All Opinion articles – Page 37
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Opinion
Market Outlook 2018: Storms in the distance?
For a bull run that has been thought of as the most hated in history, the years since the global financial crisis have been kind to pension scheme asset values.
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OpinionHow to avoid pitfalls in DC bulk transfers
From the blog: Pension freedoms, increasing governance demands and higher charges have led to considerable appetite among employers to transfer defined contribution pots to either a mastertrust or contract-based arrangement, but there are a number of hurdles that need to be overcome.
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OpinionThe year ahead for the Pensions Regulator
2017 was a significant year for the Pensions Regulator and the pensions sector, and we do not expect the pace to slow. In the coming months we will publish our annual corporate plan and budget for 2018-19. For now, here are our focus areas for the year ahead.
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OpinionTrustees must adopt more transparent practices
Another new year, another set of pension crises. Following on from the likes of BHS and British Steel, we now have Carillion, and this time pension trustees are in the spotlight more than ever before.
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OpinionHow shareholder activism is driving better corporate governance
In recent years, some shareholders have become more active in pushing for change at the companies that they invest in. Asset managers, activist hedge funds and even individual investors have led calls for better practices in Britain’s boardrooms.
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OpinionHas the interest rate hike affected annuities?
From the blog: Planning for retirement is as important now as it has ever been. With the ageing workforce, interest rate hikes and the changing pension landscape, there are a lot of external factors weighing down on the retirement saving plans of savers.
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OpinionMusical chairs
Editorial: Protest, disappointment and even anger met the news that David Gauke, the politician with Treasury experience, has been moved from his post as work and pensions secretary in Theresa May’s latest Cabinet reshuffle. He was replaced by Esther McVey, the department’s 14th secretary of state in 20 years.
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OpinionCareful documentation is key to successful admin changeovers
During an administration transition, the aim for the trustee is to have a clean, open and honest handover, efficiently managed.
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Opinion
Uncharted waters: What lies ahead for LGPS pools?
When former chancellor George Osborne made clear the government’s intention to create six British wealth funds, the prospect of pooling made quite a splash.
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OpinionData Crunch: Why DC market measures are so confusing
Each year we set about estimating the assets in workplace defined contribution schemes in the UK. Our latest conclusion is that the UK DC workplace market contained £338bn in assets in 2016.
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Opinion
IORP II marks an underwhelming farewell from the EU
The EU’s new directive on pension funds will see schemes producing benefit statements on a yearly basis, while risk-management standards will be dragged up and borders broken down, but the overall impact will be limited.
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OpinionIt is time to introduce a flat rate of tax relief
Imagine shopping in the January sales, where items are discounted but you are not told which ones or by how much. Would you not buy more if you could see the discounts from which you were benefitting?
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OpinionHow to ensure your MNT selection process is right for your scheme
Member-nominated trustees have been part of the pensions regulatory landscape since the Pensions Act 1995 came into force in 1997.
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OpinionDB disputes: Solutions must be cost-efficient
From the blog: A number of important court cases involving defined benefit schemes are expected to be handed down in 2018.
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OpinionSchemes can reap benefits of staying in touch with retired members
Any other business: From crosswords to competitions, there are a variety of ways in which trustees can jazz up their newsletters to retired members, but how much communication with the pensioner population is actually necessary?
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OpinionAn MoU can ensure effective covenant monitoring
Aon Hewitt’s Aidan O’Mahony explains how a memorandum of understanding agreement can lead to more effective covenant monitoring.
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OpinionReasons to be cheerful: What to expect from markets in 2018
There were two big positive surprises in 2017.
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OpinionCost disclosure framework must help schemes judge value
Cost transparency is under the spotlight across the pensions landscapes of the UK and Europe.
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OpinionIs it time for another regulatory overhaul?
The unpalatable but necessary lessons from the British Steel Pension Scheme have raised difficult questions about the UK’s pension system and suggest that our policy objectives may require some careful reconsideration.
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OpinionThe death of DB is yet to be felt
The Pension Protection Fund's latest edition of the Purple Book documents the continued decline of defined benefit schemes in the UK.