All articles by Sarah Cowburn – Page 11
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News
Consultants and managers back hedge funds despite high-profile criticism
Consultants and hedge fund managers have predicted increasing pension scheme allocations to the asset class, despite recent stiff criticism of perceived high fees and a lack of transparency.
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Opinion
Draghi has unleashed the force: what will it mean for schemes?
The unleashing of €60bn (£45bn) a month of quantitative easing by the European Central Bank last week could mark trouble ahead for UK pension schemes, as greater demand for gilts pushes yields ever lower and liabilities higher.
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News
How the slump in oil prices is hitting schemes
As oil prices fall below $50 (£33) a barrel, investment experts have urged pension schemes to seize the opportunity to hedge their liabilities against inflation and heed the impact on their commodity markets exposure.
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Opinion
How your scheme can benefit from the VAT changes
With some hard work and careful planning, schemes could recoup sizeable rebates as a result of pension tax changes.
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News
How bankruptcy orders could drain savers' retirement pots
The April flexibilities could make the retirement savings of those in financial difficulty vulnerable to demands from creditors, with courts set to have their final say on whether a saver’s uncrystallised pot is open to a claim.
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News
Airport operator to offer flexible drawdown from April
Manchester Airports Group will offer its 2,500 defined contribution scheme members flexible drawdown by the time April's pension freedoms kick in, allowing them to access their savings without having to leave the scheme.
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News
Kent sees 75% reduction in overpayment write-offs
Kent Pension Fund has driven down its overpayment write-offs by 75 per cent after the implementation of monthly mortality screening – as administration experts raise concerns about schemes’ data holes.
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Opinion
How your scheme can benefit from the VAT changes
Fresh guidance from HM Revenue & Customs on VAT charges for scheme management services may have passed people by during the holiday slowdown.
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News
How the staged, opt-in approach to PFM affects your scheme
The government’s plan for a staged, opt-in approach to pensions consolidation has divided the industry, with some calling the proposals pragmatic while others say they weaken a policy that may not survive the general election.
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News
MNOPF: captive insurance longevity swap saved £10m
The Merchant Navy Officers Pension Fund has said the use of a captive insurance company halved the cost of its £1.5bn longevity swap, and opened the door for smaller scheme derisking.
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Opinion
Tax allowance boost could buffer SMEs against rising AE costs
The Association of Consulting Actuaries has called for action to help alleviate the financial pressure on small companies resulting from the statutory increases in auto-enrolment contributions.
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News
When it comes to expenses, trustees face having their belts tightened
Rolling into the office after 12 indulgent days of Christmas, trustees and scheme managers may be tempted to brighten up a gloomy January, but scheme expenses could be squeezed this year.
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News
Loud and clear: Vodafone and civil service among top comms stories
The past year has seen many schemes embark on communication drives to boost engagement, in the wake of auto-enrolment staging and the Budget reforms.
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Opinion
What schemes can learn from this year’s top 5 legal stories
Legal rulings on issues including increased pension loss payouts, clarification on RPI guidance and the introduction of new accounting reporting frameworks have challenged schemes to respond and factor in these changes in the year ahead.
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News
Marine Harvest's trilingual roadshow keeps opt-outs in single figures
Salmon supplier Marine Harvest used boats, planes and cars to reach employees across the far reaches of northern Scotland, in a face-to-face auto-enrolment communication campaign that reflects the challenges faced by remote employers.
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Opinion
Schemes say cost-saving key advantage of technology
Pension schemes put time-saving and cost-saving first when it comes to their reasons for using technology, rather than engaging scheme members or informing advisers, a survey has found.
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News
Berkshire makes co-investments to profit from food supply chain
The Royal County of Berkshire Pension Fund has announced investments in the global food and water supply chain, with a private equity mandate investing in two US start-ups driving sustainable consumption.
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Features
How schemes could use secondary debt market after Kaupthing ruling
Legal experts have said a High Court ruling allowing schemes to sell section 75 debts – triggered when an employer leaves a pension scheme – could reduce running costs by speeding up the exit of sponsoring employers.
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News
Doncaster takes low-rate £28m loan in novel move to fund scheme
Doncaster council has sought to turn the low interest rate environment to its advantage by taking out £28m in short-term loans to help fund its employer contributions to South Yorkshire Pension Fund.
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Opinion
How to make workplace pensions relevant for younger people
Industry experts have called for education and greater flexibility in savings products for younger people, after a survey revealed exceptionally low levels of engagement among new entrants to the workforce.