Jonathan Stapleton
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Articles by Jonathan Stapleton
How TPR's relationship supervision regime is working
The Pensions Regulator’s relationship supervision regime was launched a year ago. Jonathan Stapleton hears from Dianne Morgan about how it is working in practice.
Pension schemes bill has low chance of quick resolution
With the spectre of Brexit looming over parliament, Jonathan Stapleton has some scepticism that the pension schemes bill will be enacted any time soon.
How good is your investment decision making? Take this survey to find out...
Leeds Business School and City University of London are conducting research on institutional investor decision-making in association with the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries – and they are looking for your help.
B&CE enters consultation over job cuts
B&CE has launched a redundancy consultation with staff as part of a plan to reduce costs and become more efficient.
Buy now while stocks last: Risk reduction ramps up
As the risk reduction market gets busier and busier, Jonathan Stapleton says preparations must become more comprehensive for schemes to gain a foothold.
Gallagher buys AHC
Arthur J. Gallagher has bought Anthony Hodges Consulting (AHC) in a bid to become a major global employee communications company.
ACA: Pension coverage remains patchy and employee saving still insufficient
The government must take action to build on the successes of auto-enrolment (AE) and ensure coverage and contribution rates are increased, the Association of Consulting Actuaries (ACA) says.
DC and ESG: The two key issues for our time
Across the industry, two key discussions are dominating the landscape: ESG and DC investment. Getting the approach to both of these right is vital, says Jonathan Stapleton.
IFoA launches actuarial monitoring scheme
The Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA) has launched a monitoring scheme in a bid to improve the effectiveness of actuarial regulation and promote ongoing improvement across the profession.
Setting a benchmark for DC investment
With NEST announcing plans to invest 5% of assets in private credit, Jonathan Stapleton queries whether other schemes should be following in its footsteps
PPI Future Book: Consolidation, contribution hikes and investment strategy key to boosting DC pension pots
The consolidation of smaller, higher-charging schemes, increased contribution rates and a move away from investment lifestyling towards DGFs and real assets could significantly boost the size of DC pots, latest analysis by the Pensions Policy Institute...
No consensus on the best political party for pensions
This week's Pensions Buzz respondents were split over which political party would be best for pensions.
Taking administration back in-house
While in-house administration comes with its own challenges, for some schemes it can have significant advantages over third-party providers, argues Philip Dickinson
UK schemes sign charter to demand action on climate change
Some 76 trustees and chief investment officers from UK schemes with combined assets of £367bn have signed a pledge to push asset managers to take more action to help combat climate change.
PP Trustee Senate: Just five places remaining...
There are now only a few weeks until Professional Pensions' Trustee Senate residential event, which will take place on 3-4 October at the Hanbury Manor Hotel & Spa in Hertfordshire.
Amundi and AIIB launch Asia climate bond portfolio
The Beijing-based Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and Amundi have launched a $500m (£403m) Asia climate bond portfolio.
Why efforts to engage people with pensions will struggle
Pension Awareness Day - the awareness campaign launched by the amazing folk over at Pension Geeks - takes place this Sunday (15 September) and is the culmination of a week-long roadshow across the country aimed at making the topic of pensions more appealing....
Aon promotes seven to partner
Aon has announced the promotion of seven of its UK retirement, asset management and reward team to partner.
Latest issue - 12 September 2019
This week's edition of Professional Pensions is out now.
FTSE 350 schemes nearing buyout exposed to excessive risk
Growing market volatility could adversely affect defined benefit (DB) schemes nearing buyout over the next five years, Barnett Waddingham says.
TPR launches prosecution against director of professional trustee firm
The director of a professional trustee firm is being prosecuted by The Pensions Regulator (TPR) for failing to provide information and documents requested as part of an ongoing investigation.
WSB Awards 2019 - The Winners
Here they are - the winners of the Workplace Savings and Benefits Awards 2019...
Ten schemes publicly back Cost Transparency Initiative
Ten pension schemes representing over 19 million members and more than £150bn in assets under management have written a joint public letter endorsing the Cost Transparency Initiative (CTI).
Latest issue - 5 September 2019
This week's edition of Professional Pensions is out now.
Jim Beam pension scheme moves to bundled DB solution
The Beam UK Pension Plan has appointed Willis Towers Watson to provide actuarial, fiduciary management, consulting and administrative pension services through its bundled OneDB service.
LEBC agrees to stop DB transfer work
National financial advisory firm LEBC Group has stopped offering advice on defined benefit transfers after a review from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
LGPS Scheme Advisory Board chooses Byhiras for cost transparency services
The Local Government Pension Scheme Scheme Advisory Board (SAB) has chosen technology provider Byhiras to develop a platform to ensure that asset managers comply with its cost transparency code.
Incisive Media introduces sustainable wrapping for magazines
Incisive Media has become one of the first B2B media owners to mail its magazines using recycled paper wrappers, replacing single-use plastics.
Will Lovegrove and Ros Altmann step down as KeyPay acquires Pensionsync
Cloud payroll and workforce management provider KeyPay has bought UK-based pension integration platform Pensionsync for an undisclosed sum.
How HSBC is engaging its staff with money
Nick Martindale looks at how HSBC is helping its 40,000-strong UK workforce get to grips with their personal finances.
Q&A: Improving trustee board effectiveness
Jonathan Stapleton speaks to Punter Southall Governance Services director of outsourced pension services Clare Owen about the firm's latest research into the effectiveness of trustee boards.
What is value for money in DC pensions?
It is perhaps inherently difficult to find an agreed definition of value for money, but some methodologies could act as a stopgap, argues Jonathan Stapleton.
Insured self-sufficiency Q&A with Legal & General
Jonathan Stapleton speaks to Russell Lee about Legal & General's new insured self-sufficiency solution.
Latest issue - 15 August 2019
This week's edition of Professional Pensions is out now.
The pathway to retirement income
Joo Hee Lee of Newton Investment Management discusses how schemes need to design investment options to match modern income requirements
Moody's buys RiskFirst
Moody's has announced it has acquired RiskFirst the firm behind the PFaroe analytics platform.
FCA weighs up U-turn to ban contingent charging on DB transfers
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is consulting on plans to ban contingent charging on defined benefit (DB) transfer advice for the second time in less than a year.
PP Investment Awards 2019 - Shortlists published
Here they are… The shortlists for this year's Professional Pensions Investment Awards.
LGPS Central launches EM equity fund
LGPS Central has launched an active, multi-manager emerging markets equity fund.
The challenge of sterling credit shortages in CDI portfolios
Sterling credit assets are in relatively short supply. Sebastien Proffit looks how this can affect scheme CDI strategies.
Latest issue - 25 July 2019
This week's edition of Professional Pensions is out now.
David Fairs: Can sole trustees govern pensions effectively?
In the first of a series of exclusive articles for Professional Pensions, TPR's David Fair's explores the role of sole trustees, outlines some of the regulators' concerns and calls for evidence from the industry.
Balancing speed and security is key to DB transfers
More needs to be done to speed up DB to DC transfers but, as Jonathan Stapleton says, more also needs to be done to protect members.
Latest issue - 18 July 2019
This week's edition of Professional Pensions is out now.
Barnett Waddingham renames fiduciary oversight service and appoints new head
Barnett Waddingham's advisory service for fiduciary management has a new name and leader as part of the consultancy's plans to evolve the offering.
Women in Pensions Awards 2019 - The video highlights
The 2nd Women in Pensions Awards were presented by comedian Viv Groskop at a gala dinner at the Hilton London Bankside on 11 July 2019.
PMI Student Essay Competition: Minimising a loss of financial security
Barnett Waddingham's Chris Burtenshaw was the winner of the PMI's inaugural student essay competition. In his paper, he sets out his ideas as to how schemes can reduce the broader administration and communication risks they face.
Lay trustees still have a role to play in scheme governance
The regulator must not forget the important role of lay trustees as it boosts standards of professionals, argues Jonathan Stapleton.