All Costs and charges articles – Page 14
-
NewsPodcast: Three-month DB contribution holiday ‘might not be enough’
Podcast: Measures introduced by the Pensions Regulator – which allow employers to freeze their defined benefit obligations for three months in response to the economic fallout from coronavirus – might need to be reviewed, warned Emma Watkins, annuities director at Scottish Widows. However, she says the plan gives “breathing space to the most stressed pension schemes”, an opinion shared by Simon Kew, covenant adviser and former manager at the regulator.
-
News
The People’s Pension introduces ‘criticised’ annual charge
The second-largest master trust in the UK is changing its charging structure and introducing an annual fixed fee, a model that other providers operate but which has been heavily criticised by experts.
-
News
Northumberland and Tyne and Wear schemes plan merger
The government is planning to merge the Northumberland County Council Pension Fund into the Tyne and Wear scheme, in a move that would generate savings of up to 12 per cent a year.
-
News
Charge cap could be a barrier to CDC, experts fear
A collective defined contribution pension scheme for Royal Mail employees is inching closer to the starting gate, but an amendment to the pension schemes bill to impose a charge cap could derail other nascent CDCs from ever getting off the ground, according to experts.
-
OpinionMinister wide of the mark on self-employed
Instant analysis: Speeches made by government ministers at the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association's conferences are one of the year's highlights for pensions policy-watchers, and often say as much about the person as the policies they launch.
-
News
FCA drops cost requirement for all contract-based funds
On the go: The Financial Conduct Authority has ditched a requirement for workplace pension providers to disclose and illustrate the impact of charges on all of their defined contribution funds, after industry concerns were raised in consultation.
-
News
Providers divided on mandatory simpler annual statements
Workplace providers such as Smart Pension and PensionBee are supporting the government’s intention to introduce a standardised annual statement, with calls for legislation if take-up from schemes does not increase.
-
News
The People’s Pension fee structure changes delayed
On the go: Changes to The People’s Pension charges structure have been delayed after a problem was encountered during testing.
-
Features
Trustees back partial transfers for big pension pots
Data crunch: The number of schemes offering partial defined benefit transfers is increasing, with the option being targeted at members with large transfer values, new data show.
-
NewsMPs up pressure on govt over non-commercial dashboard
The government’s failure to commit to a rollout timetable for a new pensions dashboard with state pension data was criticised on Saturday by the Work and Pensions Select Committee.
-
News
Johnson lambasts billion-pound costs of LGPS
The stellar investment returns of the Local Government Pension Scheme over the past decade may be overplayed, according to a leading expert from a right-wing think tank, who also controversially claimed that the scheme offers poor value for money.
-
OpinionWhat does ‘value’ mean for UK DC schemes?
Data Crunch: Since the introduction of the 0.75 per cent cap on member charges in 2015, the average fee paid by members of defined contribution schemes has fallen dramatically.
-
Features
Delivering value to members is about more than scheme costs
Data crunch: Low costs and charges alone do not guarantee good value for members’ pension savings, research by the Pensions Policy Institute shows.
-
OpinionTime for a summer stocktake
Julian Mund, the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association’s chief executive, reflects on 2019 so far – from master trust authorisation to impressive auto-enrolment figures. But despite some positive developments this year, Mr Mund notes that there is still a significant amount of uncertainty over what the next few months have in store for the pensions industry.
-
News
MPs urge DWP to review scope and level of charges cap
The Work and Pensions Committee is ramping up the pressure on the government and the Financial Conduct Authority to cap the level of charges on default retirement products.
-
News
Active equity fees fall by 11 per cent since 2017
On the go: The average fee for an active global equity mandate has fallen by 11 per cent since 2017, according to consultancy LCP, as competition from low-cost index tracking vehicles sees costs improve across most asset classes for institutional investors.
-
Features
Now Pensions castigated as master trust competition turns nasty
Data crunch: Master trust Now Pensions has published an index claiming its charges have the least drag on an average defined contribution pot, unleashing in the process a barrage of criticism of the provider’s own charging structure and administrative headaches.
-
FeaturesUS industrial giant completes sectionalised merger of UK schemes
US conglomerate Honeywell has gone ahead with proposals to merge three of its UK defined benefit schemes on a sectionalised basis, in a bid to lower costs and streamline governance.
-
News
Aviva launches ESG default fund
On the go: Aviva has launched a defined contribution default fund with environmental, social and governance considerations at its heart, in line with growing demand from workers.
-
News
CMA takes final step in reform of fid man and consultancy sectors
On the go: The Competition and Markets Authority has issued a legally binding order requiring investment consultants and fiduciary managers to provide clearer information about what their customers are getting for their money.