All Opinion articles – Page 66
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OpinionWhat’s the point of target date funds?
Target date funds can be as flexible as members require them to be, says Nest’s Mark Fawcett, as he explains how the government-backed mastertrust has implemented its fund structure to meet evolving needs.
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OpinionBlocking out the noise
We’re all sick of hearing about it at this point, but there’s no getting away. This week marks one of the most important elections in the history of modern Britain: the EU referendum.
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Opinion
Can DGFs be used to boost income with low volatility?
Many diversified growth funds were created to achieve equity-like return with lower volatility and risk, but can they be used to boost income? In the third part of our roundtable series, William Bourne of CityNoble, John Nestor of the MCC Pension Fund, Percival Stanion of Pictet Asset Management, Nicola Ralston of PiRho and Pete Drewienkiewicz of Redington discuss.
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Opinion
Leadership is needed for the future of DB
The Local Pension Partnership’s Susan Martin outlines the need for leadership in defined benefit schemes if they are to remain sustainable in the long term.
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OpinionHow to prepare for a switch in inflation hedging
The use of consumer price inflation as pension schemes’ marker for inflation has grown in recent times. Douglas Graham from asset manager Blackrock outlines what schemes should be doing.
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OpinionIs this the mastertrust’s time?
David Snowdon of fiduciary manager SEI outlines the case for the mastertrust as a savings vehicle, and explains how the sector is likely to change in coming years.
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OpinionTime to shoot the messenger
From the blog: Communications can help people get to grips with their long-term savings objectives, but if we do it the wrong way our attempts to help could fail – no matter how important the message.
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Opinion
Will PLSA’s DB consultation bolster embattled industry?
From the blog: The Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association has called for evidence to support its Defined Benefit Taskforce, as record-low gilt yields pile yet more pressure on the industry.
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OpinionUncertain borders
Editorial: As communication specialists propose showing the decisions of other scheme members to engage their peers, some pension funds have started doing precisely that.
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Opinion
Member communications: How much information is too much?
Showing interest in their defined contribution pension pots can be a struggle even for seasoned industry professionals, so how and what should schemes communicate to get maximum engagement from their members?
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Opinion
Ernst & Young overhauls DC scheme to fit the new freedoms
The Specialist: Professional services firm Ernst & Young has adapted the lifestyle and freestyle strategies of its defined contribution plan to suit the pension freedoms and increase risk in the lifestyle strategy, a move designed to provide for growth.
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Opinion
Do DGF strategies differ enough from one another?
DGFs were created in part to address correlation across different asset classes, but do they differ enough from one another? In the second part of the diversified growth fund roundtable series, City Noble's William Bourne, the MCC Pension Fund's John Nestor, Pictet Asset Management's Percival Stanion, PiRho's Nicola Ralston and Redington's Pete Drewienkiewicz discuss how manager's approaches differ across the DGF space today.
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Opinion
The end of pensions or the beginning of a new cycle?
Pensions have seen enormous change in the past three decades, but increasing longevity means it is time to rethink things once more, says the Pensions Management Institute’s Tim Middleton.
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Opinion
How can trustees stand their ground in sponsor discussions?
Negotiating with sponsors can be a daunting task for trustee boards, especially when the employer can use its structural advantage to increase its leverage. Lincoln Pensions’ Darren Redmayne explains what schemes can do.
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OpinionShould the government look to fiscal stimulus for economic growth?
Wouter Sturkenboom makes the case for fiscal stimulus from the UK government, reversing the unprecedented course of austerity it is currently pursuing to continue economic recovery.
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Opinion
Government warned against ‘knee-jerk’ reactions on DB funding after BHS
From the blog: The failure to rescue high street giant BHS could have widespread impact on the pensions industry, with experts warning the entry of its two defined benefit schemes into the Pension Protection Fund will not be automatic.
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OpinionData crunch: The LGPS and cost efficiency
In 2015 the chancellor announced proposals to pool the assets of the 89 Local Government Pension Scheme funds across England and Wales into at least six “British Wealth Funds”, each with a minimum size of £25bn.
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OpinionThe other pensions problem
At some point in the last few years, pensions became a big news story. Updates on BHS, Tata steel and others fill airwaves and pages (including our own).
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OpinionHow to prepare for a 2016 valuation
Market conditions have changed since 2013, as lower gilt yields threaten schemes with valuations coming up. Trustees should engage with their employer as soon as possible to smooth the process, says Spence & Partner’s Helen Toner.
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OpinionBuchanan: How to tackle zombie DB schemes
The troubles faced by BHS and Tata Steel have thrust pensions into the spotlight for the burden they can pose to employers, but can benefit cuts be justified? Duncan Buchanan gives his thoughts.