All articles by Stephanie Hawthorne
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NewsFCA's consumer duty reforms will shake up the pensions industry
Are companies ready for the biggest reform in financial services since 2012?
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FeaturesWill DC consolidation present master trusts with crock of gold?
Within a decade, some 15 or more master trusts will have disappeared. Today, 36 players jockey for pole position. What will this huge transition mean for trustees, sponsors, and members, asks Stephane Hawthorne?
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FeaturesWill we see another ‘black swan’ year for pensions in 2023?
Will we see another 'black swan' year for pensions in 2023? A tidal wave of new legislation and regulatory guidance is in store for scheme sponsors, trustees and pension professionalsEnterkeywords.sh_embed {position: relative;height: auto;width:100%;z-index: 0;overflow: hidden;background-color: #222;color: white;font-family: 'Lato', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;}.sh_embed * {-webkit-box-sizing: border-box;-moz-box-sizing: border-box;box-sizing: border-box;}.sh_embed .sh-embed-bg {position: ...
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NewsDC in 2023: Dashboards, cost of living and consolidation
DC in 2023: Dashboards, cost of living and consolidation2023 should finally be the year of the dashboards, while the cost of living crisis will continue to dominate the headlines Enterkeywords.sh_embed {position: relative;height: auto;width:100%;z-index: 0;overflow: hidden;background-color: #222;color: white;font-family: 'Lato', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;}.sh_embed * {-webkit-box-sizing: border-box;-moz-box-sizing: border-box;box-sizing: border-box;}.sh_embed .sh-embed-bg {position: ...
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FeaturesWhy do savers continue to misunderstand their pensions?
Analysis: The pensions industry spends extensively on member communications, but 48 per cent of employees do not know how much their employer is paying into their pension, according to a survey by The People’s Pension.
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NewsOmbudsman criticises Railways scheme for maladministration
The Pensions Ombudsman has partly upheld a complaint by a member of the Railways Pension Scheme against its trustee and administrator, RPMI, after finding maladministration in the scheme’s decision to suspend a member’s pension between July and December 2018.
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NewsExperian revamps pension comms as over-50s face pandemic sting
As the financial crisis resulting from the pandemic has made many savers rethink their attitude towards pension savings, Experian has revamped its communications to scheme members in a bid to help them avoid “costly mistakes”.
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NewsGovt plans green bonds issue, but should schemes take the plunge?
The UK government has an ambitious climate and environmental agenda and is set to issue its first green gilt in September 2021, with at least one more issue before the end of the year. Green gilts to the value of £15bn will be issued in the 2021-22 financial year.
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NewsCould FSCS cope with a major bulk annuity provider default?
As sponsors offload their pension schemes to insurers, industry experts fear that an ever-increasing concentration of assets with a small group of players could lead to compensation schemes being overwhelmed in a major downturn.
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FeaturesSole trusteeship on the rise amid calls for tougher regulation
Sole trusteeship onthe rise amid calls fortougher regulationWith sole trustees now accounting for onein three professional trustee appointments,there is a feeling in the industry that regulationis lagging this fast-growing sectorEnterkeywords.sh_embed {position: relative;height: auto;width:100%;z-index: 0;overflow: hidden;background-color: #222;color: white;font-family: 'Lato', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;}.sh_embed * {-webkit-box-sizing: border-box;-moz-box-sizing: border-box;box-sizing: border-box;}.sh_embed .sh-embed-bg {position: ...
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FeaturesNew covenant support deal for Clarks as trustees approve CVA
New covenant support deal for Clarks as trustees approve CVA The shoe retailer has entered into a company voluntary arrangement as part of a package aimed at maintaining its obligations to the C&J Clark Pension FundEnterkeywords.sh_embed {position: relative;height: auto;width:100%;z-index: 0;overflow: hidden;background-color: #222;color: white;font-family: 'Lato', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;}.sh_embed * ...
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FeaturesDC consolidation puts the brakes on illiquid investments
DC consolidationputs the brakes onilliquid investmentsHost of barriers facing defined contribution schemes looking to invest in illiquid assets, despite encouragement from the governmentEnterkeywords.sh_embed {position: relative;height: auto;width:100%;z-index: 0;overflow: hidden;background-color: #222;color: white;font-family: 'Lato', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;}.sh_embed * {-webkit-box-sizing: border-box;-moz-box-sizing: border-box;box-sizing: border-box;}.sh_embed .sh-embed-bg {position: absolute;width: 110%;height: 110%;top: -5%;left: -5%;z-index: -1;background-color: rgba(0,0,0,.8);}.sh_embed ...
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Experts dismiss national pension fund proposal
Analysis: Experts have largely poured scorn on a highly controversial proposal to create a gigantic national sovereign fund by merging public schemes and then mopping up private plans as well.
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NewsEmbattled charities face pensions no-win situation
Embattled charities face pensions no-win situation With charities being crushed by the pandemic-led financial crisis, the situation of their defined benefit schemes has become even more precarious, with some organisations not being able to afford future pension liabilitiesEnterkeywords.sh_embed {position: relative;height: auto;width:100%;z-index: 0;overflow: hidden;background-color: #222;color: white;font-family: 'Lato', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, ...
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FeaturesAbsent trustees hamper scheme decision-making during pandemic
Absent trustees hamperscheme decision-makingduring pandemicWith some schemes temporarily suspending operations due to absent trustee board members, more guidance is needed on how best to manage unforeseen absencesEnterkeywords.sh_embed {position: relative;height: auto;width:100%;z-index: 0;overflow: hidden;background-color: #222;color: white;font-family: 'Lato', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;}.sh_embed * {-webkit-box-sizing: border-box;-moz-box-sizing: border-box;box-sizing: border-box;}.sh_embed .sh-embed-bg {position: absolute;width: 110%;height: 110%;top: ...
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NewsScheme demand could see ‘greenium’ for new-style gilts
Scheme demand could see'greenium' for new-style giltsPension schemes are expected to jump at the opportunity of investing in the first issuance of green bonds in the UK, which could lead to a green premiumEnterkeywords.sh_embed {position: relative;height: auto;width:100%;z-index: 0;overflow: hidden;background-color: #222;color: white;font-family: 'Lato', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;}.sh_embed * {-webkit-box-sizing: border-box;-moz-box-sizing: ...
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NewsLPPA embarks on data journey and reaps rewards of digital tracing
Case study: A renewed effort to ramp up digital tracing and mortality screening has been a boon to the Local Pensions Partnership Administration, with the exercise having the potential to cut costs, save time and improve actuarial valuations.
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FeaturesTrustees facing up to 50% liability insurance premium hike
Trustees facing up to 50% liability insurance premium hike Cost of dealing with claims and new legislationis forcing insurers to increase premiums Enterkeywords.sh_embed {position: relative;height: auto;width:100%;z-index: 0;overflow: hidden;background-color: #222;color: white;font-family: 'Lato', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;}.sh_embed * {-webkit-box-sizing: border-box;-moz-box-sizing: border-box;box-sizing: border-box;}.sh_embed .sh-embed-bg {position: absolute;width: 110%;height: 110%;top: -5%;left: -5%;z-index: -1;background-color: rgba(0,0,0,.8);}.sh_embed ...
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NewsDB schemes can be severely impacted by Libor closure
The end of the London interbank offered rate at the end of this year is expected to have huge consequences for defined benefit schemes, which historically have been using it for different asset class investments and even for managers’ benchmarks.
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NewsCovid launches pensions into tech revolution
Covid launches pensions into tech revolution With trustees needing constant information sharing, new models and players come to the foreEnterkeywords.sh_embed {position: relative;height: auto;width:100%;z-index: 0;overflow: hidden;background-color: #222;color: white;font-family: 'Lato', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;}.sh_embed * {-webkit-box-sizing: border-box;-moz-box-sizing: border-box;box-sizing: border-box;}.sh_embed .sh-embed-bg {position: absolute;width: 110%;height: 110%;top: -5%;left: -5%;z-index: -1;background-color: rgba(0,0,0,.8);}.sh_embed #embed_article {display: none;}.sh_embed ...