All Law & regulation articles – Page 122

  • News

    CDC could refocus industry on purposeful finance

    2017-03-17T00:00:00Z

    Refocusing the industry on the purpose of finance could deliver huge benefits to UK pensions, a new academic paper has suggested, as calls were lodged for the resurrection of collective defined contribution.

  • News

    NICs U-turn puts pension tax back on the table

    2017-03-16T00:00:00Z

    Chancellor Philip Hammond has cancelled plans to increase class 4 national insurance contributions for the self-employed, creating a £2bn shortfall in the nation’s accounts between 2018 and 2022, which many fear will be plugged by changes to pension tax relief.

  • News

    Pensions fail to convince savers but attitudes are expected to change

    2017-03-16T00:00:00Z

    Fewer than half of people view workplace pensions as the most secure form of retirement savings, but experts have said attitudes towards saving for the future could change, driven by the current housing shortage, auto-enrolment developments and the demise of defined benefit pension funds.

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    News

    How would Scottish independence impact schemes?

    2017-03-13T00:00:00Z

    Scotland's first minister Nicola Sturgeon will seek a second referendum on Scottish independence, to be held by spring of 2019, triggering concerns about the challenges a Yes vote would pose to UK pensions.

  • News

    FCA throws cold water on IA input ambitions

    2017-03-09T00:00:00Z

    PLSA Investment Conference 2017: The Financial Conduct Authority’s director of strategy and competition Christopher Woolard has said he does not want to be bound by industry initiatives in making new rules for asset managers.

  • News

    AE review: Tension between engagement and inertia comes to the fore

    2017-03-09T00:00:00Z

    PLSA Investment Conference 2017: With the Department for Work and Pensions’ review of auto-enrolment underway, advisory groups are seeking views on engagement, contributions and coverage, but questions remain over the necessity of engagement and the pensions reality in other countries. 

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    News

    Spring Budget focus on self-employed lets industry hope for more

    2017-03-08T00:00:00Z

    The chancellor’s focus on the self-employed could pave the way for bringing the group into the pension system, some experts have said, as the spring Budget brings no significant news on pensions.

  • PLSA
    News

    PLSA ‘superfunds’ solution gets lukewarm reception

    2017-03-07T00:00:00Z

    The Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association is calling on the government to facilitate consolidation while creating a regulatory framework for the creation of superfunds, but the proposal has seen a muted response.

  • News

    DWP blocks Nest drawdown in favour of industry innovation

    2017-03-03T00:00:00Z

    The Department for Work and Pensions has decided against letting Nest offer drawdown after strong opposition emerged at consultation, opting instead to rely on industry innovation, but some have questioned whether the market will provide this.

  • News

    Government to appeal ruling on discrimination

    2017-03-02T00:00:00Z

    The government is set to appeal the employment tribunal’s recent verdict that more than 200 judges suffered discrimination as a result of pension changes. Meanwhile, the Fire Brigades Union is planning to challenge the result of a similar discrimination case, which it lost this year.

  • News

    Select committee hears evidence on how to get the self-employed saving

    2017-03-01T00:00:00Z

    Proposals including an expansion of auto-enrolment and raising class 4 national insurance contributions, aimed at boosting pensions coverage in the UK, have been put before the Work and Pensions Committee as part of its inquiry into self-employed workers.

  • News

    BHS deal welcomed but views split over DB framework

    2017-03-01T00:00:00Z

    Sir Philip Green will contribute £363m to a new pension scheme for former employees of BHS, under a settlement arrangement that achieves better outcomes for members than entry into the Pension Protection Fund.

  • News

    Regulatory risk seen as main challenge for infra investors

    2017-02-24T00:00:00Z

    Pension funds across the world face a wide range of issues when it comes to investing in infrastructure, but for some, political risk and lack of supply are the biggest barriers.

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    News

    Savers still keen on cash until pot size grows

    2017-02-24T00:00:00Z

    Full cash withdrawals are still dominating the retirement income market, according to analysis by the Financial Conduct Authority, as concerns were raised over consumer reluctance to seek financial advice.

  • News

    Pressure grows to provide pre-1997 inflation-proofing

    2017-02-24T00:00:00Z

    Pensions minister Richard Harrington has demanded that the chief executives of companies including Hewlett Packard Enterprise and 3M explain their refusal to grant discretionary increases to members with benefits accrued before 1997.

  • News

    'Greenest of green papers' explores DB sustainability options but lacks urgency

    2017-02-20T00:00:00Z

    A wide-ranging government green paper is exploring a number of possible changes to improve the sustainability of defined benefit schemes, but although experts welcomed the variety of issues discussed, some noted a lack of urgency. 

  • News

    FCA market study: All-in fee might not be all-in cure

    2017-02-17T00:00:00Z

    The consultation stage of the Financial Conduct Authority’s market review of the asset management industry closed last week, with experts welcoming the boost to transparency but remaining reticent over proposals for an all-in fee structure.

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    News

    Industry accuses Treasury of lack of data to justify £4k MPAA

    2017-02-13T00:00:00Z

    HM Treasury’s consultation on reducing the money purchase annual allowance will close on Wednesday, drawing fierce criticism that the policy lacks data to back up its introduction and could unfairly hurt savers.

  • Bloomberg
    News

    LGPS unmarried couples discrimination unlawful, Supreme Court rules

    2017-02-09T00:00:00Z

    The Supreme Court has ruled that regulations requiring unmarried Local Government Pension Scheme members to nominate a cohabiting partner in order for them to receive a survivor’s pension contravenes the European Convention on Human Rights.

  • News

    Treasury triples advice allowance but limits withdrawals

    2017-02-06T00:00:00Z

    The Treasury has tripled the pensions advice allowance to £1,500, allowing people to take part of their defined contribution pots early to put towards retirement advice, but some experts say limiting withdrawals to £500 per tax year is still too restrictive.