All Defined benefit articles – Page 102
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News
Work and pensions committee urged to open inquiry into scams
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.
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News
Seven-year scam poses ‘serious questions’ for TPR
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.
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News
Lords looks to mandate guidance on pension transfers
On the go: An amendment to the pension schemes bill could see savers forced to obtain guidance before they are allowed to proceed with a pension transfer.
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Opinion
TPR’s superfund green light is only the start
The Pensions Regulator’s new interim regime for superfunds has sounded that starting gun for commercial defined benefit consolidation, but there are still significant hurdles to be overcome, write Rosalind Connor and Aneliese Sweeney of Arc Pensions Law.
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Podcasts
Podcast: PPF could face new court case on benefits
Podcast: After the ruling from the High Court that the Pension Protection Fund cap on deferred member benefits is illegal on age discrimination grounds, the pensions lifeboat could face a new legal challenge as members who have not reached retirement age have their benefits cut to 90 per cent, argues Ian Neale, director at Aries Insight. He and Sara Protheroe, chief customer officer at the PPF, discuss this topic, as well as the interim regime for superfunds and the implications of the new insolvency bill for pension schemes.
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News
DB trustees spend 3,000 days a year processing inefficiencies
On the go: Defined benefit pension scheme trustees cumulatively spend 3,000 days each year monitoring processes that could be avoided by adopting a technology-led approach, new analysis shows.
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News
Part-time judges get owed pensions as govt consults on new rules
On the go: The Ministry of Justice is consulting on new rules for the Fee-Paid Judicial Pension Scheme in response to recent court cases, with 4,600 judges being owed past pension contributions.
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News
BoE governor reignites row between superfunds, insurers and regulators
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.
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News
United Biscuits awaits CJEU ruling in long-lasting VAT saga
On the go: The trustees of United Biscuits’ defined benefit pension scheme are waiting for a final ruling from the Court of Justice of the European Union, after the advocate general sided with HM Revenue & Customs on a long-lasting battle on value added tax.
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News
High Court rules ‘drafting errors’ sufficient to justify switch to CPI
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.
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News
ABI revives call for flat rate pension tax relief
On the go: The Association of British Insurers has urged the government to simplify the pension tax relief system, arguing it worsens existing inequalities in its current form.
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News
PPF cap is age discrimination, court rules
A High Court judge has ruled that a key feature of the Pension Protection Fund’s benefit structure is illegal on age discrimination grounds, leaving the defined benefit lifeboat liable for back payments to wealthier pension members.
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News
2020 set to be a record-breaking year for longevity swaps
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.
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News
Aviva strikes £150m buy-in with General Healthcare Group
On the go: Insurer Aviva has secured a £150m buy-in contract with the General Healthcare Group & Life Assurance Plan.
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News
Cash-strapped money printer cuts deficit repair contributions
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.
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News
Transparency initiative adds new tools following industry support
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.
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News
Are pensions the answer to UK’s £1tn infrastructure gap?
A solution for the regeneration of Britain’s infrastructure could come from pensions, as superfunds could help plug the UK’s £1tn infrastructure gap. However, specialists believe it will be difficult for schemes to achieve the scale needed for these investments to be successful.
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News
Minister questions schemes on dashboard data readiness
UK pension schemes are being asked by the pensions minister to report on the readiness of their data for the dashboards project, but specialists argue the lack of legislation and data standards could make it difficult to obtain accurate responses.
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News
Peers push for clarity over insolvency measures
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.
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News
Blow to investors as TPR rules risk further dividend drought
On the go: New guidance from the Pensions Regulator could prolong the “dividend drought” currently hampering income investors, experts have warned.