All articles by Tom Dines – Page 7
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News
Rise in member contributions at Scottish Power shows impact of online tools
Energy company Scottish Power has seen a tenth of its stakeholder pension plan up their contributions following the introduction of a member portal that models pension outcomes and warns if an individual is likely to miss their target.
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NewsCost and complexity increase support for multi-employer schemes
The cost and complexity of running a pension scheme is increasing the appeal of multi-employer schemes, experts have said, as a survey shows industry support for government-backed scheme consolidation.
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News
DC consolidation driven by more than auto-enrolment
The number of people saving into large defined contribution schemes has more than quadrupled since 2009, figures from the Pensions Regulator have shown, as signs of DC consolidation begin to appear.
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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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News
Member-borne commission ban could move costs elsewhere
The Department for Work and Pensions has launched a consultation on draft regulations for banning member-borne commission in auto-enrolment schemes, but experts said costs would still need to be shouldered elsewhere.
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NewsEiopa stress tests stoke fears of holistic balance sheet return
Low rates and falling asset prices have hit pension schemes hard, the first stress test by the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority has shown, and experts warn the holistic balance sheet could still rear its head.
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News
Enquiries spike ahead of lifetime allowance change
As the deadline for members to take action looms, more savers are realising they might be affected by the planned reduction to the lifetime allowance, leading to a spike in customer enquiries at provider Fidelity.
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News
Tougher nudge needed to make freedoms a success
Consumers will not have enough money to benefit from the opportunities the pension freedoms present, a report has warned, and any success will hinge on auto-enrolment becoming more prescriptive.
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News
PASA guidance urges schemes to prioritise GMP
The Pensions Administration Standards Association has issued guidance on guaranteed minimum pension reconciliation to help schemes through the process, as experts predict huge volumes rushing to complete in the coming months.
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News
April changes offer 'excuse' for DB schemes to shut up shop
Analysis: The death knell for defined benefit is edging closer, consultants say, as the end of contracting-out, low yields and impending government revisions to pension tax could see all FTSE 250 companies completely close their DB schemes by the end of this year.
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NewsBrewer crafts more generous DC plan to become top dog
Craft brewer Brewdog has introduced a higher contribution for members of its defined contribution scheme in an ambitious bid to create a best-in-class employee benefits package.
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News
Strong covenants offer schemes more slack on investment risk
Schemes with strong employer covenants could find it easier to take on more investment risk, experts have said, in light of the Pensions Regulator’s increased focus on integrated risk management.
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Features
MyCSP fact-find leads to unexpected flurry of member engagement
Civil Service Pension Scheme inadvertently prompted nearly half of its members to explore their pension entitlements after it carried out a survey as part of a wide-ranging engagement project, aimed at ensuring all members are informed about their benefits.
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News
Burgeoning buyout arena threatens pricing, schemes urged to prepare
The growing number of players in the UK buyout market may, counterintuitively, make it more difficult for pension schemes to get quotations from insurers, industry experts have said.
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News
FCA data show Pension Wise take-up is still low
More should be done to encourage pension engagement in the workplace, experts have said, after the latest data from the Financial Conduct Authority show low use of Pension Wise.
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News
NI government offers early retirement to teachers aged 55+
The Department of Education in Northern Ireland has approved a £33.1m scheme offering premature retirement terms to members over 55 years old to make space for new hires in the workforce.
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NewsSiemens issues resolution to prevent trapped surplus
Siemens, one of the world's largest electrical companies, is allowing its defined benefit scheme to make payments to the sponsoring employer, as schemes scramble to maintain their ability to prevent trapped surplus.
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Opinion
Indecision and fear: tax changes threaten the role of pensions in employee benefits
From the blog: More than half of schemes are considering offering a cash allowance to members affected by pension tax changes, as alterations to the lifetime allowance threaten to drive high-earners away from workplace pensions.
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Opinion
Tax, cyber crime and covenant guidance: what to look out for in 2016
The pensions industry has had to deal with changes across many fronts in the recent past. 2015 was no exception, bringing proposals for Local Government Pension Scheme pooling, the introduction of freedom and choice and the beginning of re-enrolment.
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News
Just over half of LGPS have procedures for legal breaches
A little over half of public sector pension schemes have procedures set up to handle breaches of law, but experts have said scheme governance is improving markedly among local government pension schemes.