All articles by Owen Walker
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FeaturesRoyal Mail and M&S trim trustees to reflect membership
The Royal Mail and Marks & Spencer pension schemes have reduced the size of their trustee boards to ensure they are more representative of their membership.
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Schemes tackle longevity risk with annual reviews
Schemes such as Astra Zeneca and Reckitt Benckiser have made sizable changes to their life expectancy assumptions, but Owen Walker discovers small, frequent reviews are better to avoid the risk of poor data.
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Case study: M&S’s approach to DC retirement
Engagement with members over their retirement date should start when they join the scheme, Marks & Spencer’s (M&S) technical manager has argued.
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FeaturesWhat the regulator's funding statement means for you
Video: The CBI's head of pensions policy, Jim Bligh, tells Owen Walker what the regulator's statement means for schemes in the middle of funding discussions (4:41).
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FeaturesHow to get value for money from investment fees
In the first instalment of a schemeXpert.com research project into pension fund attitudes to asset management fees, we look at getting value for money.
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Schemes set out opposition to opacity on fees
The vast majority of schemes find the lack of transparency in fund management charges a major concern, according to the third part of schemeXpert.com’s investigation into pension scheme attitudes.
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How to communicate investment fees to members
In the final instalment of the fund fees survey, schemes outline how they educate and update their members on the impact of charges on their investments.
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FeaturesBT changes valuation date to help close deficit
The BT Pension Scheme took advantage of a regulatory flexibility to move its valuation date forward by six months and improve its funding position.
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Schemes warn managers on investment fee add-ons
In the second part of schemeXpert.com’s fund management fee survey, we look at what additional charges schemes are willing to accept and how they evaluate them.
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Pensions Trust saves £1m by renegotiating fund fees
The multi-employer charity plan reduced its fund management fees by 6.5% last year, and consultants claim other schemes could save up to 25% through renegotiating management charges.
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How Strathclyde allocated £100k SRI mandate
Strathclyde Pension Fund has become the latest scheme to hire a socially responsible investment overlay provider to reduce risk. Owen Walker looks at its selection process.
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FeaturesSchemes wary of leveraged infrastructure deals
Chancellor George Osborne used his Autumn Statement to announce a plan to “unlock” pension funding for infrastructure investment. But Owen Walker finds schemes cautious of the risks associated with such deals.
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South Yorkshire staves off risk of mass opt-outs
Proposed reforms of the local government pension scheme have raised the threat of a mass member exodus, but South Yorkshire has developed a strategy to combat the risk
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UK infrastructure too narrow for Leicestershire
The Leicestershire County Council Pension Fund has split £70m between two global infrastructure funds but feels the size of the UK market is too restrictive.
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FeaturesStrathclyde tackles four main infrastructure risks
Strathclyde Pension Fund has agreed in principle to commit £100m to the Pensions Infrastructure Platform (Pip), and has invested £100,000 to help set up the initiative.
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Debate over DC default fee divides schemes
In the run-up to auto-enrolment, DC schemes are in disagreement over the acceptable level of charges for the default option, a schemeXpert.com survey has shown.
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Survey: Schemes concerned over PFI mixed messages
Owen Walker finds schemes are being put off investing in infrastructure due to the UK government’s unclear attitude to private finance initiatives (PFI).
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Molins’ controversial plan to close DB scheme revealed
The FTSE-listed tobacco specialist has announced proposals to make staff chose between a new defined contribution plan or face dismissal in order to reduce its long-term liabilities.
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FeaturesBT poised to plough into farmland for inflation match
The UK’s largest pension fund has set itself a target of investing £1bn in farmland to keep track of inflation, but has struggled to find a suitable investment.
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FeaturesAxa and ITV latest to face ETV/Pie governance risk
As pensions minister Steve Webb orders a review of controversial derisking exercises, Owen Walker discovers how Axa and ITV are currently approaching them.