All independent governance committees articles
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NewsEmployers call for UCU backing over USS governance review
On the go: Universities UK, the group representing 340 Universities Superannuation Scheme employers, has called for the backing of the University and College Union over the scheme's governance review.
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NewsUSS points members to LifeSight master trust for drawdown services
On the go: The trustee of Universities Superannuation Scheme has decided to signpost its members to LifeSight – Willis Towers Watson’s defined contribution master trust – for drawdown provision.
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NewsFCA opts for softer approach to charges comparison in DC schemes
The Financial Conduct Authority is taking a softer approach to cost and charges comparison requirements in defined contribution schemes after listening to industry feedback on its proposed rules.
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NewsRegulators propose DC-wide ‘value for money’ framework
The Pensions Regulator and the Financial Conduct Authority will be forcing defined contribution schemes to disclose more data around their investment performance, scheme oversight, and costs and charges, as they unveil a discussion paper looking at creating an “holistic framework” for assessing value for money in this sector.
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NewsEmployer seeks £265,000 in damages from Plumbing Pensions
A plumbing employer has filed a summons at the Court of Session in Edinburgh seeking more than £265,000 in damages from Plumbing Pensions over its alleged repeated failures to manage the scheme’s Section 75 debt.
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NewsTax ‘super-deduction’ could leave DB schemes short-changed
A “super-deduction” introduced in the Budget could see less money available to clear pension deficits, experts have warned, as businesses look to take advantage of the tax break.
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Threat of TPR action forces changes to merchant navy trustee board
On the go: A four-year bitter dispute over the running of a naval industry pension scheme has finally been brought to a close by the Pensions Regulator, after it identified governance failings that had cost the scheme £1m.
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Scottish Widows snares top hire from Legal & General
Veteran professional David Butcher has just taken on a new dual role as a member of the master trust board and independent governance committee at Scottish Widows, moving from Legal & General’s master trust board.
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OpinionIGCs let savers down with impunity
In an earlier column for Pensions Expert, I asked whether independent governance committees were up to the job of looking after the interests of millions of workplace pension savers.
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Regulator finds lack of consistency in IGCs
On the go: The Financial Conduct Authority is concerned about a lack of consistency in the way independent governance committees operate, which means that members of some workplace pension schemes may not be receiving value for money.
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FCA drops cost requirement for all contract-based funds
On the go: The Financial Conduct Authority has ditched a requirement for workplace pension providers to disclose and illustrate the impact of charges on all of their defined contribution funds, after industry concerns were raised in consultation.
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OpinionAre IGCs up to challenge of new duties?
Last year came to an end with the Financial Conduct Authority taking steps to expand the role of governance committees charged with looking after the pensions of millions of workplace savers in the UK.
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IGCs face ‘huge challenges’ with extended oversight remits
The new rules coming into force for independent governance committees – taking oversight of the provider’s policy on environmental, social and governance factors, and guaranteeing the value for money of new investment pathway solutions – have been branded a “huge challenge” by industry experts.
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OpinionThe mirage of independence
What does independence mean to you? Does it mean being free of control or influence by third parties? Does it mean making decisions without fear or favour?
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OpinionIGC reports need to tell it like it is on value for money
The Financial Conduct Authority is consulting on extending the powers of independent governance committees. As expected, it is looking to IGCs to monitor providers’ engagement with environmental, social and governance principles, and to ensure policyholders get value for money as they exercise their pension freedoms.
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Pensions still high on FCA agenda despite Brexit demands
On the go: Dealing with Brexit is the Financial Conduct Authority’s overarching concern, its business plan for 2019-20 reveals, but pensions are still high on its agenda.
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L&G legacy pension members face higher charges, finds IGC
On the go: In its fourth annual report, Legal & General's independent governance committee gave the company an overall high score, but flagged up steep charges on legacy pension products.
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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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OpinionThe day that climate became mainstream
From the blog: Climate campaigners across the country spluttered into their morning cups of fair trade coffee last Tuesday as the Department for Work and Pensions and Financial Conduct Authority published their final responses to the Law Commission’s 2017 report on pensions and social investing.
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OpinionHow would extending the remit of IGCs to cover SRI boost outcomes?
The father of journalist and broadcaster Victoria Derbyshire taught her that when she made contributions to a pension, she was not saving but “spending” on her retirement.