Victoria Tichá
Follow Victoria Tichá
Articles by Victoria Tichá
Trustees urged to plan for data breaches post-GDPR
Schemes should have a response plan in place to deal with breaches of security following the launch of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), according to Trafalgar House.
Average FTSE 100 scheme bond allocation rises to 64%
Almost two-thirds of FTSE 100 defined benefit (DB) pension schemes invest more than 50% of their assets in bonds, according to a report by JLT Employee Benefits.
UK Dividend Monitor: Headline dividends fall for first time in three years
UK headline dividends have declined for the first time since 2015, falling 2.1% in the second quarter of 2018, according to the latest quarterly dividend monitor from Link Asset Services.
DB surplus hits record high of £382bn on best estimate basis, says First Actuarial
The UK's 5,588 defined benefit (DB) schemes had a combined surplus of £382bn at the end of June, according to First Actuarial's best estimate index (FABI).
Five stories you may have missed this week
This week's top stories included coverage of the Treasury Committee's report on household finances, which outlined a series of proposed incremental changes.
TPR launches consultation on master trust supervision policy
A draft policy on how authorised master trusts will be supervised and enforced has been outlined in a consultation published by The Pensions Regulator (TPR).
FRC inspections reveal weaknesses in pension audit work
The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has found weaknesses in nearly half of the audit work relating to pension valuations and disclosures it inspected over the past financial year.
PIC invests £150m in Heathrow Airport debt
Pension Insurance Corporation (PIC) has invested £150m in debt issued by Heathrow Airport.
Government dashboard support vital in pension freedoms world, says IFoA
A set of recommendations to help the pensions industry deliver its objectives and better communicate with people over pensions issues has been published by the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA).
Plumbing scheme launches consultation on closing to future accrual
The trustee board of the Plumbing and Mechanical Services (UK) Industry Pension Scheme has launched a consultation with sponsoring employers on closing the scheme to future accrual.
Just Group's bulk annuity sales up 143% in H1
Bulk annuity deals transacted by Just Group totalled £718m in the first half of this year compared to £296m in H1 2017, according to its latest results.
Civil Aviation Authority completes £60m pension buy-in with PIC
Pension Insurance Corporation (PIC) has completed a £60m buy-in deal for the Civil Aviation Authority's defined benefit (DB) scheme.
What have we to lose from CDC?
Henry Tapper says CDC makes sense as a means of solving one of the most intractable of economic problems but this 'new order of things' is getting a bad reception
Why bulk annuities could get more expensive for schemes
Buy-in and buyout pricing could increase due to future capital requirements for insurers holding equity release mortgage assets to back deals. Victoria Ticha looks at what it means for trustees
Chief statistician says RPI reform will happen but urges caution
The retail prices index (RPI) should be reformed within the next decade but the full ramifications must be properly considered, according to the UK's statistics chief.
How CDC could improve retirement outcomes
Collective defined contribution should be brought back to the table, a panel at Pensions and Benefits UK argued. Victoria Ticha reports from the conference
How the Civil Service scheme is restructuring its DC arrangements
The Civil Service Pension Scheme is putting a master trust in place for its AVC and partnership sections by this September. Victoria Ticha takes a closer look at the major restructure
Hymans Robertson hires head of third-party administration
Gary Evans has left Mercer after 10 years to head up Hymans Robertson's third-party administration (TPA) practice.
PIC invests £37m in student accommodation debt
Pension Insurance Corporation (PIC) has invested £37m in a student accommodation project at the University of Exeter to help match its liabilities and give regular cashflows.
600 Group enters £201m buyout with PIC
Trustees of the 600 Group's defined benefit (DB) pension scheme have agreed to a £201m buyout with Pension Insurance Corporation (PIC).
Consolidation 'to move £50bn' in DC assets
Unprecedented levels of provider consolidation means trustees must regularly monitor and assess security of members' assets, the Security of DC Assets Working Party has warned.
Ombudsman investigations surge 26%; Transfer complaints rise
The number of investigations by The Pensions Ombudsman (TPO) have increased by over a quarter driven partly by a sharp rise in the number of transfer complaints received during the past financial year.
PMI gets new president as Branagh steps down
Lesley Carline has been elected as the new president of the Pensions Management Institute (PMI). She speaks to Victoria Ticha about her plans
PMI president Branagh steps down; Carline elected
Robert Branagh is stepping down as president of the Pensions Management Institute (PMI), and is replaced by Lesley Carline who becomes its third female president.
Insolvency Service disqualifies four directors following trustee firm probe
Four directors of two trustee firms have been banned from running companies for a total of 21 years following an investigation by the Insolvency Service.
High Court approves Royal London's GAR conversion proposals
The High Court has approved Royal London's plan to allow customers with guaranteed annuity rates (GARs) to convert their guarantees into a top-up for their pension pot.
IET pension scheme completes £50m buy-in with PIC
The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) pension scheme has insured £50m of pensioner liabilities through a buy-in with Pension Insurance Corporation (PIC).
Pautz leaves Mercer for Insight Investment
Marc Pautz has left Mercer after being appointed a client director by Insight Investment.
Drawdown investment pathways to boost outcomes, finds PP research
Respondents in last week's Pensions Buzz said such pathways would help guide members and improve retirement outcomes.
Smart Pension gets first ESG head as funds launch looms
Rachel Neill has been appointed as Smart Pension's first head of environmental, social and governance (ESG) as it plans to launch responsible investment funds.
How national income targets can boost pension saving
The Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association (PLSA) has proposed a number of reforms to boost pensions adequacy. Victoria Ticha looks at the recommendations.
National income targets would help boost pension saving in the UK, says PLSA
The Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association (PLSA) has proposed a number of reforms to boost pensions adequacy, including retirement income targets to show the lifestyle people could afford on different levels of income.
BMO combines credit with LDI to simplify de-risking
Funds that match and link credit with liability-driven investing (LDI) have been launched by BMO Global Asset Management in a bid to simplify the process of de-risking defined benefit (DB) schemes.
MPs ask FCA to publish Brexit impact studies
The Treasury Committee has written to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to ask for publication of analysis on the impact leaving the European Union is likely to have on the regulator.
PIC invests £100m in social housing
Pension Insurance Corporation (PIC) has made a £100m investment in social housing with Accord Housing Association.
PA Pension Scheme completes £850m buyout with PIC
PA Consulting has completed a full buyout of its £850m scheme with Pension Insurance Corporation (PIC).
Treasury delays cold-calling ban
The government has confirmed the long-awaited ban on pensions cold-calling will now be delayed until Autumn.
Five stories you may have missed this week
This week's top stories included the government saying it will examine and may overhaul the pension tax relief system it if feels it is beneficial to do so.
TPR and FCA must work closer on scams and transfers
The industry has been reacting to TPR and the FCA's joint call for input on how they will tackle pensions issues. Victoria Ticha looks at some of the responses
Have schemes become unintentionally locked into RPI?
Research suggests the industry believes schemes have been unintentionally locked into using the higher inflation measure but many remain unsure about an override. Victoria Ticha takes a closer look
Five stories you may have missed this week
This week's top stories included an article on how the government will have to justify proposed changes to the state pension age after a Prospect petition secured over 12,000 signatures.
Smart Pension trustees fined for failing to report unpaid contributions following TPR probe
Smart Pension failed to report the fact it had not collected or invested nearly £900,000 of pension contributions on behalf of its members, an investigation by The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has found.
PSIG launches updated code of practice to fight evolving pension scams
The Pension Scams Industry Group (PSIG) has updated its voluntary code of practice in a bid to help prevent members falling victim to evolving pension scams.
How trustees can prepare for the transaction cost disclosure regulations
The FCA introduced new regulations around the measurement and disclosure of transaction costs in January. Jon Parker looks at how trustees should respond.
Aliaxis scheme completes £85m buy-in with Just Group
The Aliaxis UK Defined Benefit Pension Scheme has completed a buy-in transaction with Just Group totalling £85m, structured across two tranches of pensions in payment.
TPR suspends trustee after police investigation into fraud
A trustee of the Optimum Retirement Benefits Plan has been suspended by The Pensions Regulator (TPR) following the launch of a police investigation into a suspected liberation scam.
Hermes launch carbon tool to track fund's level of risk and engagement
Hermes Investment Management has launched an environment, social and governance (ESG) tool in a bid to improve carbon risk engagement with investee companies.
BBC Pension Scheme appoints chair designate
Catherine Claydon has been appointed as independent trustee at the £16bn BBC Pension Scheme, and is expected to replace chair Bill Matthews when he steps down in December after seven years.