All Opinion articles – Page 24
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Opinion
Could thematic investment help engage DC members?
Data crunch: Thematic funds struck a chord with European investors last year, pulling in significant sums of money. To a large extent, their popularity can be attributed to the simple fact that they invest in accordance with themes that the general public understand and relate to. With this in mind, could thematic investment approaches improve defined contribution member engagement?
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OpinionBetter communication can ease rush to transfer out of DB
Transfers from defined benefit pension schemes have proved attractive in recent years, but there are serious questions over their suitability for many. Trustees cannot afford to shy away from helping their members, and the Pension Protection Fund wants to help.
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OpinionMortality screening: What you need to know
We do not like to talk about death. Even though it is part of an administrator’s daily routine, it is a subject many of us prefer to avoid.
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OpinionSuperfunds: A safer prospect for members?
Aside from the constant, almost deafening chatter surrounding Brexit, the Department for Work and Pensions consultation on defined benefit consolidation – or superfunds – has been the talk of the pensions town over the past few weeks.
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OpinionTrustees must go the extra mile for their members on transfers
Trustees are often caught between a rock and a hard place when it comes to defined benefit transfers.
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OpinionTPR: 2019 must see member security improve
2019 already looks set to be a busy year. Notwithstanding the challenges that may be thrown in our direction, we think there is a lot to look forward to in pensions.
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OpinionData crunch: Consolidation will change shape of both DB and DC
Unlike pension systems in the rest of Europe, where large-scale pension funds are common, the UK is characterised by a large number of small, single-employer pension schemes. Some argue the disparate nature of UK pensions has created inefficiencies that should be addressed through consolidation.
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OpinionHow to beat volatility in 2019
With an eye purely on the numbers, it might be tough to pinpoint exactly what has led to the worst year for stock markets since the end of the global financial crisis.
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OpinionThe unseen funding target
In the acclaimed novel, The City and The City, by China Miéville, residents of Besźel and Ul Qoma spend their lives “unseeing” half of the city around them. They avoid walking into people and cars that they consciously don’t see, but in their mind half of the city does not exist.
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OpinionReducing your 2019-20 PPF levy
The Pension Protection Fund levy is a potentially significant liability for a UK defined benefit pension scheme, but it can be reduced by the use of contingent assets.
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OpinionIs consolidation only for the healthy?
There are 11m people in the UK who are members of defined benefit pension funds. This means that anything the government or regulators say or do in respect of these schemes directly affects one in six of us.
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OpinionWhat to consider when agreeing a recovery plan in 2019
Agreeing an appropriate recovery plan is often a complex balancing act for trustees and may include difficult negotiations with sponsors.
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OpinionIs it time to update your communications strategy?
We all recognise that the world of finances and employee benefits – particularly pensions – are often perceived by employees as being, dare I say it, a little dull and boring.
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OpinionThe government’s pensions priorities for 2019
In the year ahead, the DWP, HMRC, TPR, FCA and any other arm of government with a role in UK pensions must be ready to minimise any damage and disruption arising from Brexit.
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OpinionRefinancing pension debt – an underutilised option?
In a market crying out for high-quality corporate debt it is surprising that more corporates are not seizing the opportunity to refinance pension debt with more conventional financial debt.
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Opinion
Hedging Brexit: An unfortunate necessity for trustees
With less than 100 days to go before the UK leaves the EU, assessment of the investment implications of Brexit should, by now, have been relatively straightforward.
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OpinionThe legal view: Will Brexit affect regulation?
Brexit continues to dominate the headlines, and the unknowns seem to multiply constantly. Will parliament pass the deal agreed by the EU? Will there be a hard Brexit? Will the UK remain? Will there be a second referendum?
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OpinionFive challenges in pensions administration for 2019
As we enter 2019, the administration of pension schemes reaches a tipping point from which it could change irrevocably.
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OpinionPPF remains well-equipped to meet DB financial challenges
This month we unveiled the thirteenth edition of the Purple Book, in what has been another fascinating year for defined benefit pensions.
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OpinionHow is UK schemes' appetite for private market assets changing?
Pension fund demand for private market investments, which surged through the post-global financial crisis period, does not appear to have declined during the later phase of the market cycle, according to recent bfinance asset owner research.