All Opinion articles – Page 19
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OpinionSeparated by a common system?
George Bernard Shaw described the UK and the US as “two countries separated by a common language”. We could say the same about our respective pension regimes; our systems have much in common.
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OpinionDon’t panic over 2020 valuations
Little did I know, when I started as a professional trustee in November 2019, that events elsewhere in the world were unfolding that would lead to unprecedented turmoil in the financial markets and extreme stress for sponsoring employers.
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OpinionA roadmap to designing a corporate bond strategy
There are two ways of classifying a pension scheme’s objectives when designing its corporate bond portfolio: ‘spread capturing’ and ‘Sharpe maximising’.
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OpinionGood behaviour begins at home
When the recent survey carried out by the Society of Pension Professionals suggested that many pension funds will not take any material action in the short term on sustainability issues, we were not surprised.
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OpinionPensions technology hampered by underinvestment in data
Technology is part of our day-to-day lives. We shop and bank online, receive our Amazon deliveries by drone, our children are signing up to challenger banks like Monzo via apps and many of us book our travel through our phones and online services. Comparatively, pensions administration remains steadfastly behind the curve.
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OpinionPublic sector pensions on the brink of madness
If the current conundrum with discrimination issues in the public sector pension schemes were a work of fiction, no one would believe it.
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OpinionTrustees cannot afford to ignore trans discrimination issues
Transgender rights are moving up the political and social agenda as increasing numbers of people identify with a gender that is different to that at birth.
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OpinionMinister wide of the mark on self-employed
Instant analysis: Speeches made by government ministers at the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association's conferences are one of the year's highlights for pensions policy-watchers, and often say as much about the person as the policies they launch.
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OpinionThree key considerations for trustees on coronavirus
Now declared a pandemic, growing concerns and uncertainty around the coronavirus outbreak continues to dictate global markets. But should pension funds be ‘buying the dip’ or remaining steadfast in their long-term strategy?
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OpinionAuto-enrolment can help solve care crisis
Our ability to support our elderly reaches tipping point by 2029 unless the government takes decisive action now.
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OpinionWhat HMRC’s guidance means for GMP in 2020
Conducting guaranteed minimum pensions equalisation is like assembling flat-packed furniture: just when you think you’re getting there you realise you’re missing half the screws.
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OpinionUnnecessary obstacles creating unequal opportunities to save
With the first International Women’s Day of the new decade being celebrated this week, it seems an appropriate time to reflect on how far the finance industry has come to make financial services more accessible and fairer for all.
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OpinionGMP equalisation: Was it worth it?
Equality is a noble principle. But try applying this concept to pensions and you get all sorts of complications and perverse outcomes.
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OpinionThe biggest driver of change in DC
Data Crunch: Over the past few years, defined contribution schemes have had to adapt to substantial changes introduced by the government and the regulators.
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OpinionGovernment's latest green push should come as no surprise
The government’s decision last week to table a series of crucial amendments to the pension schemes bill shows the Department for Work and Pensions is paving the way to mandatory climate reporting for UK pension schemes.
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OpinionSchemes at risk from dwindling IFA transfer market
Over the past couple of years, the market for independent financial advisers has been shrinking.
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OpinionPensions in an open finance future?
How many financial products do you use? I have a pension, a mortgage, two credit cards, and three banks accounts. I had a Lifetime Isa – that is, until I managed to buy a flat that Fernando, my cat, approved of – and a cash Isa, now exhausted by the gastronomic whims of Fernando.
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OpinionIs the pensions industry up to speed on cyber security?
Pension schemes are particularly exposed to the risk of cyber attacks. The funds and personal data held by pension schemes present a lucrative target for cyber criminals, and scheme members and beneficiaries are often not well equipped to protect themselves adequately.
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OpinionBig shake-up to pensions taxation would change it for worse
“T’Conservatives: we’ll tax those soft southerners.”
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OpinionTime to focus on getting 2020 pension vision for self-employed
There are now more than 5m self-employed workers in the UK and the figure is rising, but only a small number are saving anything towards retirement.