All Mercer articles – Page 11
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NewsHMRC figures on flexibilities leave questions unanswered
The ‘dearth of information’ on pension freedoms bemoaned in a recent Work and Pensions Committee report could have been remedied by HM Revenue & Customs figures released yesterday, but industry representatives said the report lacked detail.
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Features
How UK plc is responding to the challenges of an ageing workforce
Data Analysis: UK employers are waking up to the reality of increasing longevity but government, the pensions industry and individuals need to redouble their efforts in order to combat the financial risks it poses.
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News
UK plc: Engagement is key to get more DC bang for employer buck
Data Analysis: Employee engagement with pension schemes is topping the agenda for businesses, with many saying the freedom and choice reforms have improved schemes' ability to generate good retirement incomes.
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Features
Long-term view clouded by uncertainty for LGPS
Long-term risk-reduction planning remains the priority for the Local Government Pension Scheme, but growing uncertainty about the future is making it difficult for member funds to carve out strategic objectives.
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Features
BBC couples derisking with flexibility for DB members
The BBC is offering a pension increase exchange to its pensioners, upping the options available to defined benefit members just months after offering to pay for advice for those considering transferring out of the scheme.
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Features
Havering makes about-turn on pooling
London Borough of Havering Pension Fund has reversed its original decision not to join the London Collective Investment Vehicle, making it one of the last of the city’s schemes to take this route to reduce manager fees.
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News
How fiduciaries can get a handle on climate change
News analysis: Disclosures on fossil fuel investments by local authority schemes have demonstrated the tension between managing the material risks of climate change and upholding fiduciary duty to members.
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NewsChurch of England targets US private loans in bid to divine 7% returns
The Church of England Pensions Board is “on the cusp” of making an allocation to private credit in the USA, as it seeks returns uncorrelated to equities.
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OpinionWhat does the recent equity volatility mean for DC schemes?
From the blog: The week of August 24 was a particularly interesting one, with global equity markets experiencing their most significant fall since 2011.
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News
BBC to lay on financial advice for members looking at transfers
The BBC is to offer paid-for independent financial advice to help members get the most from the pension freedoms, in particular to support those considering transferring their assets.
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Opinion
Why it is crucial to get a handle on transaction costs
Improved transparency on fees and charges has been an overriding concern for defined contribution and auto-enrolment pension schemes.
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News
Carbon-conscious schemes rally for strategic climate change response
Low-carbon pension funds have called on other asset owners to seek opportunities in real assets and emerging markets to mitigate the risks of climate change.
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NewsTate & Lyle sweetens deficit pill with secured funding move
Sugar company Tate & Lyle reduced its defined benefit liability by £52m in 2014, helped by the creation of a secured funding account as a contingency to its core employer contributions.
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News
Wandsworth eyes private rents as London CIV preps for launch
Wandsworth Borough Council is considering an allocation to the private rented sector to capitalise on a “unique opportunity”, but is wary that hidden costs or changes to regulation could render the investment unviable.
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News
How to prepare your portfolio for a rise in transfer requests
Defined benefit schemes should review the shape of their liability profile and consider their investments should a high proportion of members transfer out, as figures show a sharp rise in requests.
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Opinion
Global equities survey – part two
All good things must come to an end and there is growing concern among global fund managers that the recent run of good fortune from equity markets is starting to wane.
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Opinion
Two workplace guidance steps to avoid member confusion
Consider the enormity of the decisions presented to pension scheme members and the difficult questions being asked.
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Opinion
How a secondary market is starting to change fid man
The fiduciary management market in the UK has developed strongly over recent years. Estimates point to an annual growth rate of around 30 per cent over the past five years, with the UK market now having reached more than £70bn in assets.
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News
European pension funds swarm into alts for yield
European pension funds moved deeper into alternative investments last year as they sought fresh avenues of returns and liability matching in tricky market conditions.
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Opinion
Could Pip's renewables move help schemes see beyond the bluster?
“The need for infrastructure investment worldwide is massive, the attractions of the asset class are clear, and the appetite of investors for infrastructure assets is growing,” said Michael Wilkins from ratings agency Standard & Poor’s, in an FT article on the subject last month.