All articles by Ian Smith – Page 5
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Opinion
Final mastertrust assurance framework released: key points
The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and the Pensions Regulator have today released their final mastertrust assurance framework, including reducing the number and detail of control objectives to reduce burden on providers.
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OpinionWebb keen to get the handshakes for Budget pension reforms
Editor's blog: At today's Work and Pensions Select Committee, pensions minister Steve Webb was keen to underline the role of his department in the Budget's smashing of the conventional annuity market.
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OpinionEditorial: Picking up the scraps
Much has been made of the gains available for pension schemes willing to buy those assets that banks – constrained by tougher capital requirements – are less able to access.
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OpinionRegulator sets AE lesson with first non-compliance report
Editor's blog: The Pensions Regulator has issued a report on how it resolved non-compliance with auto-enrolment by soft-furnishings company Dunelm, the watchdog keen to set an example for future employers.
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News
Lafarge trustees seek merger assurances to protect members
The trustee board of Lafarge’s UK pension fund has begun discussions with its sponsor to ensure members would be protected under its proposed $40bn (£23.8bn) merger with Holcim to form a global cement maker giant.
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OpinionEditorial: Here's the choice you wanted
To annuitise or not to annuitise? The debate rumbles on, with successive reports predicting a fair deal of doom for the vendors of the old normal.
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News
The Cut: What reporting changes could mean for your scheme's financial statements
Today the Pensions Research Accountants Group released a statement of recommended practice for pension schemes' financial reports, under a three-month consultation that will close on July 16.
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Features
Accounting body pushes government to scrap outdated reporting regs
Industry body Pensions Research Accountants Group, together with the Financial Reporting Council, has had initial discussions with the government on jettisoning out-of-date requirements for pension scheme reporting to make way for its own enhanced disclosure regime.
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News
LDI struggling to penetrate medium and smaller-sized schemes
Liability-driven investment strategies are struggling to gain ground outside larger schemes, with regulatory data indicating just one in 17 medium-sized plans have implemented hedging strategies.
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OpinionEditorial: A fair fight?
The “saver’s Budget” sounded a starting bell in the frankly lethargic DC investment market – which default strategy would win the argument and, more importantly, the flows?
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Opinion
What drives performance in fixed income, and how are assets faring?
Pan Trustees' Andrew Cheeseman, Towers Watson's Ed Britton, M&G's Richard Ryan, Aviva Investors' Dan James, GSAM's Jeremy Cave and PiRho's Nicola Ralston discuss where there is value in fixed income markets.
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OpinionEditorial: For the data controller (that's you)
While it may not receive the same frenzied attention as pension liberation, or hold the excitement of stewarding a growth portfolio, data protection is clearly of critical importance.
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OpinionEditorial: What you wish for
Last year in this column I asked the pensions minister to “go big or go home” on the charges cap, arguing that only a 0.75 per cent level – rather than 1 per cent – would justify the regulatory burden.
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OpinionEditorial: Like a wrecking ball
Well, you'd be lying if you said you saw it coming. The most fundamental change to pension saving in a generation was a controversial intervention in the evolution of defined contribution pension schemes.
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News
Experts question multi-asset suitability for younger savers
The rise of multi-asset funds in defined contribution schemes has fed criticism over whether these strategies are taking a sufficient level of investment risk for 20-somethings with a long-term savings horizon.
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OpinionEditorial: Take the weight
There has been much discussion within these comment pages over recent years about the importance of driving up scheme quality in defined contribution schemes.
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News
How to evaluate the growing TDF market
State Street Global Advisors is the latest manager to detail its UK target date funds with an emphasis on volatility control, while consultants scrutinise the take-up and construction of these strategies.
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OpinionEditorial: Care for a slice?
There has been a "resurgence of activity" in the pension increase exchange market, we read this week. Is that a good thing for members?
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OpinionEditorial: Switching it up
Change is compelling. For a scheme whose fund manager’s performance is starting to flag it not only seems the obvious choice, but arguably one that is demanded by fiduciary duty.