Defined Contribution

IRELAND - Defined contribution scheme investors should avoid long-term bonds as the trend towards historically low interest rates is likely to reverse over the medium term, Hewitt Associates believes.

Premier Foods aims to close its defined benefit pension schemes to new members by April, next year in a bid to tackle a £431m combined deficit.

GLOBAL - A growing number of multi-national companies are developing global pension committees and policies in order to gain a better grasp on their fund liabilities, says Mercer global chief retirement strategist Bruce Rigby.

Each month DC World asks readers for their views. This month we ask: Would early access to pension pots encourage greater saving or generate insufficient retirement funds?

Yes - wherever this is practically possible. From Towers Watson point of view as one of the pioneers of STP (SWIFTNet funds ISO20022) it is already established as an industry standard especially within the third party administrator (TPA) arena.  For example,...

Since the coalition government came to power in May the retirement income industry has seen unprecedented change - not least the launch of a consultation on abolishing the Age 75 rule. This is a subject close to the hearts of many within the retirement...

Pensions minister Steve Webb has highlighted the need to develop a strong State pension to help people build up a decent level of retirement income. Speaking at the ABI Savings and Protection conference on 13 July the minister outlined his commitment...

The UK should look at the Chilean retirement system's multi-fund structure as it develops the default fund set-up for NEST, Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development principal economist Pablo Antolin-Nicolas has said.

Nearly four-fifths of scheme managers have welcomed the government's decision to investigate alternative methods of implementing tax-relief restrictions on pension contributions - including reducing the annual allowance to as little as £30,000

Following recent government announcements on annuity reform the issue of minimum income requirements has caused concern, as Sebastian Cheek reports