Guest comment: Christmas in the pensions industry

Like many of you, after a challenging year, my thoughts are turning to the Christmas break. And what pensions gifts will we be getting this Christmas and into next year?

Well there’s the Pension Schemes Bill and it’s a mixed bag of goodies: the pensions dashboards, like the latest from Apple you know will be a gamechanger; a sledgehammer in the shape of Clause 107; and collective DC – a gift you really wanted 10 years ago but now you’re not so sure.

We’ll find out whether Clara Pensions or The Pension Superfund have been best behaved and received a nice shiny first deal, gift wrapped by The Pensions Regulator (TPR).

I wonder whether superfunds will be the latest must have or something more niche?

There will be more detail on TPR’s fast-track funding benchmark.

Employers will be making a Christmas wish that this reflects the current economic difficulties.

As the latest ruling shows, GMP equalisation is the gift that keeps on giving. I hope next year the industry finally gets moving and starts to pay members the benefits they’re owed.

For those looking for future white Christmases, there is plenty to do with schemes needing to publish implementation statements online by 1 October and some of the largest schemes starting to publish their TCFD disclosures.

However, I’m worried Santa Sunak thinks the industry’s been naughty. Will our stockings include the removal of higher rate relief?

    Share Story:

Recent Stories


Being retirement ready
Gavin Lewis, Head of UK and Ireland Institutional at BlackRock, talks to Francesca Fabrizi about the BlackRock 2024 UK Read on Retirement report, 'Ready or not. How are we feeling about retirement?’

Time for CDI
Laura Blows speaks to AXA Investment Managers (AXA IM) senior portfolio manager for fixed income, Rob Price, about cashflow-driven investing (CDI) in Pensions Age’s latest video interview

The role of CDC
In the latest Pensions Age podcast, Laura Blows speaks to TPT Retirement Solutions Chief Client Strategy Officer, Andy O’Regan, about the role of collective DC (CDC) within the UK pensions space
Keeping on track
In the latest Pensions Age podcast, Sophie Smith talks to Pensions Dashboards Programme (PDP) principal, Chris Curry, about the latest pensions dashboards developments, and the work still needed to stay on track

Advertisement