All articles by Ian Smith – Page 2
-
Opinion
DC is getting worse before it gets better, in three graphs
The auto-enrolment army of (initially) low-contributing, apathetic savers has marched into the official data on pension contributions, demonstrating the uphill battle facing the industry to secure a decent retirement for today's savers.
-
OpinionEditorial: Over-filling your boots
There are a few areas of scheme management where trustees and the employer are in natural tension, and one of these is the matter of surpluses.
-
Opinion
Osborne's guidance bill, a £2.5bn buyout and at-risk DC savers – a day in pensions
Here's your guide to an eventful day for the UK workplace pensions industry.
-
News
Managers predict cash will be king for many post-April retirees
It may be a caravan rather than a Lamborghini, but scheme managers across the country are getting ready for a wave of savers cashing in their pension pots come April’s introduction of George Osborne’s retirement flexibilities.
-
OpinionEditorial: Just around the corner
The level of calm within a given pensions department ahead of the advent of the new pension freedoms is probably related to how well you know your scheme membership.
-
Opinion
Where's your scheme's invitation from David Cameron?
This morning's Financial Times led in print with the news that the Qatari royal family wants to invest in renovating the HS2 high-speed rail line hubs, and carried a telling line for institutional investors.
-
Opinion
The cult of the leader: how long is too long for a trustee chair's tenure?
What is more important from a pension scheme's chair of trustees – a steady hand on the tiller, or a fresh pair of eyes?
-
OpinionEditorial: Breaking down a door
There used to be the cult of UK equity. Pension funds were to invest in their home country’s businesses so the accrued capital of workers’ retirement holdings was reinvested into capital-creating entities, driving growth and producing return.
-
News
Pensions Trust reflects on trustee election after diversity move
The Pensions Trust did not see a bump in engagement in its latest round of trustee elections despite adding online voting, following a controversial decision to take names off the ballot to avoid “unconscious bias” towards male candidates.
-
Opinion
Five tips for any new pension scheme trustee
Any other business: The governance burden on pension fund trustees becomes heavier by the day, making it difficult to believe why anyone would be such a glutton for punishment as to take on the role. Here are five tips for the brave new trustee.
-
OpinionEditorial: Too hot to handle?
Spare a thought for the asset manager responsible for putting together defined contribution investment strategies. At least, that’s what the Investment Management Association wants you to do.
-
OpinionEditorial: Turn the dial?
I should start off by agreeing entirely with Barnett Waddingham’s Damian Stancombe that the vast majority of breath spent on defined contribution pensions should not be expended discussing investment, but on encouraging savers to pay more in.
-
News
Schemes face dilemma on annuity brokering services ahead of April
Employers that have put in place annuity brokering services for their defined contribution scheme members have been called upon to rip up or review these set-ups to make sure they are giving savers an adequate view of the market.
-
News
Just one AE member per micro employer, ACA projects
Three-quarters of a million micro employers could end up with an average of only one member of staff each in their pension scheme as a result of auto-enrolment, fuelling the debate over eligibility.
-
OpinionEditorial: On the boil
At this year’s National Association of Pension Funds’ conference, two themes predominated. One was relief, and even self-satisfaction, at the success of auto-enrolment. The other was widespread anxiety ahead of the April deadline for the new defined contribution flexibilities.
-
Opinion
'Education', salesmanship, and how to find the real deal
The oft-repeated phrase a journalist hears from an asset manager trying, often unsuccesfully, to garner support for a new product launch is, 'It's all about education'.
-
Opinion
Editorial: In the republic of mediocrity
What should schemes make of the International Monetary Fund’s managing director Christine Lagarde’s proclamation of the “new mediocre” global economy?
-
News
Civil service scheme's online relaunch triggers engagement surge
The Civil Service Pension Scheme has seen a huge spike in engagement from its 1.5m members after a website relaunch and major communication campaign multiplied users of its online services.
-
Features
Study: poor alts benchmarking hides £1.1bn of underperformance
A report released today finds that inappropriate benchmarks used by local authority pension funds and their advisers for alternative investments have artificially flattered performance, with its authors blaming a governance failure in the sector.
-
OpinionEditorial: Don't spend it all at once
The debate rumbles on. Will the annuity make the best comeback since Lazarus? What should we make of this grand shove into drawdown?