All Opinion articles – Page 14
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OpinionWhy we need greater diversity in trustee boards
I am an African and my name has always identified me. When I was in school, I remember being referred to as “that African girl” and there was pressure at the time to change my first name or make it sound ‘English’ — Shona instead of Shola. I am open about my background and identity and consider both a source of pride.
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OpinionHow do pension schemes meet TCFD obligations?
As momentum behind action on climate change and the journey to net-zero builds into COP26 this autumn, UK pension funds have a critical role to play in driving long-term sustainability across the investment value chain.
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OpinionSchemes to pay more attention to social factors in ESG strategies
It is now widely recognised that environmental, social and governance factors are an essential part of investment strategies for long-term investors such as pension funds.
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OpinionCourt case may restrict international reach of TPR’s powers
A recent Supreme Court ruling on corporate fraud has given some much-needed guidance on the extent to which a prosecuting authority’s information-gathering powers have extraterritorial reach.
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OpinionForex risk – forgotten factor in private capital performance?
It is no secret that pension funds are allocating more capital to private investments, such as private equity, private credit and other illiquid assets, either directly or more commonly via dedicated fund managers.
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OpinionSystemic issues won't be addressed until regulator thinks systemically
The Pensions Regulator’s recently launched consultation on a new consolidated code of practice asks trustees to “identify and account for the systemic risk of climate change in decisions made about the scheme’s investment and funding”.
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OpinionThe future is… consolidation?
Consolidation in the defined contribution market is booming, with master trusts sweeping smaller schemes, but questions remain about who will be the winners, writes PTL’s managing director Richard Butcher.
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OpinionGreen gilts have a role to play in schemes’ portfolios
In November 2020, the UK government announced plans to launch the first green gilts.
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OpinionHow scheme trustees can make implementation statements matter
Since October 2020, occupational pension schemes have been required to produce a publicly available implementation statement as part of their annual report and accounts process.
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OpinionSeismic shift coming to DB consolidation
This past year has made international comparisons the norm, throwing the different approaches — financial support through to restrictions — of countries into the spotlight.
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OpinionNew green finance centre to bring robust ESG metrics
The Centre for Greening Finance and Investment is a new UK national initiative established with £10m of funding by UK Research and Innovation aimed at accelerating the adoption and use of climate and environmental data and analytics by financial institutions.
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OpinionLifetime allowance freeze reopens debate on its relevance
The Budget may be classed as a quiet one from a pensions perspective, since it did not address any of the major burning issues that pensions consultants either think or anticipate the government will address.
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OpinionWhy purpose, personalisation and pace must shape modern pensions
It is no secret that few people engage with their pensions. More than half of UK workers do not know the size of their pension pot.
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OpinionSchemes should take a practical approach to GMP transfers
In November 2020, the High Court handed down a ruling on the equalisation of past transfers with guaranteed minimum pensions, which means trustees will now have to revisit 30 years of transfer data.
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OpinionSchemes cannot own same stocks in a downturn as in a recovery
The past few decades have seen many types of investor — not just pension funds — allocate away from both equities in general and the UK in particular, as they sought to derisk and diversify portfolios.
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OpinionMaking your pension scheme investments count
Mark Carney made a bleak assessment of the state of the world in his recent BBC Reith Lectures.
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OpinionAre we pension Luddites?
A recent industry survey on member self-service and pensions technology had to be withdrawn.
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OpinionSchemes to benefit from UK’s burgeoning collective action boost
Historically, there has been no equivalent to US style class actions in the UK. This means that the only recourse available to those affected by anti-competitive behaviour, such as cartels, is often to go it alone in court.
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OpinionHow to achieve diversity in pension schemes’ boards
As the smell of mince pies and overcooked vegetables finally dissipates, it is at this point that we all start looking ahead and considering what our aims are for 2021.
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OpinionLooking long term for post-pandemic opportunities
A question on all of our lips — nowhere more so than in investment teams — is what does 2021 have in store for us?