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Gender pensions gap narrows but two-thirds of women still face retirement shortfall


By Callum Conway

The gender pensions gap has fallen to £3,800 from £6,000 in 2025, although almost two-thirds (65 per cent) of women remain on track for a minimum retirement standard or worse, research from Scottish Widows has revealed.

The 2026 Scottish Widows Women and Retirement Report found that women's projected median annual retirement income had increased by £1,500 over the past year to £14,500, marking the strongest outlook since the provider's National Retirement Forecast began three years ago


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Schemes urged to review member communications ahead of pension/IHT changes

Trustees and pension managers should use next year’s changes to the treatment of pensions under inheritance tax (IHT) as an opportunity to review member communications and reduce confusion around death benefits, LCP has argued

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DB scheme surplus dips in October as bond yields fall

The aggregate surplus of defined benefit (DB) schemes in the UK decreased by £5.3bn during October to £275.4bn due to a fall in bond yields, according to the latest update from the Pension Protection Fund (PPF)

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Ocean-related risks could hit pension assets, liabilities and contributions

Ocean-related risks have the potential to threaten retirement incomes by affecting pension scheme assets, liabilities and contribution levels, according to a report from the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA), the University of Exeter, and The Ocean Race

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Two thirds unaware of pension/IHT changes

Almost two thirds (64 per cent) of UK adults are unaware that unused pension pots will become subject to inheritance tax (IHT) from April 2027, research commissioned by Mattioli Woods has shown

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Climate change could cut pension funds' long-term returns by up to 30%

A temperature increase of 2°C to 3°C could reduce long-term pension fund returns by roughly 10 to 30 per cent relative to current expectations, according to analysis by Ortec Finance

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LPPI reorganises data and technology function

Local Pensions Partnership Investments (LPPI) has reorganised its data and technology function, creating three dedicated teams and promoting two staff members to newly created leadership roles

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ESG progress stalls as private market funds lag on stewardship and climate risk

Just 40 per cent of investment funds received an overall Green ESG rating in 2026, down from 43 per cent in 2025, as concerns remain over stewardship and climate-risk management in private markets, according to XPS Group
Over-55s lacking knowledge of expected retirement income

Almost four in five (79 per cent) over-55s do not know how much income their pension will provide in retirement, while more than a third do not understand how the state pension operates, analysis from Freetrade has revealed
Seven in 10 people nearing retirement concerned by rising living costs

Seven in 10 people planning to retire within the next five years are concerned that their pension income will not be enough to keep up with rising living costs, research from Aptia has found
Chesnara agrees to acquire closed life company from MetLife Group

Chesnara has agreed a deal to acquire MetLife UK (MLUK), the insurer's closed-book UK life insurance company

Higher interest rates boost pension funding and annuity prospects; inflation risks remain

The Bank of England's decision to raise interest rates to 4 per cent could provide a boost to defined benefit (DB) pension scheme funding levels and annuity incomes, although industry experts have warned that persistent inflation and market volatility remain significant risks for retirement savers
Trustees urged to prioritise covenant assessment in superfund transfers

Pension scheme trustees considering a superfund transfer should prioritise covenant analysis from the outset and engage with The Pensions Regulator (TPR) early to ensure the transaction delivers the best outcome for members, LCP has argued


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Paige Perrin sits down with First Bus head of pensions, Muntazir Hadadi, to discuss the company’s decision to separate its DC scheme from its legacy DB scheme, the barriers to this process and the possibility of moving to an alternative pension arrangement in the future

High time to worry?

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Pensions Age Editor-in-Chief, Francesca Fabrizi, joins Nuveen Real Assets Head of Strategic Insights, Abigail Dean, to explore the role real assets can potentially play in pension fund portfolios

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