All articles by Sandra Wolf – Page 5

  • Opinion

    Looking for a silver lining: Focus shifts to housing wealth as pension incomes hit a high

    2017-02-08T00:00:00Z

    Analysis: Statistics seem to show that pensioners' incomes are now higher than other people's, but experts say there are many facets to the intergenerational fairness question.

  • Illustration by Ben Jennings
    Opinion

    Elephant in the room

    2017-02-03T00:00:00Z

    Editorial: The topic of women, work and pensions remains a huge unresolved problem, as Patricia Hollis reminded the pensions community in her speech earlier this week.

  • News

    Cracks show over member involvement as MPs debate mastertrusts

    2017-02-01T00:00:00Z

    As the pension schemes bill on tougher mastertrust regulation is passing through parliament, some have called for making member involvement in mastertrust governance mandatory, but it is feasible?

  • Illustration by Ben Jennings
    Opinion

    No featherbed

    2017-01-27T00:00:00Z

    Editorial: Happy Chinese new year! The year of the fire rooster has begun – the first of its kind in 60 years, so is there anything we can predict from looking at the last one?

  • Illustration by Ben Jennings
    Opinion

    What earns you trust?

    2017-01-20T00:00:00Z

    Editorial: Gloomy predictions led to a sliding pound ahead of Prime Minister Theresa May’s speech on Brexit last week, but instead her assertions meant that sterling rose, bringing some hope to currency markets (and those of us who are looking to travel this year).

  • Getty Images
    News

    Government urged to pick up the pieces of failing mastertrusts

    2017-01-18T00:00:00Z

    The mastertrust legislation horse is being put before the cart now that the pension schemes bill has reached the House of Commons, as the debate is shifting to who will be the 'funder of last resort'.

  • Opinion

    What to look out for with age-based contribution structures

    2017-01-12T00:00:00Z

    As defined contribution schemes are now often the sole pension scheme open to employees, DC scheme design, including the option of having age-related contributions, takes centre-stage. So what needs to be kept in mind to avoid age discrimination?

  • Opinion

    Dogs that bark… bite

    2017-01-11T00:00:00Z

    Editorial: A total of £5,000 might not be an awful lot for companies, but if it means their reputation suffers, it could lead to much greater losses.

  • News

    Push for simpler DC bulk transfers receives industry approval

    2016-12-21T00:00:00Z

    Experts have welcomed a consultation on transferring members between defined contribution schemes without their consent, launched to simplify the process and help achieve scale in the DC sector.

  • News

    From BHS to Uber: The events that shaped pensions in 2016

    2016-12-21T00:00:00Z

    Year in review: Having almost grown used to new regulations and system overhauls, 2016 managed to top (almost) everything, keeping the pensions industry on its toes. We have picked out some of the articles that accompanied this year’s turning points for pensions.

  • News

    Defaults and dashboards: Top DC and AE stories from 2016

    2016-12-20T00:00:00Z

    Year in review: The battle to make defined contribution a safer place for members proved to be an uphill struggle in 2016, as schemes, regulators and even the police were trying to keep up with developments in the market.

  • Illustration by Ben Jennings
    Opinion

    Post-truths about 2016

    2016-12-09T00:00:00Z

    Editorial: The year that is coming to an end might be remembered in the pensions industry as one of referendums and defined benefit battles.

  • Features

    Consolidation and partial transfers put forward as funding pressures increase

    2016-12-08T00:00:00Z

    Defined benefit funding levels have not improved over the past years as gilt yields have fallen, the latest edition of the Purple Book shows, with industry figures hailing partial transfers and scheme consolidation as possible solutions.

  • News

    TPR's record-keeping push welcomed but stresses remain for small schemes

    2016-12-02T00:00:00Z

    The Pensions Regulator is demanding that trustees report on record-keeping in the scheme return and has issued new guidance, after conducting a survey which found that too many are not measuring members’ data.

  • Opinion

    Autumn Statement: Last but not least

    2016-11-25T00:00:00Z

    Editorial: Chancellor Philip Hammond has tried his best to deliver an Autumn Statement the pensions industry would for once be pleased with.

  • Opinion

    Illiquid assets: Latest fad or the future of DC investment?

    2016-11-24T00:00:00Z

    Analysis: Defined contribution investments are still far less sophisticated than those of many defined benefit plans, but there is growing support for making illiquid assets such as infrastructure or private equity part of DC default funds.

  • Illustration by Ben Jennings
    Opinion

    Delayed gratification and the spirit of the 60s

    2016-11-18T00:00:00Z

    Editorial: The marshmallow test is one of the best demonstrations of humans struggling to opt for delayed reward over instant gratification.

  • News

    Industry divided over CPIH

    2016-11-14T00:00:00Z

    The Office for National Statistics has recently said it will make the consumer price index including owner-occupiers’ housing costs its preferred measure for gauging inflation next year, so should the government follow suit for pension indexation and revaluation?

  • Getty Images
    Features

    What the industry wants to see in the Autumn Statement

    2016-11-11T00:00:00Z

    Autumn Statements became mini Budget announcements under the previous chancellor. Looking to the new regime, what advice does the industry have for Philip Hammond before he announces his first set of plans on November 23?

  • Illustration by Ben Jennings
    Opinion

    Trumponomics

    2016-11-10T00:00:00Z

    Editorial: The US election result should not really have come as a surprise to UK investors who experienced the Brexit vote.