Articles by Jenna Towler
LGIM to run NEST real estate investments
The National Employment Savings Trust (NEST) has picked Legal & General Investment Management to run two real estate mandates.
Partnership valued at £1.5bn for IPO
Partnership Assurance Group, the enhanced annuity specialist, has set its offer price at 385p per share meaning its implied market capitalisation for its initial public offering (IPO) is £1.5bn.
Pensions 'perfect storm' hits with saving at all-time low
The number of people saving adequately for retirement has hit an all-time low, while aspirations for pension income have risen, a Scottish Widows report has found.
Barnett Waddingham buys Origen SSAS business
Barnett Waddingham has bought Origen's small self-administered scheme (SSAS) business.
AMPS Conference: Industry 'frustrated' over pension liberation fraud
Police and regulatory action against pension liberation fraud is making progress, although much of the work is still taking place behind the scenes, delegates heard.
Partnership set for IPO
Partnership Assurance is to float on the London Stock Exchange.
Consultancy charging ban 'less dramatic than it sounds'
The move to ban consultancy charging is "less dramatic than it sounds" as most of the charges that can end up with the employer's adviser remain unaffected, according to a consultant.
Govt bans consultancy charging and proposes fund charge cap on AE schemes
The government has banned consultancy charging in auto-enrolment schemes and will propose a cap on default fund charges in a forthcoming consultation.
Arrests made after police raid pension liberation call centre
A City of London call centre at the heart of a pension liberation operation has been raided by police and several people have been arrested.
Webb's latest policy move branded 'knee-jerk' UKIP reaction
Pension minister Steve Webb's decision to stop foreign spouses claiming UK state pension based on their husband or wife's history of National Insurance contributions is 'cynical' and a knee-jerk reaction to UKIP's election success, deVere Group has said....
Osborne to King: Bank must focus on short-term growth
George Osborne has said the Bank of England's new Financial Policy Committee must provide "consistent messages" so it does not risk jeopardising the economic recovery.
Mistakes and delays hit Equitable Life compensation scheme
Severe delays and errors have hit the payment scheme set up by government to compensate victims of Equitable Life, a report from the National Audit Office (NAO) has found.
Pensioner tax breaks should be reviewed says think tank
Better-off pensioners should pay tax at a similar rate to younger people on comparative incomes, according to the Fabian Society.
Which? calls for ban on consultancy charges
Consumer group Which? has called on the government to ban consultancy charging entirely from auto-enrolment pension schemes to give savers a 'fair deal'.
L&G sees 2012 sales boost; AUM grows through auto-enrolment
Insurance giant Legal & General has reported increased operating profit of £1,087m following double digit sales growth.
Ex-Scottish Widows director Taylor joins NEST
John Taylor, former intermediaries marketing director at Scottish Widows, joined the National Employment Savings Trust today.
Friends Life launches auto-enrolment package
Friends Life has launched its auto-enrolment offering for employers.
Short-termism poisoning pension fund returns, MPs told
Fund managers' and pension funds' dedication to pursuing short-term investment goals is causing severely reduced returns, a panel of MPs heard.
ABI annuity code of conduct 'must go further'
The mandatory code of conduct on retirement choices for all Association of British Insurers (ABI) members, set to be enforced from 1 March, must go further to better help consumers, annuity campaigners have said.
Pension reforms mean it will pay to save... eventually
State pension changes will work with automatic enrolment rules to ensure it actually 'pays to save' for retirement, the pensions minister has said.
Altmann steps down from Saga top job
Ros Altmann is to step down from her post as director-general of Saga.
Auto-enrolment drives record new business at Scottish Life
Scottish Life has posted record new business results for the 12 months to 31 December, with total life and pensions business valued at £2.4bn.
Govt to simplify auto-enrolment process
The government has confirmed it will consult on proposals to make the process of automatic enrolment simpler.
NEST backs plan to remove restrictions
The National Employment Savings Trust has backed calls to remove legal restrictions blocking it from taking transfers in and limiting contributions.
FSA's two phase annuity probe already underway
Details of the thematic review of the £11bn annuity market have been revealed by the Financial Services Authority.
Consumers will 'stop worrying' about retirement after AE
The benefits of auto-enrolment have been accepted by the majority of consumers and many believe the policy means they can "stop worrying" about making a start on pension saving, research has found.
OFT to probe DC scheme value for money
The Office of Fair Trading has launched an investigation into the value for money of workplace defined contribution pensions schemes.
Standard Life wins Sterling fund PI insurance court battle
Standard Life has won a legal appeal case brought by professional indemnity insurers over a £100m claim relating to losses arising from its Sterling fund.
Schroders acquisition to double US fixed income AUM
Schroders has reached an agreement to acquire US investment grade fixed income manager STW Fixed Income Management.
Aviva appoints Mark Wilson as chief executive
Aviva has appointed Mark Wilson as its next chief executive.
GP Noble fraud lawyers get back 85% of lost £52m
Lawyers and trustees acting to retrieve £52m removed from nine pension funds during the GP Noble fraud have got back 85% of the missing cash.
Standard Life reappoints Rowanmoor for SSAS admin
Standard Life has reappointed Rowanmoor Pensions to administer its small self-administered scheme portfolio.
ABI moves to improve annuity rate transparency
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has launched a consultation on the transparency of annuity rates to ensure consumers approaching retirement get the best deal.
Retirees cannot rely on pensions alone
A fifth of people approaching retirement will suffer large income falls and should expect to have to rely on savings and inheritances when they stop working, a report has found.
Annuity rates remain in 'free fall'
Conventional annuity rates have dropped 7% since June and enhanced rates have fallen 5% in the same period, according to analysis from provider MGM Advantage.
DWP reveals 'staggering' difference in state pension payouts
State pension payouts can vary from as little as £7 a week to £230 due to the "staggering" complexity of current regulations, the pensions minster has said.
High earners 'can't afford' pension contributions - Pru
A quarter of higher rate taxpayers are missing out on pension tax relief as they shun the product, Prudential research has found.
Scheme membership plummets ahead of AE launch
The number of people saving through a workplace pension scheme has dropped 15% since 2007, with just a quarter of workers actively saving for retirement.
HMRC urged to lift 2% gilt floor to ease drawdown pressure
The 2% floor in gilt rates, set by HM Revenue & Customs in 2011, should be lifted to 3% or 4% to ease financial pressure on pensioners in drawdown, a provider has said.
Occupational scheme exclusion from gender neutrality confirmed
The Treausry has confirmed occupational pension schemes will not be forced to comply with gender neutrality legislation when providing members with annuities.
Scale of hidden pension charges 'extraordinary' - report
The majority of pension providers and managers are failing to inform savers about 'hidden charges' which typically wipe £100,000 off pension savings, a think tank has said.
Labour pension charges report 'hugely misleading' - ABI
Labour's latest policy document on pension charges is "hugely misleading" and ill-timed ahead of the launch of auto-enrolment, according to the Association of British Insurers.
Morris cleared in GP Noble fraud case
Tony Morris and his associate Peter Malmstrom have been cleared of taking part in the £52m GP Noble pension scheme fraud.
Lloyds shareholders to use LIBOR scandal in legal challenge
A group of Lloyds shareholders suing directors over the 2008 HBOS takeover will use the LIBOR scandal as further proof they were misled into backing the deal.
Aviva overhauls business after shareholders list fears
Aviva has overhauled its senior management team and announced a revised strategic business plan after major shareholders raised serious concerns.
Cable could take action against Goodwin and RBS directors
Business secretary Vince Cable could take action against Fred Goodwin and a small number of former Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) directors over the bank's collapse.
RBS staff told to work longer and pay more for pensions
Royal Bank of Scotland has told staff members they will have to work longer and contribute 5% of salary to their defined benefit scheme.
Xafinity buys Alliance Trust Savings SSAS book
Alliance Trust Savings has sold its small self-administered scheme business to Xafinity's specialist arm, Hazell Carr SSAS.