More Law & Regulation – Page 122
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News
Voluntary saving is vital to avert poor pension outcomes
Data Analysis: Auto-enrolment and voluntary pension saving are critical to ensure good outcomes for UK retirees, a report looking at international replacement rates has this week has warned.
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Autumn Statement gives pensions industry a breather
The pensions industry has learned to brace itself for surprise over the last couple of years, so was relieved to escape relatively unscathed in Wednesday’s Autumn Statement.
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Tough timescales for asset pooling put LGPS on the spot
The government’s much-anticipated criteria for the reform of Local Government Pension Scheme investment contains few surprises, but industry experts have raised concerns over the tight timescales for funds to prepare and implement complex proposals.
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Shared pain, shared gain: Will risk-sharing get its day in the sun?
News Analysis: Collective defined contribution schemes have been put on ice by the pensions minister though the idea could come back on the agenda in the future. But are UK employers ready for risk-sharing?
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Northumbria Police pays out £250k to compensate pension loss
Trustees should keep their distance from members' employer disputes, lawyers have said, after Northumbria Police was required to pay out more than £250,000 for discrimination and pension loss, but others argue open communication is critical.
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How to engage your scheme with the press (or not)
Any Other Business: The pensions industry is very well served by the trade press and even national papers. But for schemes, talking to the press can be a daunting prospect, so when is best to do it and how can mistakes be avoided in the process?
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Do trust and contract-based plans require separate regulation?
Analysis: Defined contribution schemes are regulated by two separate bodies, each of which works better in certain scenarios, a Pensions Policy Institute report has found. But the debate continues on whether a single watchdog would improve the current regime.
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MiFID II: LGPS retail label could stymie alternative investments
Local government pension funds could find themselves reclassified as retail investors from 2017 under an upcoming European directive, raising questions over schemes’ access to certain investment strategies.
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Pension freedom report: Must do better
A clearer definition of advice and stronger warnings about scams were two of the points raised in the Work and Pensions Committee’s report on pension freedom this week, which has found support across the industry.
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Fear of 'pensions implosion' raised as NAPF annual gathering kicks off
NAPF 2015: Delegates at the National Association of Pension Funds 2015 Annual Conference heard a tale of two halves from outgoing chair Ruston Smith in his opening address today.
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Court rules same-sex pension benefit ceiling to remain
News Analysis: Schemes dodged a potential £3bn cost hike this week, as the legal position on the equalisation of pension benefits for same-sex partners withstood further challenge in the courts.
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Isa set-up fails to win over pensions crowd
The industry has broadly rejected a wholesale shift of the current pension tax system towards an Isa-style approach, but some have woven together several ideas in an attempt to better incentivise saving.
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Welsh funds reach impasse on asset-pooling plans
Welsh local authority pension funds have made progress on mapping the road towards pooling their assets, but along with their peers are awaiting further details on the criteria around governance, size and cost.
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Pension dashboard could 'fail in its objective'
Pension dashboards enabling savers to view their retirement assets in one place are set to become a reality, but commentators have questioned how they will be funded and some fear they could do “more harm than good”.
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Freedom variability distorts member behaviour, FCA study shows
Data from the Financial Conduct Authority has shown drastic changes in how consumers access their pensions since the introduction of the flexibilities, though experts have said difficulty accessing some options may have skewed consumer choices.
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News
VAT burden shows little sign of abating as key deadline approaches
News Analysis: Employers need a better way of reclaiming VAT on behalf of their schemes than that set out by HM Revenue & Customs, lawyers say, as a December deadline for schemes to renegotiate service contracts looms.
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Granada appeal threatens contingent asset arrangements
Broadcaster Granada is appealing a High Court ruling in an attempt to recover £40m of gilts from one of its pension schemes, but lawyers say the case could jeopardise other employers’ non-cash contributions.
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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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Regulator releases further covenant guidance
The Pensions Regulator has issued new guidance on assessing employer covenants aimed at preventing smaller or highly funded schemes from wasting time and money on costly advice.
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News
IORP amendment threatens pot-follows-member
A draft report from the European Parliament committee on economic and monetary affairs has threatened the possibility of pot-follows-member legislation being introduced, lawyers have warned.