Industry
Five stories you may have missed this week
This week’s top stories included Aon findings that the number of defined benefit schemes employing a sole trustee model is expected to double by 2025, while Scottish Widows invested £2bn as the inaugural investor in BlackRock’s new climate fund.
SLA profits slump by 30% in H1
Standard Life Aberdeen (SLA) saw its profits fall by a third in its first-half results as revenue fell, but redemptions from its strategies fell to the lowest level since the firm's blockbuster 2017 merger.
Phoenix reports small profit hike as bulk annuities top £1bn
Phoenix Group has reported a £36m increase in group operating profit in the first six months of this year, as well as strong cash generation of £433m.
Aviva profits dented by Covid-19 but bulk annuities offset fall
Aviva’s operating profit fell by 11% in the first half of the year as Covid-19 hit business activity, although a growth in bulk annuity sales partially offset the drop.
Coronavirus Blog: Scottish Widows extends easing of annuities applications; How to build cashflow strategies amid the pandemic
In this live blog, Professional Pensions brings together all the latest news on the industry's response to the coronavirus pandemic, as well as regulatory and legal updates.
CMI: Sixth successive week of deaths below 2019 levels
The latest update from the Continuous Mortality Investigation (CMI) for week 30 of 2020 shows a sixth successive week of recovering death rates amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Have your say: Will the WPC's inquiry into the impact of pension freedoms be too overshadowed by Covid-19 impacts?
In this latest Pensions Buzz, we want to know whether you think the Work and Pension Committee's inquiry into the impact of pension freedoms between 2015 and 2020 will be too overshadowed by Covid-19 impacts?
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...
Aegon Asset Management set to complete Kames Capital rebrand
The retirement of the Kames Capital brand will be completed nine months after it was announced the specialist investment management business would move to Aegon Asset Management (AAM).
EXCLUSIVE: Sole trustees expect usage to double in next five years
The number of defined benefit (DB) schemes employing a sole trustee model is expected to double over the next five years, according to an Aon poll of the sector.
Charles Counsell: An industry to be proud of
As The Pension Regulator’s (TPR) home city Brighton gears up for its first virtual Pride, diversity and inclusion in pension schemes has never mattered more, says Charles Counsell.
PTL and Law Debenture report significant growth
PTL and Law Debenture’s pensions business have both reported growth in revenue and new business.
PLSA publishes guide on trustee investment disclosure duties
The Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association (PLSA) has published guidance for trustees on the new requirements to publicly disclose their investment and responsible investment activity.
Five stories you may have missed this week
This week’s top stories included an £800m buy-in for the LV= Employee Pension Scheme, while XPS Pensions launched a concierge service for trustees.
Diversity Project targets investment industry pay gap
The Diversity Project has outlined a new equality target for asset managers with the intention of halving the industry’s gender pay gap by 2030.
Asset managers agree economic recovery is at least two years away
The majority (85%) of asset managers believe economic recovery is at least two years away, according to a poll conducted by XPS Pensions.
Industry opposed to attending face-to-face events in October
A majority of industry professionals polled opposed the idea of attending face-to-face events in October, Professional Pensions finds.
PLSA calls for input on plans to improve pension freedoms guidance
The Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association (PLSA) has launched a call for evidence on a proposal for a solution designed to support savers navigating pension freedoms as they move towards retirement.
USS sees sharp rise in funding deficit due to Covid-19
The Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) revealed it has seen a sharp rise in its funding deficit over the last year due to the impact of Covid-19.
XPS launches concierge service for trustees
XPS Pensions has launched a service for trustees of defined benefit schemes allowing them to retain full control of investment decision making while delegating implementation.
Have your say: Will you attend face-to-face events in October if the government's pilots are successful?
In this latest Pensions Buzz, we want to know if you will be attending face-to-face business meetings and events from October should the government's pilots be successful.
Pensions Personality of the Year 2020 - The search begins
The search for Pensions Personality of the Year is now on - and we are asking you to nominate your favourites for the 2020 accolade.
Tax-free lump sum pension withdrawals halve during Covid-19
The number of savers opting to withdraw a tax-free lump sum from their pension has dropped more than 53% since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Association of British Insurers (ABI).
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.
