All articles by Maria Espadinha – Page 6
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NewsAlmost half of schemes lacking cyber security testing
On the go: Almost half of pension schemes (43 per cent) have not tested the strength of their plan’s IT systems, processes and procedures for cyber crime protection, according to new research.
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NewsAegon invests £3bn in ESG range, NPT shifts to sustainable strategy
ESG spotlight: A roundup of the latest news on environmental, social and governance initiatives, with Aegon investing £3bn of its default funds in ESG, and the National Pension Trust shifting its default arrangement towards a green strategy.
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NewsFraudsters jailed for a total of 10 years after £13.7mn pension scam
Alan Barratt and Susan Dalton, part of a scam which tricked more than 200 savers into transferring their pension pots into fraudulent schemes they controlled, have been jailed for a total of 10 years.
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NewsPASA publishes pre-employment guidance to deter fraudsters
On the go: The Pensions Administration Standards Association has published guidance on pre-employment checks for administrators, as it has been made aware of fraud cases undertaken or assisted by employees of these companies.
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NewsNew strike mandate at universities over USS pensions row
On the go: Staff at 27 universities have a mandate to take strike action over pensions that will last until October 2022, after the University and College Union secured the support of its members.
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NewsDB scheme surplus rises £43bn in March
On the go: The aggregate surplus of the 5,215 defined benefit schemes in the Pension Protection Fund 7800 Index increased by £42.8bn in March.
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NewsNorthern Ireland LGPS commits to low-carbon fund
On the go: The circa £10bn Northern Ireland Local Government Officers’ Superannuation Committee has transferred its entire £2.8bn core passive equity holdings into Legal & General Investment Management’s Low Carbon Transition Fund.
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NewsPPF to reassess levy structure as part of funding strategy review
The Pension Protection Fund will conduct a full review of its levy methodology calculation over the next three years — with the goal of reducing scheme payments — as part of a revised funding strategy.
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NewsEx-Norton owner given suspended sentence over missing pensions
Stuart Garner, former owner of Norton Motorcycles, has been given a suspended sentence, after pleading guilty to illegally investing pension scheme money in his failing company.
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NewsNew British Steel scheme to make £58mn additional payout
Some 50,000 pensioner members of British Steel Pension Scheme II will receive a one-time extra payment, worth collectively £58mn, due to the pension fund’s positive results.
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PodcastsPodcast: Spring Statement - Missed opportunity to support savers
Podcast: A light Spring Statement on pension topics meant that important issues such as financial education and support for institutional investors are still missing from the government’s agenda, argued Callum Stewart, head of defined contribution investment at Hymans Robertson, and Charlotte O’Leary, chief executive and executive director at Pensions for Purpose.
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NewsPensions allowance tax charges hit record highs
On the go: The number of savers breaching annual and lifetime allowance limits reached new records in 2019-20, according to figures from HM Revenue & Customs.
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NewsActuaries call on govt to improve guidance and advice take-up
On the go: The Institute and Faculty of Actuaries is calling on the government and the pensions industry to improve guidance and financial advice take-up.
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NewsIndustry anger as new FCF levy goes ahead costing MTs £130mn
The government is to press ahead with an increase to the Fraud Compensation Fund levy, which will see master trusts brunt the majority of the costs paying an extra £130mn over the next nine years, despite their members being the least likely to benefit from it, experts have warned.
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NewsEighteen new pension firms sign up to UK Stewardship code
On the go: Wales Pension Partnership, the Pension Protection Fund and Barnett Waddingham are among the 18 new pension companies that have successfully signed up to the UK Stewardship Code.
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NewsTPR’s web-based scheme return questions cause industry mayhem
Actuaries, trustees and consultants are disappointed with a new method introduced by the Pensions Regulator for scheme returns, pointing out that a web-based form with additional questions implemented this year has increased the risk of providing wrong information.
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NewsUCU to ballot members on new strikes over employers’ USS deal
On the go: The University and College Union has announced new industrial action ballots at 149 universities, which will open on March 16 and run until April 8, as the row over the resolution of the Universities Superannuation Scheme’s 2020 valuation escalates.
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NewsDB schemes’ surplus drops £12.8bn in February
On the go: The aggregate surplus of the 5,215 defined benefit schemes in the Pension Protection Fund 7800 Index decreased by £12.8bn in February.
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NewsTPR publishes guidance for trustees on Pension Wise appointments
On the go: The Pensions Regulator has published new guidance for trustees who will be required to offer Pension Wise appointments for savers who want to access their defined contribution pensions.
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NewsPLSA calls on companies to improve ESG disclosures
On the go: The Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association is calling on companies to improve their disclosures on climate change, executive remuneration and diversity, as it updates its Stewardship and Voting Guidelines.