All Consultants articles – Page 7
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Opinion
How do you pick a good pensions manager?
Any Other Business: From supervising providers and monitoring scheme performance to managing key relationships, the modern day pensions manager is now the ultimate multitasker. So how easy is it to find the perfect candidate?
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NewsCMA referral still likely for advisory firms as FCA consultation closes
Apathy from the investment consulting industry to pro-competition measures suggested by the ‘big three’ firms is set to pave the way for a referral of the industry to the Competition and Markets Authority.
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OpinionWill the FCA market study revolutionise pensions?
The Financial Conduct Authority’s asset management market study is finally with us, but despite the dramatic headlines, the final report turned out not to be the ‘game changer’ that some hoped for and others feared.
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OpinionHow consultants can prepare for scheme consolidation
The pensions industry, particularly the segment dealing with defined benefit schemes, is notoriously fragmented. In the UK alone there are more than 6,000 pension funds. From a macroeconomic perspective this does not make much sense.
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OpinionAn industry under pressure
It had to happen at some point: the Financial Conduct Authority has set its sights on the investment consulting market.
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NewsWatchdog referral looms for investment consulting industry
Industry-led proposals to minimise conflicts of interest in investment consulting have been rejected by the Financial Conduct Authority, bringing firms a step closer to investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority.
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Opinion
How do trustees choose the 'right' consultant?
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.
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Opinion
DC Debate Q2 (part 2): The limits of DC
In the second DC Debate of 2017, seven defined contribution specialists discuss why schemes will look for more delegation, whether member engagement can be counterproductive, and if auto-enrolment should be extended.
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Opinion
Should trustees review their advisers more often?
Analysis: There are myriad tasks involved in running a pension scheme, so time is precious and efficiency is key. But when it comes to evaluating advice, how can trustees measure performance, and should they be reviewing their consultants more frequently?
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OpinionHow to ensure your consultants are not conflicted
Trustees are required to seek specialist advice when running their scheme and in doing so, conflicts of interest are likely to arise.
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Opinion
Mastertrusts have the next milestone in sight
Mastertrusts are on their way to becoming a dominant force in the UK pensions system, having woven themselves into the fabric of workplace defined contribution provision.
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OpinionHow much delegation is right for your scheme?
A growing regulatory burden means trustees are delegating not only more work, but also different types of work. Investment in particular is an area where delegation is increasing fast. What are the pros and cons, and how can trustees avoid the pitfalls?
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OpinionOpenness is the key to creating better solutions
This is an almost unprecedented time for the pensions industry as it faces fresh challenges and changes on an almost weekly basis.
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News
FCA market study: All-in fee might not be all-in cure
The consultation stage of the Financial Conduct Authority’s market review of the asset management industry closed last week, with experts welcoming the boost to transparency but remaining reticent over proposals for an all-in fee structure.
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News
Trustees overlook strategic objectives due to deficit distraction
Deficits distract the majority of trustees from focusing on the ultimate goal of paying members’ pensions, recent research has found, but some experts highlighted the role of covenant strength and scheme size in deciding where the priority should be.
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OpinionData crunch: Who advises the DC scheme community?
The answers to this question show that there are still some differences between the trust and contract-based markets.
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News
FCA wants to strengthen duty on managers and consultants
About £109bn of investor assets is held by managers who charge high fees but do not offer significant variation from an index-tracking strategy, the Financial Conduct Authority’s interim report on competition in the asset management market has found.
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News
Select committee inquiry: What should change to safeguard DB?
As the deadline for submitting views on defined benefit to the Work and Pensions Committee has passed, experts say there is a need for greater flexibility, potential benefit reductions and increased powers for the Pensions Regulator.
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OpinionHow can schemes ensure they get impartial advice?
Although not exclusively, most pension scheme trustees are still lay trustees. They rely heavily on their advisers when it comes to fundamental decisions about their schemes, particularly investments.
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News
Member-borne commission ban could move costs elsewhere
The Department for Work and Pensions has launched a consultation on draft regulations for banning member-borne commission in auto-enrolment schemes, but experts said costs would still need to be shouldered elsewhere.