All articles by Sandra Wolf – Page 2

  • Opinion

    Cold call from a pensioner

    2018-01-26T00:00:00Z

    Editorial: An elderly gentleman called me a few days ago at work. He was looking for someone who could help him access his pension pot.

  • Illustration by Ben Jennings
    Opinion

    Musical chairs

    2018-01-12T00:00:00Z

    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.

  • Features

    Distributed trust: Blockchain transactions to become 'commonplace'

    2018-01-10T00:00:00Z

    Analysis: It is a humble back office function, yet blockchain has everyone excited. So what does its arrival in securities trading change for pension fund investors?

  • News

    Freedoms still have industry in their grip: Top DC stories from 2017

    2017-12-19T00:00:00Z

    Year in review: The sea change policy of freedom and choice brought in more than two years ago continues to dominate in the defined contribution world.

  • News

    Govt 'minded' to introduce mandatory trustee ESG statements

    2017-12-18T00:00:00Z

    The government is to consult on whether trustees should be required to state their policies on sustainability, member concerns and stewardship, and will clarify current legislation as part of a wider push to increase pension investment in social and illiquid assets.

  • News

    BT scheme cuts TPA contract short to pull admin in-house

    2017-12-15T00:00:00Z

    The BT Pension Scheme is moving the administration for its 300,000-member scheme in-house next year, not long into a contract extension with a third-party provider.

  • Sandra Wolf
    Opinion

    The heat is on for a cold-calling ban

    2017-12-12T00:00:00Z

    From the blog: Frank Field’s call for action on cold-calling has reminded us of the fact that despite industry and government agreeing that savers need to be protected from scammers, precisely nothing has happened.

  • Opinion

    Editorial: Club together?

    2017-12-01T00:00:00Z

    Editorial: Collective defined contribution is getting another close look. And it probably will do until pure DC can prove it allows people to have a decent retirement.

  • News

    New regime could reduce number of mastertrusts by a third

    2017-11-30T00:00:00Z

    The government has set out draft regulations for defined contribution mastertrusts, estimating that the rules will cut the number of mastertrusts to about 56 from currently 87.

  • Illustration by Ben Jennings
    Opinion

    Wanted: Long-term investors

    2017-11-24T00:00:00Z

    Editorial: The chancellor’s Autumn Budget provided a gloomy prediction of an economy bruised by Brexit, and aimed to set out an industrial strategy to get the UK back on track – with the help of pension fund money.

  • Opinion

    Editor's picks: What you need to know about patient capital

    2017-11-24T00:00:00Z

    Autumn Budget 2017: On Wednesday, chancellor Philip Hammond said innovative high-growth firms should get investment from pension funds, raising questions over appetite and feasibility. Three articles from the past year look at the issues at stake.

  • Bloomberg
    News

    Sony zooms in on buy-in saving with medical data

    2017-11-22T00:00:00Z

    The UK scheme of Japanese electronics giant Sony agreed a buy-in in May this year, covering its highest liabilities, with medical underwriting carried out after the deal.

  • Illustration by Ben Jennings
    Opinion

    An age-old problem

    2017-11-17T00:00:00Z

    Editorial: There is currently an advert on some trains that promotes a privacy filter for computer screens. Unfortunately such devices are yet to be invented for phones.

  • Tracey Crouch MP and Stephen Barclay MP with members of the advisory group
    News

    Govt and industry aim to push impact investing onto scheme agendas

    2017-11-14T00:00:00Z

    Trustees and employers should receive training on social impact investing and engage with scheme members to better align non-financial values, a report to government has recommended, but experts stress time constraints and practical hurdles.

  • Getty Images
    News

    Field: Members should have first claim on assets

    2017-11-07T00:00:00Z

    Work and Pensions Committee chair Frank Field wants pension scheme members to have first claim on any assets from bankrupt sponsors, a debate on scrapping limited liability, and hopes to start an independent action group to support trustees.

  • Source: Bloomberg
    Opinion

    When mentoring matters

    2017-11-06T00:00:00Z

    Any Other Business: Mentoring is fast becoming a must-have in any HR toolbox, but care is needed to avoid leaving mentee and mentor disappointed.

  • News

    Fujitsu could see more strikes in jobs and pensions dispute

    2017-10-31T00:00:00Z

    Union Unite is preparing to reballot employees at ICT company Fujitsu on strike action, in a long-running dispute that – among other things – involves a change to the ICL defined benefit section’s late retirement factor.

  • News

    DC schemes to give members cost information online only

    2017-10-26T00:00:00Z

    Defined contribution schemes should disclose costs and charges to members by signposting a link in their annual benefit statement, the Department for Work and Pensions has proposed, as the industry agrees communications need to be kept simple.

  • News

    Large scheme admin transitions show need for careful planning

    2017-10-25T00:00:00Z

    Administration system transitions can be risky, but this has not stopped one of the industry’s largest taking place next month, while other schemes are outsourcing their services in an increasingly competitive environment for in-house teams.

  • News

    Experts call for tempering of freedoms

    2017-10-24T00:00:00Z

    The UK pension system lags many of its European peers in a report out this week, which recommends restoring the requirement to take savings as an income stream.