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      Defined Benefit Consolidation Conference

      Professional Pensions is hosting this concise digital event on the 25th March to provide a crucial update on where the current regulation stands on DB Consolidators, assess the different models available, what the expected funding levels are and the governance requirements. This event will be a combination of short presentations followed by live Q&A’s with our expert speakers allowing plenty of time to answer your questions.

      • Date: 25 Mar 2021
      • Digital Conference
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      Defined Contribution Conference

      Professional Pensions Defined Contribution virtual event, hopes to take stock of the last year, and ask the important questions; are members saving enough and have we improved the member journey at retirement? This two part digital event will provide you with the latest thinking and innovation in the DC market during our snappy 15 minute presentations, with plenty of time to ask questions during our live speaker Q&A.

      • Date: 20 Apr 2021
      • Digital Conference
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      Sustainable Investment Festival 2021

      The Sustainable Investment Festival will run online from 22-25 June and will include thought-provoking presentations from renowned keynote speakers, innovative breakout events and sessions specifically tailored to meet the information needs of fund selectors, financial advisers, pension consultants, trustees and scheme managers.

      • Date: 22 Jun 2021
      • Online, Online
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      UK Pensions Awards 2021

      The UK Pensions Awards – now in their 24th year – remain the industry's most prestigious accolades. They shine the light on excellence and recognise the advisers, providers and investment managers that offer the highest level of innovation, performance and service to occupational pension schemes and their members, and have done the most to improve this over the past year.

      • Date: 14 Sep 2021
      • London
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  • Whitepapers
    • How DC schemes can gain exposure to different asset classes in a low-return environment

      So far, DC plans have largely been focused on the onset of auto-enrolment and changes to the regulatory framework - be it the ‘charge cap,' ‘pension freedoms' or consultations around ‘value for money', says Annabel Tonry, Executive Director at J.P. Morgan Asset Management (JPMAM).

      Download
      Pension freedoms three years on

      In 2015 George Osborne, then the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, decided that those age over 55 could take much more of their pension in cash. This has since opened up a range of possibilities for DC scheme members in the world of pensions.

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Jonathan Stapleton

Jonathan is editor of Professional Pensions and Workplace Savings & Benefits (WSB).

He started work as a journalist on a capital markets magazine called Central European in 2000 before joining an internet start-up called ii-Q.com, a pensions news service.

Jonathan joined Professional Pensions in July 2001 and has been there, barring a nine month sabbatical in 2004, ever since. He launched PP Online in 2006, became deputy editor of Professional Pensions in 2008, editor in 2009, launched WSB in 2012 and became editor-in-chief of both brands in 2014.

Jonathan has won a number of awards throughout his career - most recently the Society of Pension Professionals' Journalist of the Year Award 2019 - and is holder of the Pension Management Institute's Retirement Provision Certificate.

Outside of pensions, Jonathan enjoys spending time with his son, helping to run a Scout troop and trying (unsuccessfully so far) to improve his very sluggish 5km running time.

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Articles by Jonathan Stapleton

DWP confirms general levy hike from April; Option one chosen
DWP confirms general levy hike from April; Option one chosen

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that it will increase the general levy pension rates from April 2021 in line with its preferred option.

  • Law and Regulation
  • 05 March 2021
Chris Sier fintech ClearGlass Analytics closes £2.6m seed funding round
Chris Sier fintech ClearGlass Analytics closes £2.6m seed funding round

ClearGlass Analytics has closed a £2.6m funding round as it delivers greater accountability to pension funds and the wider asset management market.

  • Industry
  • 05 March 2021
RPMI Railpen establishes in-house trading capabilities
RPMI Railpen establishes in-house trading capabilities

RPMI Railpen has announced plans to internalise its trading desk, which is expected to be operational over the summer.

  • Investment
  • 05 March 2021
Pensions minister sets out timetable for Pension Schemes Act regulations
Pensions minister sets out timetable for Pension Schemes Act regulations

Pensions minister Guy Opperman has set out a timetable for secondary legislation to bring Pension Schemes Act provisions into force.

  • Law and Regulation
  • 03 March 2021
TPR agrees £25m settlement with owners of Silentnight
TPR agrees £25m settlement with owners of Silentnight

The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has agreed a settlement in its anti-avoidance case against the current owners of the bed manufacturer Silentnight.

  • Regulation
  • 02 March 2021
LCP calls for 'fundamental rethink' on DC chair's statements
LCP calls for 'fundamental rethink' on DC chair's statements

Defined contribution (DC) chair’s statements need a major re-think as part of the Department for Work and Pensions’ five-yearly statutory review on the rules around scheme governance in 2021, LCP says.

  • Defined Contribution
  • 19 February 2021
UK launches £10m research centre to spur greener global financial system
UK launches £10m research centre to spur greener global financial system

The UK is investing £10m in a national green finance research centre that will advise lenders, investors and insurers, enabling them to make environmentally sustainable decisions, and support a greener global economy.

  • Industry
  • 15 February 2021
Opperman: Secondary legislation now priority following Royal Assent for Pension Schemes Act
Opperman: Secondary legislation now priority following Royal Assent for Pension Schemes Act

Minister for Pensions and financial inclusion minister Guy Opperman has pledged to make secondary legislation for the Pension Schemes Act his “number one” priority over the coming months.

  • Law and Regulation
  • 12 February 2021
Quarter of schemes switch to DC master trusts; a further half planning similar move
Quarter of schemes switch to DC master trusts; a further half planning similar move

Transfers to defined contribution (DC) master trusts will continue well into 2021, latest research from Sackers reveals.

  • Defined Contribution
  • 10 February 2021
Webinar: Investing for the transition to net-zero
Webinar: Investing for the transition to net-zero

Professional Pensions is holding a webinar on investing for the transition to net-zero on Thursday (11 February) at 11am.

  • Investment
  • 09 February 2021
USS signs five-year contract extension with Capita Pensions
USS signs five-year contract extension with Capita Pensions

Capita Pensions has signed a five-year contract extension with the £66.5bn Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) to continue to deliver the fund’s pension system and administration support.

  • Admin / Technology
  • 09 February 2021
How much are trustees paid? Survey reveals 'lagging' remuneration and lack of diversity
How much are trustees paid? Survey reveals 'lagging' remuneration and lack of diversity

Trustees are among the lowest paid roles in pension scheme management despite growing responsibilities and increased regulation, PwC research reveals.

  • Industry
  • 08 February 2021
Covid increases investor focus on ESG but major implementation obstacles remain
Covid increases investor focus on ESG but major implementation obstacles remain

One third of investors say the pandemic has increased their focus on ESG issues, with the issue now a focus across asset classes, research from bfinance shows.

  • Investment
  • 08 February 2021
A list of Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association chairs
A list of Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association chairs

The list of the most recent chairs of the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association (PLSA) – the body known as the National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF) up to 2015 – is as follows.

  • Industry
  • 05 February 2021
'Stars align' to boost health of UK schemes to more than pre-Covid levels
'Stars align' to boost health of UK schemes to more than pre-Covid levels

The health of the UK’s defined benefit (DB) pension schemes has surpassed that of their pre-Covid levels as they continued to recover through final quarter of 2020, Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM) research reveals.

  • Defined Benefit
  • 04 February 2021
Exclusive: Mercer to shut five offices as part of post-pandemic acceleration of flexible working
Exclusive: Mercer to shut five offices as part of post-pandemic acceleration of flexible working

Mercer has set out plans to move to an agile office model on a permanent basis – closing a number of offices and modernising others as a result of both the acquisition of JLT in 2019 and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

  • Industry
  • 04 February 2021
Exclusive: Buck UK posts 8% revenue growth in 2020; headcount grows to 734
Exclusive: Buck UK posts 8% revenue growth in 2020; headcount grows to 734

Buck has released its 2020 financial results showing year-on-year organic revenue growth of 8% to £57m in the UK.

  • Industry
  • 03 February 2021
Hymans Robertson buys Bath Actuarial Consulting
Hymans Robertson buys Bath Actuarial Consulting

Hymans Robertson has acquired Bath Actuarial Consulting (BAC) in a bid to boost its corporate consulting business.

  • Industry
  • 01 February 2021
ICSWG launches trustee guide for assessing consultants' climate competency
ICSWG launches trustee guide for assessing consultants' climate competency

The Investment Consultants Sustainability Working Group (ICSWG) has launched a guide to help trustees assess their investment consultants’ climate competency.

  • Investment
  • 29 January 2021
FOI request reveals regional Pension Wise disparity
FOI request reveals regional Pension Wise disparity

Pension Wise is delivering double the number of appointments to pension savers in some regions of the UK than in others, a freedom of information request submitted to the Money and Pensions Service (Maps) reveals.

  • Industry
  • 28 January 2021
'Disappointed' PLSA calls for structural reform as part of DWP's general levy proposals
'Disappointed' PLSA calls for structural reform as part of DWP's general levy proposals

The Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association (PLSA) has expressed it is disappointed with the Department for Work and Pensions’ (DWP) general levy consultation – saying there should be no increase in the levy without structural reform.

  • Law and Regulation
  • 28 January 2021
LGIM Real Assets commits to deliver net-zero across its real estate portfolio by 2050
LGIM Real Assets commits to deliver net-zero across its real estate portfolio by 2050

LGIM Real Assets has committed to deliver net-zero carbon across its 76 million sq. ft. UK real estate portfolio by 2050.

  • Property
  • 25 January 2021
Tender Watch: GMC scheme reappoints Aon; Homes England hires Hymans; Civil Service appoints NTT Data for CSPS and RMSPS schemes
Tender Watch: GMC scheme reappoints Aon; Homes England hires Hymans; Civil Service appoints NTT Data for CSPS and RMSPS schemes

Professional Pensions rounds up some of the latest tender awards from across the industry.

  • Industry
  • 21 January 2021
Mercer urges government and HMRC to clarify GMP equalisation guidance
Mercer urges government and HMRC to clarify GMP equalisation guidance

The government must work with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and the wider industry to clarify GMP equalisation uncertainties, Mercer says.

  • Admin / Technology
  • 21 January 2021
Exclusive: Mobius Life launches ESG reporting service
Exclusive: Mobius Life launches ESG reporting service

Mobius Life has launched a service to provide pension schemes with a report which collates asset managers’ ESG themes to help trustees complete their annual implementation statements.

  • Industry
  • 19 January 2021
FCA data reveals over £20bn of DB transfers between 2018 and 2020
FCA data reveals over £20bn of DB transfers between 2018 and 2020

Some £20.1bn of defined benefit (DB) pensions were advised to transfer between 2018 and 2020, while £10.2bn were recommended not to transfer, Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) data reveals.

  • Law and Regulation
  • 18 January 2021
TPR response to funding code consultation reveals level of industry concern over twin-track regime
TPR response to funding code consultation reveals level of industry concern over twin-track regime

The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has published the interim response to its first defined benefit (DB) funding code consultation – highlighting the depth of industry concern around its proposed twin-track regime.

  • Law and Regulation
  • 14 January 2021
DWP sets de-minimis for flat-fee AE charges and launches work to standardise cost reporting
DWP sets de-minimis for flat-fee AE charges and launches work to standardise cost reporting

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will ban the charging of flat fees on AE auto-enrolment (AE) pots below £100 and launch work on how to standardise cost and charges reporting.

  • Law and Regulation
  • 13 January 2021
Have your say: What do you think will be the most important pension issues in 2021?
Have your say: What do you think will be the most important pension issues in 2021?

In this latest Pensions Buzz we want to know what will be the biggest pension issues in 2021.

  • Industry
  • 13 January 2021
Barclays Bank UK Retirement Fund integrates ESG and climate risk into £1.3bn DGF
Barclays Bank UK Retirement Fund integrates ESG and climate risk into £1.3bn DGF

The Barclays Bank UK Retirement Fund (Barclays UKRF) has integrated ESG factors and climate risk into a £1.3bn diversified growth fund (DGF) portfolio used for its defined contribution (DC) scheme.

  • Defined Contribution
  • 11 January 2021
Rodda takes over from Dromey as shadow pensions minister
Rodda takes over from Dromey as shadow pensions minister

Matt Rodda has taken over the role of shadow pensions minister from Jack Dromey following a Labour frontbench reshuffle.

  • Appointments
  • 08 January 2021
Updated: Peter Weiner dies following battle with cancer
Updated: Peter Weiner dies following battle with cancer

Industry stalwart Peter Weiner has passed away aged 69 following a battle with cancer.

  • Industry
  • 04 January 2021
MJ Hudson acquires private markets performance analytics firm PERACS
MJ Hudson acquires private markets performance analytics firm PERACS

MJ Hudson has bought private equity fund and portfolio performance specialist PERACS in a further expansion of its data and analytics division.

  • Industry
  • 04 January 2021
Helen Dean awarded CBE in New Year's Honours for services to pension saving
Helen Dean awarded CBE in New Year's Honours for services to pension saving

Nest Pensions chief executive Helen Dean has been awarded a CBE for services to pension savings in the New Year Honours 2021.

  • Industry
  • 31 December 2020
TPR bans corporate trustee and its director for 'serious' failings
TPR bans corporate trustee and its director for 'serious' failings

The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has banned a corporate trustee and one of its directors from acting as pension scheme trustees after multiple governance failures highlighted a lack of competence, capability and integrity.

  • Law and Regulation
  • 24 December 2020
The top 10 features of 2020
The top 10 features of 2020

What were the most read features on Professional Pensions over the last 12 months? We look at some of the top long-form articles on our site during the year.

  • Industry
  • 24 December 2020
DWP taskforce sets out actions to enable large-scale consolidation of deferred small pots
DWP taskforce sets out actions to enable large-scale consolidation of deferred small pots

The small pots working group has made a number of recommendations on how to tackle the growth of deferred members with small pension pots within the AE pensions market – urging the government and industry to take action to enable large-scale mass transfers....

  • Defined Contribution
  • 17 December 2020
PLSA survey finds trustee boards still insufficiently diverse; Most schemes have no plan in place to remedy situation
PLSA survey finds trustee boards still insufficiently diverse; Most schemes have no plan in place to remedy situation

Greater diversity in the industry can improve decision-making and help with attracting and retaining talent but few schemes have diversity and inclusion plans in place, Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association (PLSA) research reveals.

  • Industry
  • 16 December 2020
Barclays Retirement Fund completes £5bn longevity swap with Reinsurance Group of America
Barclays Retirement Fund completes £5bn longevity swap with Reinsurance Group of America

The Barclays Bank UK Retirement Fund has completed a £5bn longevity swap with Reinsurance Group of America (RGA).

  • Risk Reduction
  • 14 December 2020
AMNT calls for 'positive action' in order to recruit new member-nominated trustees
AMNT calls for 'positive action' in order to recruit new member-nominated trustees

The Association of Member-Nominated Trustees (AMNT)has called for trustees to take positive action in order to recruit new trustees to scheme boards.

  • Industry
  • 11 December 2020
Barnett Waddingham posts 9% rise in revenues to break £100m turnover milestone
Barnett Waddingham posts 9% rise in revenues to break £100m turnover milestone

Barnett Waddingham has published its annual report and accounts, revealing a 9% rise in revenues to £107.9m and a 5% increase in pre-tax profits to £29.7m in the year to 31 May.

  • Industry
  • 09 December 2020
Smart launches retirement product
Smart launches retirement product

Smart has launched a retirement product in a bid to help guide members and bridge the advice gap.

  • Industry
  • 02 December 2020
UPDATED: Capita sells employee benefits business to Benefex; Atlas Master Trust not part of transfer
UPDATED: Capita sells employee benefits business to Benefex; Atlas Master Trust not part of transfer

Capita has sold its employee benefits business to Benefex following a strategic review.

  • Employee Benefits
  • 01 December 2020
A beacon of hope: How the PMI will evolve in a post-Covid world
A beacon of hope: How the PMI will evolve in a post-Covid world

PMI president Lesley Alexander and the institute's immediate past-president Lesley Carline talk about the challenges of Covid-19 and the opportunities and challenges the industry faces in the future.

  • Industry
  • 30 November 2020
XPS Pensions posts 9% uptick in H1 revenues
XPS Pensions posts 9% uptick in H1 revenues

XPS Pensions posted a 9% increase in revenues during the six months to 30 September – a rise driven by a number of large client wins.

  • Industry
  • 26 November 2020
Government infrastructure bank to partner with pension funds to support investment
Government infrastructure bank to partner with pension funds to support investment

The government will set up an infrastructure bank to support investment and to co-invest alongside investors including pension funds.

  • Investment
  • 25 November 2020
PMI revamps board with four appointments
PMI revamps board with four appointments

The Pensions Management Institute (PMI) has appointed three non-executive directors and an executive director to its board.

  • Appointments
  • 25 November 2020
TPR expands Determinations Panel with appointment of new chair and four members
TPR expands Determinations Panel with appointment of new chair and four members

Former Financial Regulators Complaints Commissioner Antony Townsend is to become chair of an expanded Determinations Panel at The Pensions Regulator (TPR).

  • Appointments
  • 24 November 2020
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