All Defined benefit articles – Page 160
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FeaturesPost Office surplus raises union affordability complaints
The Post Office section of the Royal Mail Pension Plan remains in surplus, its latest funding update shows, just weeks after it was closed to future accrual amid union consternation.
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OpinionData crunch: The DB market is growing fast
I often catch people talking about the ‘shrinkage’ of defined benefit. There are lots of things about this market that are shrinking: memberships are shrinking; the number of open DB schemes is shrinking.
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OpinionDB Pensions: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it
If someone on average earnings had started saving 5 per cent of his pay in 2000 and invested it in UK equities, he could have accumulated a whopping £65,000 by now.
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FeaturesInvensys attempts to reconcile GMPs delayed by HMRC
Slow responses from HM Revenue & Customs are delaying efforts by the Invensys Pension Scheme to reconcile guaranteed minimum pensions, the scheme’s trustees have told members.
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Features
John Menzies signs MoU ahead of sectionalisation
A memorandum of understanding has been signed by John Menzies and trustees of its pension scheme as it has closed the scheme and plans to begin a sectionalisation process, but experts have highlighted that this sort of agreement is rarely legally binding.
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News
Lawyer survey highlights lack of clearance sought from regulator
Just 21 per cent of pensions and restructuring lawyers normally suggest that clients go through the Pensions Regulator’s clearing process, reflecting a similar decrease in clearance applications submitted.
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OpinionConsidering the future of the defined benefit sector
As Pensions Expert readers will know, in February the Pensions Regulator reached a deal to secure the future of the BHS pension scheme and protect members’ retirement income.
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NewsArcadia agrees shorter recovery plans as Green feels pressure
Arcadia Group has agreed to increase its scheduled contributions to its two pension schemes, a sign that public pressure and 'naming and shaming' may be having some impact.
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News
TPR guidance: Welcome set of principles or waste of time?
While some have welcomed the Pensions Regulator’s recently published and extensive collection of investment guidance for those running defined benefit pension schemes, there are some concerns over the effectiveness of the information for time-stretched or less diligent trustees.
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News
Dashboard prototype launch prompts next steps
Plans to deliver a pensions dashboard prototype by March 2017 have been completed, despite the complex nature of technology infrastructure involved. But while experts think the progress is encouraging, they say more needs to be done to maintain this momentum.
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FeaturesTaylor Wimpey builds synthetic equities to tackle volatility
The pension scheme of housebuilder Taylor Wimpey has undertaken a widespread derisking programme, strengthening existing hedges while converting physical equity investments into a synthetic, volatility-dampening exposure.
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News
IA consults on cost disclosure code amid data overload concerns
The Investment Association is calling for views on a proposed industry code on disclosure of charges and transaction costs, as some have stressed the importance of making such data easy to interpret.
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FeaturesJohn Laing targets speedy return to full funding
The John Laing Pension Fund has agreed a recovery plan worth £171m to be paid over seven years by its sponsor, infrastructure investor John Laing, following an actuarial valuation.
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News
Face-to-face comms can sweeten 'unpalatable' news
With the world of pensions constantly changing, employers and trustees are investing more time, effort and resources into liaising with members, but face-to-face communication has been deemed particularly effective when it comes to bad news.
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News
Better trusteeship key to any future DB plans
Efforts to improve the level of experience and competence of trustee boards must not come at the expense of diversity, politicians have warned, as dealing with groupthink remains a key concern in defined benefit pensions.
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News
Lack of savings highlights importance of state pension
The number of women retiring without a pension has dropped, new research shows, but nearly 14 per cent of people have not made provisions for their retirement, highlighting the significance of the state pension for savers.
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News
Delays in transfer value process threaten member outcomes
The Pensions Regulator has been asked to look at streamlining the process for providing cash equivalent transfer values, after complaints from advisers that delays in schemes providing necessary information meant members were missing out.
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FeaturesCornwall agrees new private credit allocation
The Cornwall Pension Fund is set to make an allocation to private credit, an asset class increasingly popular among schemes as tightened bank regulation has opened up a new range of investment options.
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News
Pensions fail to convince savers but attitudes are expected to change
Fewer than half of people view workplace pensions as the most secure form of retirement savings, but experts have said attitudes towards saving for the future could change, driven by the current housing shortage, auto-enrolment developments and the demise of defined benefit pension funds.
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Features
Leicester Uni scheme cuts risk with higher hedge
Following closure to future benefit accrual, trustees at the University of Leicester Pension and Assurance Scheme have decided to double its hedge, as experts emphasise the importance of keeping an eye on triggers and cash flow.