All articles by Sarah Cowburn – Page 3
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NewsCap on golden handshakes could affect average earners at Magnox
Workers across the public sector will see a £95,000 cap on exit payments under a new clause added to the 2015-16 enterprise bill which could hit average earners at nuclear decommissioning company Magnox.
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New code firms up boundaries on incentive exercises
A revised code of practice on incentive exercises will provide trustees and employers with practical tips on problem areas, as schemes begin to target more holistic derisking strategies.
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NewsSavers slow to embrace freedoms, PLSA report shows
The majority of the 2.8m defined contribution savers eligible to access pension freedoms have not yet done so, new research has shown, as low financial confidence and high risk aversion stalls the freedoms.
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NewsRenishaw recognises true liability as IFRIC 14 bites
Gloucestershire-based engineering company Renishaw’s defined benefit liabilities jumped £15.6m above the IAS 19 accounting deficit at the end of last year, as experts highlighted the impact the accounting measure IFRIC 14 has on scheme valuations.
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FeaturesMUMS the word: Medically underwritten mortality studies' benefit questioned
Analysis: Medical underwriting of defined benefit scheme members to facilitate bulk annuity insurance transactions has taken off over the past two years, but industry experts are sceptical of the benefits of using medical data for scheme valuations.
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Simpler AE could benefit small employers
Further simplification of auto-enrolment regulations, now under consultation by the Department for Work and Pensions, will benefit small employers, but industry experts have said the policy is still playing catch-up with “horrendously complex” legislation.
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FeaturesPanning for gold in an age of information
Any Other Business: The mounting complexity of pension trusteeship has been met by a surge of information and intelligence sources. But how can trustees be successful prospectors as they mine the industry for useful nuggets?
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Project POOL maps the route for LGPS
Pooling assets across the Local Government Pension Scheme could ultimately deliver annual savings of £190m-£300m, according to new analysis that goes some way to giving LGPS funds much-needed clarity.
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NewsHomebase M&A deal puts scheme security in the spotlight
Home Retail Group’s defined benefit scheme will receive a £50m cash injection as part of the proposed sale of its Homebase business, underscoring the need for trustees to consider the impact of disposals on covenant strength.
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Retirement expectations at odds with reality
Analysis: People retiring in 2016 expect a retirement income of £17,700 a year, new research has shown, but industry experts have questioned how this figure will be maintained as the decline of defined benefit provision accelerates.
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Treasury empowers FCA to curb exit charges
The Treasury today announced plans for new legislation that will place a duty on the Financial Conduct Authority to cap 'excessive' early exit charges for members seeking to access pension savings under the freedoms.
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Is groupthink at play on your trustee board?
A desire for conformity could stifle debate in trustee meetings, new research has suggested, but industry experts say lay trustees are encouraged to challenge the status quo.
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PiP seedling poised to flower following FCA authorisation
The Pensions Infrastructure Platform has been authorised as an investment manager by the Financial Conduct Authority and is tipped by industry experts to be a top contender in fulfilling the role of “national infrastructure platform” for local authority schemes.
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NewsRegulator’s approach withstands first AE judicial review
A High Court ruling has approved the Pension Regulator’s approach to itinerant employees working overseas, providing the industry with clarification on a “grey area” of auto-enrolment legislation.
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NewsBank error slows Shell pension payments to members
A Bacs processing error at Royal Bank of Scotland last week caused delays in pension payments to 30,000 members of oil giant Shell’s UK defined benefit schemes.
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FeaturesEntering the matrix: Taking pension tech to the next level
Any other business: Apple’s string of acquisitions over recent months are pushing the boundaries of artificial intelligence in the drive to get closer to consumers – but where does the pensions industry rank in the digital journey?
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NewsNI police pension payment glitch puts spotlight on admin
A technical error at the Police Service of Northern Ireland pension scheme has caused a delay in the payment of pensions to 12,000 former police officers and dependants.
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NewsAsset derisking could leave a funding gap
UK defined benefit pension schemes have removed nearly half of their funding level risk over the past decade, but new research has questioned whether asset derisking has gone too far.
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Regulator warns small employers with new year AE reminder
The Pensions Regulator has written to small and micro employers across the country reminding them of new workplace pension requirements, but experts say it will need to take a harder line to drive up compliance.
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NewsTesting market conditions greet 2016
Market volatility is here to stay, experts have said, urging defined benefit trustees to assess their risk management frameworks and eliminate unintended exposures as the year kicks off.