All Opinion articles – Page 66
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Opinion
What about cash flow: Balancing LDI and growth assets
Roundtable: Liability-driven investment can tie up a lot of cash. In the second part of this roundtable series, Bestrustees’ Huw Evans, HR Trustees’ Giles Payne, Aviva Investors’ Rakesh Girdharlal, KPMG’s Simeon Willis, Cambridge Associates’ Benoît Jacquemont and P-Solve Asset Solutions’ Barbara Saunders discuss if there is still room for schemes to absorb illiquidity.
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OpinionEurope and pensions – where things are headed in the next three years
Anyone who wants to understand where pension regulation in Europe is going should take a look at the fund management industry, which has always been the trendsetter in European Union regulation.
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OpinionPPF: Don’t delay GMP reconciliation
With the end of contracting-out fast approaching, schemes have until 2018 to reconcile contracted-out liabilities, but they need to take action before April 5 2016.
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OpinionHow to access private market investments
Private market investments such as private equity, private debt or infrastructure can play an important role in achieving a pension scheme’s return objectives in today’s low-yield – but highly volatile – market environment.
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OpinionAnd the nominees are…
Editorial: Leonardo DiCaprio finally collected his first Oscar for best actor at the recent Academy Awards ceremony, but in our view the red carpet should not just be reserved for Hollywood greats.
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Opinion
The top three pension priorities
From the blog: With the introduction of the pension freedoms in April 2015, employees were given far greater flexibility to draw down their pension pot. But, despite it being nearly a year since the freedoms, many people are still unaware of just how their options have broadened.
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Opinion
Has LDI become too expensive?
Roundtable: Derisking in an environment of low interest rates makes liability-driven investment look expensive, but is it? In the first part of this roundtable series, Bestrustees’ Huw Evans, HR Trustees’ Giles Payne, Aviva Investors’ Rakesh Girdharlal, KPMG’s Simeon Willis, Cambridge Associates’ Benoît Jacquemont and P-Solve Asset Solutions’ Barbara Saunders discuss what makes the decision to hedge so difficult.
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OpinionFossil fuels: To divest or not to divest?
In October 2015, the Financial Times reported that “nearly a billion dollars has been wiped off the value of coal investments by UK public pension funds over the past 18 months”.
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OpinionThe GMP reconciliation deadline is fast approaching – how to get there if you’re late
With a large number of schemes calling on HM Revenue & Customs at the same time to complete their guaranteed minimum pension reconciliation, those that have not already started may struggle to meet the 2018 deadline. But is it too late?
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OpinionVolatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous
Talking Head: The passage of time shows the folly of human speculation – ask any unhedged defined benefit pension fund that has been hoping for rising yields to repair its deficit.
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OpinionBrexit – a view from the Alps
Editorial: So it’s official, the referendum will be held in June. The battle for yea or nay – and for political careers – has begun.
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OpinionAn update from the Pensions Regulator
Talking Head: The start of auto-enrolment for small and micro employers has been a success, with more than 90 per cent of the first group to reach their staging date compliant.
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OpinionA trustee's duties in the era of freedom and choice
Freedom and choice has radically reshaped the pensions landscape. From consumers to pension schemes, in many ways we’re all still learning to navigate this new terrain and adapt to unfamiliar circumstances.
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OpinionIORP II: What could still change?
Published in March 2014, the European Commission’s proposal for a review of the Institutions for Occupational Retirement Provisions has three main objectives: improving governance and transparency of these funds in Europe; promoting cross-border activity; and helping long-term investment.
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Opinion
FCA discussion paper outlines raft of challenges from ageing population
From the blog: The Financial Conduct Authority has released a discussion paper, 'Ageing population and financial services', aimed at advancing the debate on how the financial services industry can tackle the challenges and opportunities posed by demographic changes.
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Opinion
Use of ETFs could increase further
From the blog: Historically, UK pensions have tended to not invest directly in exchange-traded funds. There are several reasons for this. Traditionally schemes have relied on intermediaries and tended to outsource most or even all investment functions.
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OpinionIll-health pensions – What you need to know
The award of ill-health early retirement pensions can be a challenging and emotive subject for members and decision-makers alike, so it is no surprise that a substantial number of member complaints relate to ill-health pensions.
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OpinionA welcome surprise from small employers
Talking Head: Pick up any pension magazine at the moment and you’re likely to find a lot of stories about auto-enrolment. Unsurprisingly, given that 1.8m small employers are starting to stage this year, there is a lot of talk about the challenges they might face.
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Opinion
How to use bonds in default funds after freedom and choice
Bonds in default funds for UK defined contribution pensions have come under scrutiny since freedom and choice. While lots of schemes and workplace providers have already altered default fund strategies, many have yet to do so.
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OpinionA slippery slope
Editorial: European bank shares slid earlier this week as investors became increasingly worried about banks’ ability to pay coupons on so-called coco bonds, or contingent convertible bonds – bonds that turn into equity if a certain trigger event is taking place.