Regulatory developments have once again been in the spotlight this week, as calls for greater consistency and transparency gained traction.

In parituclar, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has been urged to introduce reforms aimed at improving consistency and transparency across the sector.

Meanwhile, research from the regulator found the majority of financial advisers are conducting thorough reviews of their clients’ investments and financial plans, ensuring they remain suitable.

The FCA also approved UK’s first wealth-focused infrastructure long-term asset fund this week, marking a key milestone in broadening investment opportunities.

In other market developments, the Continuous Mortality Investigation published a consultation on proposed changes to its Mortality Projections Model, seeking views on methods and core parameters for the next version of the model.

Longevity risk remains an issue for pension schemes and many pension professionals will be waiting the outcome of this consultation.

De-risking has also seen a growing focus, with research from Standard Life highlighting a lack of preparedness among defined benefit (DB) trustees when pursuing endgame strategies.

Despite this, the market continued to see significant activity. The Boys’ Brigade pension scheme secured a £4.5m buy-in with Just Group, reflecting the industry's shift towards de-risking strategies.

Hymans Robertson predicted a ‘record-breaking’ year for the pension de-risking market in 2025, with an expected surge in deals across both small and large schemes, a growing superfund market, and an increasing number of endgame options.

The government approved a new fund structure aimed at boosting defined contribution investment in UK real estate, as part of wider efforts to diversify pension fund assets.

Meanwhile, the Association of Consulting Actuaries wrote to the government outlining key measures it believes are necessary to unlock defined benefit (DB) pension scheme surpluses, adding to the ongoing debate around DB funding reforms.

Despite this progress in the de-risking market, concerns persist about retirement readiness and financial wellbeing.

Research suggested that both Gen X and Gen Z face challenges in saving for retirement, while a study from Hargreaves Lansdown revealed that small or medium-sized enterprise workers are less likely than their counterparts in larger firms to achieve a moderate retirement income.

In addition to this, DB pension transfer values hit an index low before showing signs of recovery towards the end of the month.

Market efficiency was another topic of focus this week, as pension transfer times continued to fall, indicating an improvement in processing speeds.

Meanwhile, Brightwell completed the first pensioner payroll run for Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme, marking a significant operational milestone.

However, concerns remain around inconsistencies in pension management, with reports highlighting a growing divide in master trust service standards and market competitiveness.

Finally, Make My Money Matter announced that it will close due to funding challenges, raising questions about long-term engagement in responsible investment campaigns and the industry's commitment to environmental, social, and governance initiatives.

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