Ombudsman has partially upheld a complaint against the University of Southampton and the Universities Superannuation Scheme trustee after a communication lapse saw a member continue to make annual voluntary contributions after her policy had ended.
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NewsMcCloud remedy causes three of four schemes to breach cost cap
The Government Actuary’s Department has published the cost cap valuations of four public sector schemes, confirming that the cost of implementing the McCloud remedy has led to a breach of the cost control mechanism, cancelling previously-agreed benefits increases.
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NewsGMP guidance ‘helpful’ but ‘could have gone further’ on conversion
The government’s supplementary guidance on guaranteed minimum pensions equalisation was broadly welcomed by the industry as it could save trustees “time and money”, but some have cautioned that the section on conversion will make little difference without legislation.
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NewsOverpayment woes at Teachers’ Pension Scheme continue
The Pensions Ombudsman has partially upheld two more complaints about overpayments to members of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme, the latest in a series of cases where the scheme and its administrators, Teachers’ Pensions, have faced accusations of maladministration.
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NewsUSS trustee concerned by ‘misleading’ use of financial reports
On the go: The Universities Superannuation Scheme trustee has issued an update on scheme finances, and expressed its concern that previous use of monitoring statements by parties involved in the ongoing 2020 valuation dispute could be “misleading” members about the true state of the scheme.
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NewsHMRC to address GMP conversion tax issues ‘in the coming weeks’
The government has promised supplementary guidance on guaranteed minimum pensions conversion “in the coming weeks” and confirmed it is working on legislative changes, as the debate on the second reading of the pension schemes (conversion of GMPs) bill concludes in the House of Lords.
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NewsAppeals made as foreign exchange class action proceeds on opt-in basis
The Competition Appeal Tribunal has ruled that a class action suit against banks for participating in a foreign exchange spot trading cartel must proceed on an opt-in basis, leading to fears that thousands of pension funds could miss their opportunity to join the suit.