Jonathan Stapleton
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PRAG updates guidance on cybercrime protection as 43 pension organisations report breaches to ICO over past two years
The Pensions Research Accountants Group (PRAG) has published updated guidance to help trustees protect their schemes from cybercrime.
CDC pensions could be 70% higher than DC and 40% more than DB, says WTW
Typical collective defined contribution (CDC) pensions would be expected to average 70% higher than either individual DC insured annuities, or 40% higher than pensions provided on average in defined benefit (DB) schemes, analysis from Willis Towers Watson...
EY expands UK actuarial team with launch of new interdisciplinary structure
EY has appointed Gareth Mee as UK actuarial leader to head up an expanded interdisciplinary team at the firm.
Scottish Widows completes master trust board
The Scottish Widows Master Trust board has completed its line-up with the appointment of Cheryl Black.
How the coronavirus pandemic is affecting retirement plans for older workers
One in eight older workers have changed their retirement plans as a result of Covid-19, the Institute for Fiscal Studies says
Mark Calnan: Looking to the horizon
Jonathan Stapleton speaks to Willis Towers Watson EMEA head of investments Mark Calnan about how diversification, ESG and risk management remain key for schemes in aftermath of Covid-19
Government rules out review into impact of pension tax relief
The Public Accounts Committee’s recommendation that HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) should conduct a review into the impact of pensions tax relief has been ruled out by government.
Hargreaves Lansdown appoints three IGC members
Hargreaves Lansdown has appointed three new members to its independent governance committee (IGC).
Premier Pensions' Alastair Aird: Our focus is on people, technology and data
Professional Pensions spoke to Premier Pensions chief executive Alastair Aird as part of an exclusive series of interviews with the leaders of some of the UK’s leading pension consulting firms. This is what he had to say…
Stuart Heatley appointed as managing director of Capita Pensions
Capita has appointed Stuart Heatley as the managing director of its pensions business to succeed Nigel Purveur.
Nest Insight and DWP to investigate impact of Covid-19 on savings behaviour of self-employed
Nest Insight and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) are set to conduct research to examine the financial impact of Covid-19 on self-employed people.
Industry raises significant concerns over FCA consultation on advising on pension transfers
The industry has raised serious concerns that Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) transfer advice proposals on illustrative figures could hamper schemes’ ability to help members to understand their retirement options and force many to take full regulated...
Schemes in 'denial' over dependence on 'once-a-century' equity performance to close funding gaps
Underfunded defined benefit (DB) pension schemes in the UK are over-dependent on historically improbable equity returns, analysis by Willis Towers Watson reveals.
UK investment consultants form joint working group on sustainability
A dozen UK investment consulting firms have established a group aiming to improve sustainable investment practices across the investment industry.
PMI reports itself to ICO after hacker attack leads to data breach
The Pensions Management Institute (PMI) has reported itself to the Information Commissioner’s Office following a cyber-attack which resulted in hackers gaining access to the names and email addresses of around 1,700 people.
Salvus Master Trust launches pension sharing order product
Salvus Master Trust has launched a product that will accept cash equivalent transfer values (CETVs) from a final salary scheme granted as part of a Pension Sharing Order (PSO).
PP Webinar: The outlook for alternatives
Professional Pensions is holding a webinar on the future of alternatives on 8 September at 3pm.
UKSIF appoints James Alexander as chief executive
The UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association (UKSIF) has appointed James Alexander as its chief executive officer (CEO).
Is history repeating itself with the Pension Schemes Bill and introduction of new DB funding code?
Jonathan Stapleton says the Pension Schemes Bill is the latest in a long line of well-meaning legislation that makes it more difficult for employers to offer good schemes to their staff
PIC invests £130m in central Manchester build to rent housing regeneration project
Pension Insurance Corporation (PIC) has acquired a prime city-centre site in Manchester as the location for its first build to rent (BTR) project, investing £130m to fund the construction of 520 residential apartments, over 6,000 square feet of commercial...
Industry backs climate risk disclosure proposals but raises implementation concerns
The industry has broadly backed proposals to require the largest schemes to publish climate risk disclosures but raised concerns about the workload of implementation as well as how to standardise the methodology used.
PPI report flags concerns over financial sustainability of master trusts
The master trust industry is unlikely to breakeven on costs until around 2025, with the big four providers having already spent £1bn on setting up their offerings, research by the Pensions Policy Institute (PPI) finds.
Government consults on proposals to force largest schemes to publish climate risk disclosures
The government has put forward proposals to require the 100 largest occupational pension schemes – those with £5bn or more in assets and all authorised master trusts – to publish climate risk disclosures by the end of 2022.
Climate change action among schemes surges four-fold
European pensions funds’ awareness of, and desire for, action on climate change related investment risk has surged, Mercer says.
Book launch: The Money Triangle
A book that has been designed to turbocharge the nation’s financial wellbeing during and after the Covid-19 pandemic has been launched.
Pensions Personality of the Year 2020 - Nominees unveiled, voting begins
Here they are… The nominees for this year's Pensions Personality of the Year…
TPR undertaking internal review after Norton Motorcycles case
The Pensions Regulator (TPR) chief executive Charles Counsell has written to Work and Pensions Committee (WPC) chairman Stephen Timms responding to questions over how the watchdog handled issues around the Norton Motorcycles pension schemes.
Redington's Mitesh Sheth: Supporting our people and clients through difficult times
Professional Pensions spoke to Redington chief executive Mitesh Sheth as part of an exclusive series of interviews with the leaders of some of the UK’s leading pension consulting firms. This is what he had to say…
The Pension Superfund announces ALM committee; High-profile membership includes Martin Gilbert and Chris Hitchen
The Pension Superfund has announced the makeup of its asset and liability management (ALM) committee – unveiling names including Aberdeen Standard Investments chairman Martin Gilbert and former Railpen chief executive Chris Hitchen as part of its team....
PwC's Jeremy May: Taking pensions out of the political agenda
Professional Pensions spoke to PwC partner and UK pensions leader Jeremy May as part of an exclusive series of interviews with the leaders of some of the UK’s leading pension consulting firms. This is what he had to say…
List: The biggest professional trustee firms in the UK
Professional Pensions is compiling a list of professional trustee firms and is looking for your help...
EXCLUSIVE: Covid-19 accelerates focus on social and governance issues as part of ESG push by asset owners
Demonstrable action will be required by asset managers to meet the needs of increasingly outcome-oriented institutional asset owners as social and governance issues come into sharper focus in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, research by JPES Partners...
WPC asks industry for ideas to solve small pots problem
The Work and Pensions Committee (WPC) has asked the industry for “workable solutions” to address the problem of problem of proliferating small pension pots.
Schemes urged to boost cybercrime protection following surge in criminal interest
Schemes and administrators have been urged to strengthen their cybercrime resilience after heightened criminal interest in the sector.
PMI launches financial education and guidance service
The Pensions Management Institute (PMI) has launched a financial education and guidance service supported by Wealth At Work.
First Actuarial's Hilary Salt: We have withdrawn into a world dominated by minimum contribution DC schemes
Professional Pensions spoke to First Actuarial founder and actuarial director Hilary Salt as part of an exclusive series of interviews with the leaders of some of the UK’s leading pension consulting firms. This is what she had to say…
XPS Pensions Group's Paul Cuff: Balancing scale with focus and agility
Professional Pensions spoke to XPS Pensions Group co-chief executive Paul Cuff as part of an exclusive series of interviews with the leaders of some of the UK’s leading pension consulting firms. This is what he had to say…
PP Live: APPT code of practice on sole trusteeship expected this summer
The code of practice on sole trusteeship being developed by the Association of Professional Pension Trustees is expected to be published within months, chairwoman Nita Tinn says.
WTW's Rash Bhabra: There are 'no magic bullets' to make the savings problem disappear
Professional Pensions spoke to Willis Towers Watson Great Britain head of retirement Rash Bhabra as part of its exclusive series of interviews with the leaders of the UK’s leading pension consulting firms. This is what he had to say…
Mercer's Benoit Hudon: 'Plan, don't panic'
Professional Pensions spoke to Mercer UK wealth leader Benoit Hudon as part of its exclusive series of interviews with the leaders of the UK’s leading pension consulting firms. This is what he had to say…
LCP's Aaron Punwani: It is time for HMT to take a holistic look at pension tax relief
Professional Pensions spoke to Lane Clark & Peacock chief executive Aaron Punwani as part of an exclusive series of interviews with the leaders of some of the UK’s leading pension consulting firms. This is what he had to say…
Isio's Andrew Coles: Investing in tech development
Professional Pensions spoke to Isio chief executive Andrew Coles as part of an exclusive series of interviews with the leaders of some of the UK’s leading pension consulting firms. This is what he had to say…
Hymans Robertson's John Dickson: Sticking to our principles
Professional Pensions spoke to Hymans Robertson senior partner John Dickson as part of an exclusive series of interviews with the leaders of some of the UK’s leading pension consulting firms. This is what he had to say…
Capita's Stuart Heatley: 'Clever complexity' will no longer be tolerated
Professional Pensions spoke to Capita Pensions Consulting managing director Stuart Heatley as part of an exclusive series of interviews with the leaders of some of the UK’s leading pension consulting firms. This is what he had to say…
PLSA: 'No plans to return to live events as we knew them until at least 2022'
The Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association (PLSA) says it isn’t planning to return to live events ‘as we knew them’ until at least 2022.
Buck's David Piltz: Fostering a spirit of flexibility, fairness, and simplicity
Professional Pensions spoke to Buck's UK managing director David Piltz as part of an exclusive series of interviews with the leaders of some of the UK’s leading pension consulting firms. This is what he had to say…
Barnett Waddingham's Andrew Vaughan: It is inevitable the way we work will change
Professional Pensions spoke to Barnett Waddingham senior partner Andrew Vaughan as part of an exclusive series of interviews with the leaders of some of the UK’s leading pension consulting firms. This is what he had to say…
Aon's Michael Clare: Moving towards a new better
Professional Pensions spoke to Aon EMEA head of retirement & investment Michael Clare as part of an exclusive series of interviews with the leaders of some of the UK’s leading pension consulting firms. This is what he had to say…