All articles by Sophia Imeson – Page 14

  • News

    Government's s75 proposals are a 'missed opportunity'

    2017-04-24T00:00:00Z

    Experts have welcomed the government’s recent consultation proposing a new deferred debt arrangement for employers in multi-employer pension schemes, but concerns over complexity of employer debt regulation remain.

  • JLR switches to Care
    Features

    JLR meets members halfway with Care switch

    2017-04-20T00:00:00Z

    Jaguar Land Rover is switching its defined benefit schemes from final salary to a career average revalued earnings structure, as companies look to cut costs and manage risk while keeping employees on board.

  • Features

    FKI scheme winds up and moves members to mastertrust

    2017-04-19T00:00:00Z

    Trustees of the defined contribution FKI Group Pension Plan have agreed to wind up the scheme, transferring active members to a mastertrust, as experts note governance and cost management benefits.

  • News

    FAMR makes headway but experts say further progress is needed

    2017-04-12T00:00:00Z

    The Financial Conduct Authority has published a progress report on its Financial Advice Market Review, alongside a consultation that sets out proposed guidance, but reactions in the pensions industry show there is still a long way to go.

  • Leonardo
    Features

    Leonardo scheme ups hedge after Care switch

    2017-04-12T00:00:00Z

    The Leonardo Electronics Pension Scheme has adapted its liability hedging strategy to reflect the career salary benefit changes implemented last year to reduce risk and costs.

  • Bloomberg
    Features

    Pru amends DC default, as experts warn against 'wait and see' approach

    2017-04-11T00:00:00Z

    The Prudential staff scheme is due to amend its DC default fund this year in light of the introduction of freedom and choice, amid concerns that some schemes are choosing to wait for retiree data to help them design their default.

  • News

    Freedom and choice: Engagement improved but confusion remains

    2017-04-06T00:00:00Z

    Two years have passed since the government introduced the pension freedoms, and although the flexibilities have improved engagement to some extent, the increased complexity has also led to confusion.

  • Features

    John Menzies signs MoU ahead of sectionalisation

    2017-04-05T00:00:00Z

    A memorandum of understanding has been signed by John Menzies and trustees of its pension scheme as it has closed the scheme and plans to begin a sectionalisation process, but experts have highlighted that this sort of agreement is rarely legally binding.

  • Features

    Lisa still needs to find its place as launch date arrives

    2017-04-04T00:00:00Z

    The lifetime Isa launched on Thursday, so why are there not more providers offering the product straight away, and what is the likely uptake when it comes to using the vehicle for retirement saving?

  • News

    TPR guidance: Welcome set of principles or waste of time?

    2017-03-30T00:00:00Z

    While some have welcomed the Pensions Regulator’s recently published and extensive collection of investment guidance for those running defined benefit pension schemes, there are some concerns over the effectiveness of the information for time-stretched or less diligent trustees.

  • News

    Dashboard prototype launch prompts next steps

    2017-03-30T00:00:00Z

    Plans to deliver a pensions dashboard prototype by March 2017 have been completed, despite the complex nature of technology infrastructure involved. But while experts think the progress is encouraging, they say more needs to be done to maintain this momentum.  

  • Opinion

    Industry reaps rewards of apprenticeship programmes, but challenges remain

    2017-03-29T00:00:00Z

    Any other business: Apprenticeships are on the rise in the pensions industry, and while they appeal to an increasing number of people as a debt-free alternative to university, the apprenticeship levy and the prospect of jumping straight into a full-time job are still hurdles to be overcome.

  • News

    IA consults on cost disclosure code amid data overload concerns

    2017-03-28T00:00:00Z

    The Investment Association is calling for views on a proposed industry code on disclosure of charges and transaction costs, as some have stressed the importance of making such data easy to interpret.

  • News

    Face-to-face comms can sweeten 'unpalatable' news

    2017-03-23T00:00:00Z

    With the world of pensions constantly changing, employers and trustees are investing more time, effort and resources into liaising with members, but face-to-face communication has been deemed particularly effective when it comes to bad news.

  • News

    CPS 'auto-protection' call reignites freedoms debate

    2017-03-23T00:00:00Z

    Thinktank the Centre for Policy Studies has highlighted the need to shield savers from financial risks in later life through the idea of “auto-protection”, with the introduction of auto-drawdown, followed by auto-annuitisation at age 80. 

  • News

    Lack of savings highlights importance of state pension

    2017-03-21T00:00:00Z

    The number of women retiring without a pension has dropped, new research shows, but nearly 14 per cent of people have not made provisions for their retirement, highlighting the significance of the state pension for savers.

  • Source: Getty Images
    Features

    Cornwall agrees new private credit allocation

    2017-03-20T00:00:00Z

    The Cornwall Pension Fund is set to make an allocation to private credit, an asset class increasingly popular among schemes as tightened bank regulation has opened up a new range of investment options.

  • News

    Pensions fail to convince savers but attitudes are expected to change

    2017-03-16T00:00:00Z

    Fewer than half of people view workplace pensions as the most secure form of retirement savings, but experts have said attitudes towards saving for the future could change, driven by the current housing shortage, auto-enrolment developments and the demise of defined benefit pension funds.

  • Features

    Leicester Uni scheme cuts risk with higher hedge

    2017-03-14T00:00:00Z

    Following closure to future benefit accrual, trustees at the University of Leicester Pension and Assurance Scheme have decided to double its hedge, as experts emphasise the importance of keeping an eye on triggers and cash flow.

  • Sophia Imeson
    Opinion

    Building for retirement: Why we cannot rely on bricks and mortar

    2017-03-13T00:00:00Z

    From the blog: With soaring house prices preventing more and more people from owning their own home, future generations may be less likely to be able to supplement their retirement income through property, meaning workplace pensions are becoming more important than ever.