Law and Regulation

The top stories this week were the pensions regulator warning about new master trusts and revealing a big board shake-up, while the LGPS pooling picture became clearer.

The Pensions Regulator (TPR) is seeking views on how innovation and technology can help deliver better outcomes for savers at retirement.

The Pensions Regulator (TPR) will segment the trustee population to ensure their needs are met as part of the 21st century trusteeship programme.

The Pensions Regulator has warned there are real risks from new master trusts being subject to far less regulatory scrutiny than new contract-based providers.

The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has revealed more than 90% of small employers have completed auto-enrolment (AE) but it had to issue a record number of compliance notices to make it happen.

Self-employed people would rather invest cash into savings accounts, cash ISAs or property than pay into a private pension, according to research by Citizens Advice.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has set out plans to impose a regulatory ban on member-borne commissions on service providers, dismissing concerns the responsibility could fall entirely on trustees.

Angela Raynor has called for the creation of a retirement system which ensures a "secure retirement regardless of background" in her first major speech since taking on the shadow pensions brief.

Ethical investing has been strengthened by the European Parliament's economic and monetary affairs (ECON) committee, which approved the Institutions for Occupational Retirement Provision (IORP) II Directive by 47 to three votes.

The results of the first European-wide stress tests reveal the current macro-economic environment poses huge challenges for defined benefit (DB) schemes as they grapple with low rates and longevity increases.