All Governance articles – Page 21
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FeaturesUSS targets steady returns with KCom investment
The actions of bellwether schemes like the £64bn Universities Superannuation Scheme are always closely watched, but scrutiny on USS is particularly acute after widespread strike action last year. Last month, the UK’s largest private plan agreed a £504m cash takeover of telecoms business KCom.
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News
LGIM votes against record number of companies in 2018
On the go: Legal & General Investment Management has broken its record for voting against companies of which it is a shareholder, as the asset manager tries to cement its stewardship credentials.
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PodcastsPodcast: Is LGPS governance up to scratch?
Podcast: From asset pooling and actuarial valuations, to administration and data, local government pension schemes have a lot to think about this year – meaning good governance is more important than ever. In this podcast episode, Kirsty Bartlett, partner at law firm Squire Patton Boggs, and Ian Colvin, head of LGPS benefits and governance at Hymans Robertson, discuss potential conflicts of interest, pressure on fund resources and the importance of focusing on administration.
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PodcastsPodcast: Improving the quality of professional trustees
Podcast: Last month, the Professional Trustee Standards Working Group published a set of new standards, which all professional trustees will be expected to meet. The group is also due to launch an associated accreditation framework later this year. In this episode of the PE podcast, Rachel Croft, director at Independent Trustee Services, explains what these new standards mean for schemes, how they will improve professional trustee quality, and whether increasing professionalisation and rising workloads could lead to the extinction of the lay trustee.
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News
PTSWG publishes new set of standards for professional trustees
On the go: Professional trustees will soon have to pass an initial application process to hold accreditation, and will have to demonstrate that they meet a new set of standards published today by the industry-led Professional Trustee Standards Working Group.
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News
IGC reports are ‘vague’ and lacking information, says Labour MP
The effectiveness of independent governance committees has come under the spotlight in the Work & Pensions Committee’s hearing on pension costs and transparency inquiry, with the bodies blasted for lacking information.
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News
DWP consultation ramps up pressure on small schemes to consolidate
The Department for Work and Pensions is ramping up the pressure on small schemes to consolidate and to consider long term illiquid investments.
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OpinionTPR: 2019 must see member security improve
2019 already looks set to be a busy year. Notwithstanding the challenges that may be thrown in our direction, we think there is a lot to look forward to in pensions.
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FeaturesGSK launches new investment options for DC members
Global healthcare company GlaxoSmithKline and the trustees of its pension plans have introduced two new defined contribution lifestyle options, responding to a change in member retirement saving behaviour following the introduction of pension freedoms in 2015.
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News
CMA ups pressure on trustees and advisers to seek best deal
New requirements on trustees to shop around for fiduciary management and challenge their advisers will generate better value for members, experts have said in response to measures set out by the Competition and Markets Authority.
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OpinionDC governance: How to ensure your scheme is on the right track
When it comes to the governance of a defined contribution plan, few things are more important than the process applied to the default investment strategy.
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News
Tower Hamlets completes £700m equity protection strategy
On the go: The London Borough of Tower Hamlets Pension Fund has undertaken a £700m equity protection strategy with Schroders.
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News
Govt and scheme decision-makers told to tread with caution on CDC
Collective defined contribution schemes could produce a higher and more certain retirement income than individual DC schemes, but there are also many potential issues to consider, including intergenerational unfairness and governance problems, the Pensions Policy Institute has highlighted.
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Features
Should there be an industry-wide methodology for measuring value?
When government boasts about being responsible for pushing almost 10m people into pension saving via auto-enrolment, you can be quite sure they want it to be a success.
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OpinionIncreased self-service will boost data quality and raise admin standards
Data cleansing sounds like a wonderful, positive experience, about renewal and putting to right the mistakes of the past. It is, however, far more prosaic – and yet powerful – than that.
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OpinionHow to take a proactive approach to decision-making
Proactive decision-making is a function of a pension plan’s governance framework, the knowledge of the individual trustees and the quality of the advice they receive from their advisers.
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News
More unions eye CDC as possible negotiation outcome
What is good enough for postal workers is, it would appear, not good enough for academics.
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NewsImperial Brands’ proposal to disband member forum ‘disappointing’
Imperial Brands is looking to discontinue a consultative committee at its Imperial Tobacco Pension Fund, arguing that the benefits gained by holding the forum do not warrant the cost, workload and logistical efforts required to run the twice-yearly meeting.
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OpinionIt's not easy being green
Editorial: These days it is hard to deny that climate change is a material risk to a wide range of investments.
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OpinionDC mastertrust consolidation: The long-term outcome
Consolidation is the buzz word of the day. All the current signs indicate that in the future there will be significantly fewer defined contribution mastertrusts.