Lisa Botter
- Features
How pension schemes reacted to volatility amid a turbulent 2015
Analysis: Volatile markets and economic uncertainty drove pension schemes into multi-asset strategies and alternative assets in 2015, data show, as they looked to mitigate losses from equity markets.
FeaturesBritish Coal derisks to support structural change
The British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme has revised its asset allocation, which included selling equities and buying government bonds, following changes to the scheme’s structure.
- News
Transfers to be streamlined as more ask for quotes
The Pensions Regulator will introduce new guidance to ensure transfers between defined contribution schemes are completed promptly, the government said last week. This comes as defined benefit transfer values recovered in January after hitting a low in December.
- Opinion
Corporate schemes shore up portfolios with fixed income and LDI allocations
Data analysis: UK corporate defined benefit schemes upped their allocations to fixed income in the last quarter of 2015, data show, as trustees took the opportunity to hedge out further risk by increasing liability-driven investments.
OpinionEditorial: The changing face of guidance
The guise of the much-talked-about guidance guarantee is ever-changing. Last month it changed again with the announcement that the Citizens Advice Bureau would be handling the face-to-face aspect of the guidance.
- News
ABI wants second line of defence on guidance for retirees
The Association of British Insurers has called for a second line of defence for people who do not take up guidance, to ensure they are buying an appropriate product at retirement.
- News
Riding choppy markets: Are equities worth the associated risk?
Schemes are looking at ways to limit the impact of spikes in equity volatility as financial markets once again wreak havoc on investments.
- News
Wider default definition will land more funds in charge cap net
The wider-than-expected definition of default funds in the government’s draft regulation could mean the charge cap applies to multiple funds at a scheme, hiking governance requirements expected of managers.
- Opinion
Today at the NAPF annual conference – October 16 edition
The National Association of Pension Funds Annual Conference 2014 in Liverpool was in full swing today, with panel discussions on auto-enrolment, collective defined contribution, independent governance committees, to name just a few.
- Opinion
Today at the NAPF annual conference – October 15 edition
The National Association of Pension Funds today kicked off its yearly extravaganza – or 'conference' more formally –where the industry meets to discuss all things pensions.
- Opinion
What you need to know from this week's pensions headlines
It has been another couple of days of announcements in the ever-changing world of pensions.
- Opinion
When AE equals a B – the UK's pensions system ranked
Auto-enrolment has pushed the rating of the UK’s public and private pensions up the ranking of the world’s best pension systems, but greater participation or contributions are needed to reach the level of Australia or even Chile.
- News
How changes to the PPF levy could affect your scheme
Schemes are being advised to assess the cost of completing an annual valuation of asset-backed contributions, after the Pension Protection Fund announced non-property ABCs will be considered in levy calculations.
- Opinion
Can you prove the value of your ABCs? A first glance at PPF levy changes
The Pension Protection Fund will now require schemes to provide proof of the value of asset-backed contributions used to reduce levy bills, as part of the lifeboat's amendments to levy calculations.
- Features
British Coal latest to unwind hedge funds, putting trust in property
The British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme is unwinding its hedge fund holdings and increasing its property, the latest high-profile fund to drop an asset class beset by fee and transparency concerns.
- Opinion
With ALM gizmos, are we seeing the gamification of pensions data?
Any other business: Gamification, according to Gabe Zicherman, a technology guru and chair of GSummit, is “the process of using game thinking and game dynamics to engage audiences and solve problems”.
- News
IBM adds cat bonds to mix as it diversifies return-seeking assets
IBM Pension Plan has invested £60m in catastrophe bonds as it decreases its exposure to higher-risk assets and focuses on investments that will provide a diversified source of return.
- News
Warwickshire latest to dump fund after star manager departure
Warwickshire County Council Pension Fund has revealed it sold its assets in Baring Asset Management’s dynamic asset allocation strategy earlier this year due to the departure of the product’s manager.
- Opinion
Schemes make record gilts investment, and three other key ONS charts
Schemes invested heavily in fixed income assets – including government, corporate and overseas bonds – last quarter. Anticipated rate rises, schemes derisking out of equities and even switching from synthetic to real gilt holdings have all been investment drivers.
- News
USS weighs in on active v passive debate
The Universities Superannuation Scheme has extolled the virtues of internal active equity management but criticised external managers for not consistently adding value.