Latest News

Top Story

Industry calls for 2028 ‘test year’ before VFM ratings go public


By Callum Conway

Pension providers and industry bodies have called for the first year of the value for money (VFM) framework to be used as a testing period before ratings are made public, warning that inconsistent data and immature comparisons could cause reputational damage and drive 'inappropriate' consolidation.

The calls come ahead of the closure of the latest consultation on the VFM framework, which aims to provide a more consistent assessment of defined contribution (DC) arrangements across investment performance, costs and charges, and service quality


Story 2

Developing future-proof pension systems in the near term ‘critical’ for retirement security

Developing future-proof pension systems in Europe over the near term is critical to ensuring retirement security and providing capital for the real economy, a report from the World Economic Forum (WEF) has stated

Story 3

Over-50s forced out of work early face growing retirement income risk

More than half of people in their 50s and early 60s who left their last job did so for involuntary reasons such as ill health, caring responsibilities or redundancy, putting retirement incomes at risk, according to analysis from the International Longevity Centre UK (ILC)

Story 4

Givaudan UK Pension Plan completes wind-up with benefits secured by Aviva

The £64m Givaudan UK Pension Plan has completed its wind-up, with all members’ benefits now fully secured with Aviva through individual insurance policies

Story 5

Special Melted Products scheme completes £52m buy-in with Canada Life

A defined benefit (DB) pension scheme sponsored by Special Melted Products Ltd has completed a £52m full-scheme buy-in with Canada Life

Story 6

Western Pension Solutions joins Collective Pensions

Western Pension Solutions (WPS) has become part of Collective Pensions, a joint venture between Vestey Holdings and Timpson Group

Story 7

Maps launches retirement guidance tool amid lack of later-life planning

The Money and Pensions Service (Maps) has launched its new ‘Get retirement guidance’ tool amid a lack of financial plans among people approaching retirement

Check out our latest news

More than a third of adults do not know where all their pensions are held

More than a third (36 per cent) of UK adults do not know where all their private and workplace pensions are held, while 16 per cent do not know where any of their pension savings are, according to research from Mylo at Aegon
Altmann tables amendment to allow life insurers to operate DB superfunds

Baroness Ros Altmann has tabled an amendment to the Financial Services and Markets Bill that would enable Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA)-authorised life insurers to establish, own or operate defined benefit (DB) superfunds outside their core insurance business
Targeted support rules risk creating ‘two-tier’ system

Millions of workplace pension savers could miss out on targeted support because trust-based schemes currently sit outside the new regulatory framework, People’s Pension has warned
DB scheme funding remains broadly stable in August

Defined benefit (DB) pension scheme funding remained broadly stable in August, with funding levels changing only marginally over the month, according to Broadstone’s latest Sirius Index

BANNER

Pension professionals favour flexible solutions for their own retirement income

Pension professionals have shown a preference for flexible and blended retirement approaches when asked what they would choose for their own guided retirement solution, a poll from the Society of Pension Professionals (SPP) has found
Insight appointed to £1bn fiduciary management mandate

Insight Investment has been appointed as a fiduciary manager to a UK defined benefit (DB) pension scheme on a £1bn mandate


View More News

Highlighted Content

VAT recovery and pension schemes: A problem for employers, trustees or HMRC?

Matthew Swynnerton discusses the confusion surrounding HMRC’s shifting guidance towards pension schemes recovering VAT costs

Reforms focus: A changing landscape

Smart UK chief executive, Jamie Fiveash, shares more about Smart Pension surpassing £10 billion in assets under management (AUM) and how this is much more than just a number

Expanding ESG transparency in private markets

Pensions Age speaks to Sustainalytics ESG research analyst, Melissa Bird, about why extending ESG frameworks into private markets matters more as investor allocations continue to increase.

The future of pension transfers: Pace balanced with protection

Pension transfers are getting faster, and that’s good news for savers.

Tech for a new world

From dashboards and targeted support, to transfers and tracing, our panel considers the technological challenges and opportunities that will define the future of pensions

Supporting retirement decisions

Laura Blows discusses retirement saving levels in the UK, and the support required for members, trustees and employers, with Wealth at Work director, Jonathan Watts-Lay

View More Highlighted Content

Latest Podcasts

View More Podcasts

View Videos

Check out our latest appointments

Check out our latest features

Fewer hands, greater power

Consolidation is reshaping UK pensions, concentrating power among fewer trustees and driving a shift towards a more professional, large-scale governance culture. But alongside the benefits, it also raises important questions around accountability, diversity, and whether member voices risk getting lost

Economic abuse: Targeting pension savings

Laura Blows explores how pensions can be weaponised in economic abuse, along with the industry’s duties when such abuse is suspected

International Influence

Paige Perrin explores which countries influence the UK pensions system, what lessons can be adopted, and where regulatory and cultural differences limit direct comparison

Clearing a path

Attempts by legislators and regulators to improve the UK’s pensions system add to its complexity and may also create new problems. David Adams reports on some of the most significant gaps and contradictions in an ever-more complex system

Reforms focus: A changing landscape

Smart UK chief executive, Jamie Fiveash, shares more about Smart Pension surpassing £10 billion in assets under management (AUM) and how this is much more than just a number. Fiveash also discusses the changes occurring in the DC industry, including reforming the DC transfer framework, delivering true value for money, and resolving the small pots problem

Focused on the future

Paige Perrin sits down with Avon Pension Fund head of fund, Nick Dixon, to discuss the fund’s priorities, how it is using its surplus, and progress towards its climate targets

A new chapter

Society of Pension Professionals (SPP) president, Calum Cooper, sits down with Paige Perrin to discuss his recent appointment as SPP president, priorities for his tenure and the challenges facing the pensions system

A mid-life (pensions) crisis

Callum Conway explores why Gen X has become a key focus for the Pensions Commission, as the cohort approaches retirement caught between the decline of DB provision and the late arrival of auto-enrolment

IPOs blasting off

Sandra Haurant considers how the SpaceX record-breaking IPO will impact indices, and in turn, pension funds’ passive investments

Beyond the back office

Pensions administration has typically been seen as a back-office function. However, Paige Perrin investigates how this perception is changing as administration plays a increasingly crucial role in major strategic initiatives

The right balance

With systematic challenges ahead for the state pension, how do policymakers improve fiscal sustainability without sacrificing simplicity and retirement security?

The right connection

Targeted support currently only falls under the Financial Conduct Authority’s remit with DC schemes. Paige Perrin investigates if there could be space to explore expanding the regime to The Pensions Regulator’s jurisdiction of DB schemes and beyond

View More Features

Check out our latest jobs


View More Jobs

BANNER

Supporting retirement decisions
Laura Blows discusses retirement saving levels in the UK, and the support required for members, trustees and employers, with WEALTH at Work director, Jonathan Watts-Lay

Podcast: From pension pot to flexible income for life
Podcast: Who matters most in pensions?
In the latest Pensions Age podcast, Francesca Fabrizi speaks to Capita Pension Solutions global practice leader & chief revenue officer, Stuart Heatley, about who matters most in pensions and how to best meet their needs

Advertisement Advertisement
© 2019 Perspective Publishing     Privacy & Cookies