Now four months into my pensions journey, it feels like the right time to reflect on what I have learned and my experiences since joining the Pensions Age team as a reporter earlier this year.

Learning about pensions has been a real learning curve for me, as before I joined I had only briefly thought about a pension in the context of receiving one and not who looks after them, what rules and regulations are in place, what they are invested in and even if the investments are aligned with my values.

However, despite what I was warned, I haven’t found it daunting; I have found it fascinating.

There is a stigma, I believe, when joining the pension industry that it’s overwhelming due to the amount of information to comprehend to even have a base knowledge.

I will acknowledge that every subject has more technical terms than I thought it would, and I agree it has been a lot to process and understand, but the people in the pension industry and my team have been supportive with anything I have needed assistance with.

These past four months have been filled with conferences, awards, news reporting, feature writing and so much more. I have met a range of wonderful people from across the pension industry and have come to terms with what it truly means to be a pension reporter.

Several areas have particularly interested me including the differences between defined contribution (DC) and defined benefit (DB) pension schemes, research conducted about pension comprehension and choices regarding pensions, and bulk annuity deals.

I have written two features for our magazine and am currently working on my third. I believe this has been crucial to the development of my pension knowledge. Writing these features has required me to deep dive into topics, conduct interviews, and come to terms with the impact these topics have on the industry.

All the articles I have written have not only expanded my understanding of pensions and the industry but also allowed me to question and think critically about issues I hadn’t considered before.

One of the most rewarding aspects of this journey so far has been the realisation of how vital pensions are to financial security and the broader economy.

Understanding the details of how pensions are managed, the regulatory frameworks that ensure their security, and the investment strategies used to grow pension funds has given me a new appreciation for this sector.

Furthermore, learning about environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing has been enlightening and has made me evaluate the true impact my actions have.

In summary, my time with Pensions Age so far has been an enriching experience, both professionally and personally.

The initial learning curve is steep, but with the support of my team and the broader pensions community, I like to think I am gaining a solid foundation.

I look forward to continuing my journey, exploring new topics, and learning even more about the pension industry.

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