All Law & regulation articles – Page 136
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News
Wiltshire: Early engagement key to managing LGPS reform
The head of Wiltshire Pension Fund said early engagement has been crucial to its implementation of this year’s Local Government Pension Scheme reforms, as local authority decision-makers stress the importance of staff training.
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News
Local authority experts debate how to fireproof governance
Local authority scheme experts at Wednesday's National Association of Pension Funds' 2014 Local Authority Conference discussed greater separation in decision-making structures, or increasing guidance, as ways to improve governance.
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News
Schemes face LDI rethink to meet Emir collateral demands
Industry experts have warned that schemes using liability-driven investment strategies may face higher costs and additional risks when the European Market Infrastructure Regulation’s collateral diversity requirements come into force.
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News
Webb seeks to alleviate scheme guidance concerns
Pensions minister Steve Webb has tried to assuage the concerns of defined contribution schemes by implying the guaranteed retirement guidance could be delivered in less intensive ways than face-to-face meetings.
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Features
Mastertrusts call for governance standards to be made mandatory
Two of the country's largest mastertrusts have called for a legal standard to raise the barriers to entry for providers, as the industry evaluates the Pensions Regulator's assurance framework.
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News
Webb reveals further detail on guidance guarantee
Pensions minister Steve Webb released this week further details about the upcoming guidance guarantee, with concerns mounting on the timetable for its implementation and the subsequent burden on pension schemes.
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Features
Employers ensure AMD ban does not drive up active member fees
Employers have managed to keep active scheme member fees steady while scrapping higher charges for deferred members, after one provider agreed to swallow the cost of next year's ban.
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News
Provider's failed attempt to reclaim death benefit sets rectification warning
Schemes have been reminded they cannot simply revoke decisions if a mistake has been made, after the pensions ombudsman ruled against a scheme provider that tried to claw back death benefit payments.
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FeaturesTfL faces fresh demands for contract worker DB membership
Transport union RMT has reignited calls for all Transport for London employees undertaking work on a contract basis to be allowed to join its defined benefit pension fund.
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Features
IBM case a lesson to consider scheme history
Schemes must look at historical context when considering and communicating benefit changes, lawyers have urged, after the High Court ruled earlier this month that technology company IBM breached its duty of good faith with employees when closing its defined benefit scheme.
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News
Consultants expect DC flexibility to drive DB member transfers
Defined benefit schemes could see a short-term increase in requests from members to switch their benefits into defined contribution schemes, due to potential government plans to restrict such transfers, benefit consultants have predicted.
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Features
Schemes mull increased benefits for same-sex spouses
Schemes are considering whether to set benefits provided to same-sex husbands and wives at or above the statutory minimum, lawyers have reported, with the first marriages taking place last week.
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News
Scheme costs to ratchet up under IORP II revision
Trustees and schemes will face substantial administrative burden after the European Commission announced revisions to its incoming pension fund directive, including a requirement to continually evaluate environmental risk, which have been deemed “too prescriptive” by experts.
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News
Charge cap consultation ramps up governance, weakens employers
News analysis: Defined contribution scheme representatives will see governance responsibilities increase after the pensions minister announces further reforms to ensure members get value – with a backdrop of industry debate on the charges cap.
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News
The Cut – How today's IORP II revision affects your scheme
The European Commission has today proposed revisions to the IORP II directive which will introduce new governance requirements, encourage investment in long-term assets and require cross-border schemes to be fully funded.
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Features
Local authority scheme members flock to beat AVC tax deadline
Local government scheme members are rushing to take their entire additional voluntary contributions as tax-free cash after widespread communication campaigns, before the option is expected to expire as LGPS reforms come into effect tomorrow.
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Features
Local authority schemes expect modeller to boost engagement
Scheme managers hope a new pensions modeller will stop members opting out as result of local government pension scheme changes by showing them how their benefits will be affected by the reforms.
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News
Schemes delay mergers over tax risk concerns
Schemes are thinking twice about undertaking bulk transfers of benefits to avoid the risk of passing on individual tax charges to members as they await final official rules.
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News
Fair deal fog leads to pricing concerns for employers
Private sector employers bidding for central government contracts are facing difficulties building pension strategies into their costs due to uncertainties surrounding contribution rates and exit payments in the new fair deal guidance.
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News
Civil partner rule uncertainty poses questions for trustees
Schemes may want to consider holding off adjusting their spousal benefits, after a tribunal overturned a previous ruling that deemed entitlements should take into account membership pre-dating the Civil Partnership Act 2004.