All articles by Jem Bartholomew
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News
TPR turns up the heat on 99% failing small schemes
The Pensions Regulator continued to press for consolidation on Thursday, after its annual survey found 99 per cent of small schemes are missing statutory governance requirements.
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News
Quarter of a million still inherit spouse's state pension via DWP loophole
On the go: A loophole means some spouses who outlive their partners are eligible to inherit some of their state pension, the Department for Work and Pensions has said, in a revelation that could boost many pensioners' income.
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NewsFCA lambasted for lethargy on contingent charging
The Financial Conduct Authority’s proposals to ban controversial charging structures were welcomed by the industry on Tuesday, but some have criticised the regulator for being slow to act.
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News
Contingent charging to be banned by November under FCA proposal
On the go: Contingent charging could be banned by November this year under new plans by the Financial Conduct Authority, which released a package of measures on Tuesday aiming to boost consumer rights.
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NewsShell MND elections reignite debate over selection panels
The Shell Contributory Pension Fund announced elections for member-nominated trustees last month, with campaigners calling on members to seize the opportunity and appoint climate risk-conscious representatives.
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News
Unions call for greater action on executive pay and pensions gap
Unions called for policymakers to explore way of curbing bumper executive pay and pensions on Wednesday, as unequal remuneration falls under the cross-hairs of Frank Field’s Work and Pensions Committee.
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News
Lancashire council explores free transport for WASPI women
On the go: Lancashire County Council was urged to explore providing women affected by equalisation with concessionary travel on Thursday, as campaigners await the High Court’s judicial review of the government’s policy.
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News
Proposed merger to swell UK pension fund behemoth by almost £500m
On the go: Plans for the UK’s second-largest local authority pension fund to swallow a local transport workers pension fund were announced on Tuesday, in a move aiming to protect member savings.
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NewsCritics rebuke Hancock's 'narrow' NHS pension consultation
The British Medical Association poured cold water on the government’s NHS pension consultation on Monday, criticising its proposal of '50:50' accrual as too narrow and calling for the annual and tapered allowance to be scrapped altogether.
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News
Standard Chartered under fire over bumper executive pensions
On the go: The Work and Pensions Committee has demanded answers from Standard Chartered over its pension payouts to executives, escalating the debate over bumper retirement awards at the top of corporate structures.
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FeaturesConfined benefits: the pension schemes propping up private prisons
Confined benefits - the pension schemes propping up private prisons and why change is comingInvestment in private security companies has always carried ethical considerations, as highlighted by the wave of anti-Trump divestment in the US. Closer to home, governance risks and the threat of renationalisation have funds rethinking the risk ...
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News
Lancashire hails portfolio's positive impact on local area
The Lancashire County Council Pension Fund, which has invested £200m in its local community since 2013, has become an industry trailblazer amid growing interest in social impact investments.
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NewsFCA's move to shrink IFA market poses trustee challenges
The Financial Conduct Authority defended its increase to the compensation limit on Wednesday, accepting that the financial advice market was shrinking but reaffirming that it will help protect consumers.
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News
Treasury accepts pension reforms were unlawful
On the go: The Treasury accepted that its 2015 public sector pension reforms were unlawful on Monday, with the court judgment likely to cost the department £4bn a year and restrict the next chancellor’s spending.
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News
Swansea to divest £500m after declaring climate emergency
On the go: Swansea’s local authority pension fund is to transition its £500m equity allocation to a low carbon index by the end of July, after the fund’s administering authority declared a climate emergency last month.
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News
Regulator hits back over influence on USS valuation
The Pensions Regulator has defended its record over the Universities Superannuation Scheme, after the Work and Pensions Committee questioned the regulator’s role in USS’s contested 2017 valuation.
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News
DB funding position improves in June
On the go: The overall funding position of UK defined benefit schemes improved in June, figures released by the Pension Protection Fund on Tuesday showed.
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News
Negligent scheme administrator banned from running a business
On the go: An insurance agent was banned from running a business for seven years for pension scheme negligence on Sunday, after the Insolvency Service said he put more than £13m in member savings at risk.
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News
Minister tells schemes to quicken transfer pace with PASA guidelines
Ten weeks should be the maximum time limit for defined benefit transfers, said industry-wide guidelines published on Monday by the Pensions Administration Standards Association.
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Features
Sony and Michelin source IFAs to support member decision-making
The shadow of the British Steel Pension Scheme saga looms large over trustee decisions on defined benefit transfers, but there are signs lessons have been learned.