All Opinion articles – Page 53
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OpinionSeeing the wood for the trees: The ins and outs of investing in forestry
Analysis: Whether investing in the UK or overseas, forestry and timberland can be an attractive addition to a pension fund portfolio. So what should trustees be aware of before branching out into this asset class?
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OpinionBuy-ins and buyouts: The quiet revolution
From the blog: We reached a new milestone in late 2016: the pensions of more than 1m people in the UK are now insured through a buy-in or buyout.
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OpinionHow long can the triple lock last?
For 30 years until 2010, the value of the state pension was linked to prices and as such inevitably declined in value over this long period relative to rising wages.
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OpinionWhat is needed from the Lisa regulation consultation
Like it or loathe it, the lifetime Isa is well on its way to becoming a reality. With Lisa’s technical features finalised, the Financial Conduct Authority is now consulting on the regulatory framework ahead of an April launch.
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OpinionPartial transfers would bring more choice into DB
From the blog: While many people have been rushing recently to cash in their final salary pensions, others are still torn between sticking with a guaranteed income and transferring all of their benefits.
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OpinionUnderstanding the transaction cost disclosure debate
The debate around transaction costs became increasingly polarised during 2016. The 'Loch Ness Monster' paper issued by the Investment Association in August summarised research claiming there is no excessive trading nor hidden costs damaging investor returns.
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OpinionTougher mastertrust regulation is the cornerstone of secure DC provision
In October last year we welcomed the government’s Pension Schemes Bill, which will give us tough new powers to regulate mastertrust schemes.
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OpinionWhat benefit indexation should your scheme use?
Defined benefit pension schemes protect members' benefits both in deferment and in payment against the effects of inflation.
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Opinion
Is good pensions practice drowning in policy consultations?
From the blog: The run up to Christmas saw a flurry of political activity to cap off what has been an exhausting year, with two separate Department for Work and Pensions consultation launches complemented by the Work and Pensions Select Committee’s report on defined benefit.
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OpinionShould the DWP cap early exit charges in occupational schemes?
UK governments have a long history of applying legislative sledgehammers to crack nuts. Sometimes because the nuts make the pensions landscape appear untidy; not infrequently to satisfy ideologically driven motives.
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OpinionA clearer picture of AE default funds
Next year marks the start of the busiest period for auto-enrolment. The pensions sector has a new year’s resolution to stage more than a million small employers.
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Opinion
What's the outlook for DC in 2017?
Defined contribution adequacy and stagnant investments were key concerns for trustees in 2016, so what do experts think the new year has in store for DC?
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OpinionWhat's left to do on GMP equalisation?
The provision of guaranteed minimum pension equalisation guidelines had been in the government’s ‘too difficult’ category for some years, leaving schemes stalled. A set of draft regulations previously issued for consultation in 2012 was subsequently withdrawn for being too ‘onerous’.
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OpinionWhen investment advice goes bad
From the blog: Stories of lost nest eggs and hardship facing investors in tax schemes under investigation by HMRC are never far from the news.
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Opinion
Shout above the crowd
From the blog: The last print issue of Pensions Expert for the year went out on Monday, so as we cool our heels and begin winding down for Christmas I am left wondering what we as an industry will be talking about next year.
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OpinionWhy we need a minimum income for drawdown
The OECD recently identified the increasingly important role of defined contribution arrangements in providing retirement benefits as one of the international pension trends.
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OpinionWhat we can expect from the pension scams consultation
The government’s consultation into pension scams contains four very sensible proposals that will make it harder for scammers to operate. This a great step in significantly improving consumer protection in this area.
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OpinionSmart beta: What it can do for DC, and how the sector needs to change
Five experts discuss the current state of the smart beta market, what schemes should consider when investing, and what role smart beta can play in the defined contribution space.
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Opinion
Key takeaways from the finance bill 2017
The impact of the finance bill 2017, so far as pensions are concerned, does not come as a surprise as it largely follows Philip Hammond’s Autumn Statement.
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OpinionData crunch: Who advises the DC scheme community?
The answers to this question show that there are still some differences between the trust and contract-based markets.