Articles by Professional Pensions
PMI Student Essay Competition: What the dashboard can learn from open banking, Midata and Fitbit
LCP’s Ella Purkiss was the winner of the PMI's second student essay competition. In her paper, she sets out her ideas as to what the industry can learn from other sectors when designing and delivering the pensions dashboard.
Female financial independence is vital - and best practice begins at home
Women need greater support to engage with and understand their own wealth as well as their partner's, including preparing for retirement, writes Laura Miller.
Where now for the DB superfunds?
Interest around DB consolidators is high but there remains regulatory uncertainty around their future. Lesley Carline looks at what the future might hold for this section of the market.
How wearables will disrupt life expectancy
There are a wide range of possible life expectancy disruptors. PwC's Paul Kitson looks at how one of these, wearables, could impact schemes.
Why aren't general election campaigns about pensions?
Pensions are too complex an issue to discuss on the general election campaign trail. Steve Webb says this is probably a good thing.
PP Rising Star Awards 2020: Initial nominee list revealed!
Here it is… The list of all the individuals, teams and organisations that have been nominated so far for the PP Rising Star Awards 2020.
Still the only woman at the conference? How to break up the club
Laura Miller looks at how to tackle the lack of visibility of women in financial services
DB funding - October 2019: PPF 7800 index sees liabilities fall as gilt yields increase
Every month, several firms issue trackers of the aggregate defined benefit (DB) scheme funding position. See here for the October 2019 estimates on the various measures…
Pension master trusts: The list of providers
Professional Pensions has compiled a list charting the progress of master trust authorisation. View our list in full here...
Time to get serious on defeating scams
With the law not adequately protecting savers from scams, the pensions industry must be more direct with members about the risks of transfers, says Margaret Snowdon.
Sailing the Strait of Hormuz
Without proper support from pension professionals, savers are left vulnerable to attacks on all sides, says Henry Tapper.
PP Investment Awards 2019 - The winners
Here they are…the winners of the annual Professional Pensions Investment Awards for 2019.
Five stories you may have missed this week
This week’s top stories included British Airways agreeing an accelerated recovery plan for its New Airways Pension Scheme, and the general election causing a delay to the pension schemes bill.
Government must get moving on removing AE earnings triggers
Waiting for the mid-2020s to allow AE members to save from the first pound means they will miss out on big boosts to retirement pots, says Nigel Stanley.
The rise and fall of pension fund consulting
Consolidation is ongoing in the pensions advisory world, with no signs of abating. Jonathan Stapleton asks whether now will be seen as the high point for pensions consulting.
Tinker, failure, closure, grief
A pensions commission would provide an opportunity to get past short-termist thinking in a political world dominated and saturated by Brexit, says Rory Murphy.
Correction: Lothian Pension Fund admin and payroll tender
Yesterday (28 October), Professional Pensions reported that the Lothian Pension Fund had discontinued a tender process for admin and payroll software.
PP Investment Conference - Last chance to register
There are only a few days left to register for this year’s PP Investment Conference, which will be held on Tuesday 5 November at London’s America Square Conference Centre.
Robin Ellison: Why we must 'strenuously resist' TPR's demand for more cash
The volume of regulation and the cost of regulators has risen sharply over the past decade. Robin Ellison asks if it is time for a rethink.
Pensions bill lite misses obvious opportunity for AE reform
Failure to include auto-enrolment reforms in the Queen’s Speech and the pension schemes bill will make big problems even bigger, says Jack Jones.
Five stories you may have missed this week
This week’s top stories included KPMG confirming it was in talks to sell its pensions advisory business to Exponent Private Equity.
Latest issue - 24 October 2019
This week's edition of Professional Pensions is out now.
The fiduciary evaluators: Hymans Robertson's Mark Baker
In the second of a series of interviews with fiduciary evaluators, Margie Lindsay speaks to Hymans Robertson's Mark Baker about his firm’s approach to fiduciary assessment.
Private credit and the new benchmark for DC schemes
While private credit mandates may not be straightforward to set up, they are a reliable source of income with lower default risk, says Mark Fawcett.
Tumbling bulk annuity records should ring alarm bells for small schemes
Mega-deals have dominated the buy-in and buyout market this year, limiting insurer appetite for smaller transactions. John Breedon looks at how small schemes can get ahead for next year.
Pensions minister tells schemes to 'act now' on GMP equalisation
Schemes must “act now” to equalise guaranteed minimum pensions (GMPs), pensions and financial inclusion minister Guy Opperman says.
Five stories you may have missed this week
This week’s top stories include the outcome of the Queen’s Speech, and HM Revenue and Customs calculation that pensions tax relief will cost the government £40bn this year.
UPDATED: The biggest buy-ins and buyouts announced since 2007
There have now been a total of around 50 buy-in and buyout deals of over £500m announced since 2007. The full list, provided courtesy of LCP, is as follows...
Guy Opperman: The pension schemes bill will bring the industry into the 21st Century
With a raft of changes mapped out for the industry, pensions minister Guy Opperman says reforms will place customers at their core.
Why good governance is more important than engagement
The industry constantly talks about the need to engage members. Gregg McClymont says a more important priority is how to ensure all schemes are governed well.
Latest issue - 17 October 2019
This week's edition of Professional Pensions is out now.
Retirement living standards will help savers picture their future
The retirement living standards must be widely adopted by schemes to help millions of savers truly understand how to achieve the retirement lifestyle they desire, says Nigel Peaple.
Are we heading for a capacity crisis in admin - or are we already there?
With schemes facing more administration tasks than ever, it is important the industry attracts new talent to help with potential capacity problems, says Kim Gubler.
A closer look at flexible apportionment arrangements
Flexible apportionment arrangements have become a commonly used tool for employers but, as Andy Lewis says, there can be issues for the unwary.
MNTs must not be overlooked in governance drive
Regulatory efforts to drive up the standards of trustees must not forget the unique skills and understanding of members that MNTs can provide, says David Weeks
Five stories you may have missed this week
This week’s top stories included B&CE entering into a redundancy consultation with staff, and the National Grid UK Pension Scheme completing a £2.8bn buy-in.
Third of pension schemes 'appointed or considering appointing an IFA'
More than a third of pension schemes have appointed or are considering appointing an IFA to support their members, XPS Pensions Group research has found.
Latest issue - 10 October 2019
This week's edition of Professional Pensions is out now.
Why pensions considerations are moving up the management agenda
The collapse of Thomas Cook shows how company boards must give greater attention to how pay and dividends contrast to pension scheme contributions, says Stephen Richards .
Harnessing the power of credit to boost responsible investment
While equities are often considered the best weapon to wield in ESG-related engagement, pension schemes also have huge power through their bond allocations, says Mitch Reznick
DB funding - September 2019: Equities hide impact of stagnant gilts as PPF 7800 deficit falls
Every month, several firms issue trackers of the aggregate defined benefit (DB) scheme funding position. See here for the September 2019 estimates on the various measures…
The past, present and future of fiduciary management fees
As the CMA’s remedies for the fiduciary management market bed in, schemes should be thinking more about how fees are structured, says David Hickey
The next frontier for responsible investment in pensions
While the pensions industry’s approach to ESG has changed considerably since three years ago, there are still opportunities for schemes to take advantage of, says Lauren Peacock.
What the UK can learn from Scandinavia about pension dashboards
The dashboard must be simple and based on consumer needs to be successful, Denmark and Sweden have found. Margie Lindsay looks at the lessons from the two projects.
Five stories you may have missed this week
The top stories this week were Gallagher’s acquisition of AHC, and the publication of the GMP Equalisation Working Group’s methodology guidance.
Anna Copestake: Don't be afraid to say yes
Arc Pensions Law partner Anna Copestake scooped the Pensions Lawyer of the Year award at PP’s Women in Pensions Awards. She talks to Holly Roach about her successes to date.
Fix pensions tax before pushing patient capital investments
With savers facing 100% of the potential downside of patient capital investment, as well as tax implications from the upside, Peter Glancy argues it is not the most enticing proposition.