All articles by Ian Smith – Page 10
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Features
Pearl beefs up covenant safeguards for DB members
The £1.9bn Pearl Group Staff Pension Scheme has renegotiated a series of funding conditions with its sponsor to improve security, reflecting greater innovation in how schemes are protecting members’ benefits.
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Features
Aircraft scheme achieves 20% buyout uplift
SR Technics UK’s pension scheme has secured benefits of around 20 per cent above what members would have got through the Pension Protection Fund, by investing in matched assets and improving its data.
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FeaturesReckitt Benckiser reforms comms to engage youth
The household and health products company’s scheme has made a series of changes to its communications as part of a drive to encourage younger and lower-paid members to put away more for their retirement.
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Features
Diageo scraps MND tenure limit to retain talent
Diageo Pension Scheme has scrapped the time limit on the service of its member-nominated directors to avoid a talent drain, as schemes balance members’ democratic rights with continuity in decision-making.
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FeaturesRoyal Mail and M&S trim trustees to reflect membership
The Royal Mail and Marks & Spencer pension schemes have reduced the size of their trustee boards to ensure they are more representative of their membership.
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Features
PPF levy change hits solvent employers
The Pension Protection Fund (PPF) accepts its new levy calculation will mean increased charges for schemes with low insolvency risk, except when they are in the highest funding brackets.
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Features
Regulator calls for proportionate DC data requests
Responding to industry criticism, the regulator has told schemeXpert.com it is interested in views on how it could "strengthen" its collection of data from defined contribution (DC) schemes.
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Features
Case study: Great Lakes secures £60m funding deal
After using regulatory pressure and an innovative legal move to clear the path for agreement, Great Lakes UK Pension Plan secured a £60m payment from its sponsor’s parent company.
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FeaturesTui starts early to control PPF levy cost
As the Tui pension scheme works ahead of time to certify its contingent asset and reduce its Pension Protection Fund levy, Ian Smithand Anna Lyudviganalyse the process.
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Features
Avon aims to avert mass opt-out with roadshows
Avon Pension Fund will go on the road in April to explain benefit changes to avoid a slew of members opting out and threatening the viability of the scheme.
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FeaturesCo-op battles 95% apathy with tiered AE scheme
The Co-operative Group has managed its risk of employee disengagement from auto-enrolment by introducing a tiered scheme that mixes defined contribution and career average to suit members' needs.
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Features
Kingfisher plans for 30% auto-enrolment opt-out
Kingfisher is focused on tightening up its administrative and payroll systems to deal with an anticipated 30 per cent opt-out rate following auto-enrolment next year.
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Features
How Sony classifies DC funds for members
As two investment bodies change their fund classifications, Ian Smith looks at how schemes like Sony already communicate investment choice to members.
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Features
Schemes called to help high earners on tax dilemma
Schemes have been called upon to improve their members' retirement outcomes by providing information to help them decide on tax-efficient saving.
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Features
USS helps members beat AVCs tax charge
The universities scheme made a late amendment to its added years benefit to help members avoid an unforeseen annual allowance charge.
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FeaturesWebb on AE challenges for medium schemes
Video: Pensions minister Steve Webb discusses with Ian Smith the auto-enrolment delays and what should be top of the agenda for medium-sized employers (5:39).
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FeaturesWembley scheme saves £3m at High Court
The Wembley pension scheme saved £3m by pursuing a court decision to uphold an amendment on indexation. Ian Smith and Pippa Stephens look at how other schemes can profit from the decision.
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Features
Printing scheme aims to cut member fees with AE
The Printing Industry Pension Scheme (PIPS) expects to multiply its employer membership through auto-enrolment. Ian Smith explores how it is planning to use the reform to control costs for members.
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Features
GMPF drives annual member admin cost below £14
Local government schemes are using benchmarking and reduced paper trails to save administrative costs. Ian Smith looks at what the private sector can learn from the public sector.
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Features
Merseyside limits losses with low volatility stocks
The £5.1bn local authority pension fund has reduced its losses in recent equity downturns through a low volatility investment strategy.