DC default providers outperform targets to deliver strong returns in 2025

Howden research finds majority of providers targeting increased allocations to private markets

Martin Richmond
clock • 4 min read
DC default providers outperform targets to deliver strong returns in 2025

Defined contribution (DC) default pension providers delivered strong performance to provide positive returns for members in growth and at-retirement portfolios in 2025, research from Howden Employee Benefits shows.

The group's research report, which covered 28 default arrangements with a total of £500bn under investment and over 30 million members, found all the providers succeeded Howden's targets to beat in...

To continue reading this article...

Join Professional Pensions

Become a Professional Pensions Lite Member today

  • Three complimentary articles per month covering the latest real-time news, analysis and opinion from the industry
  • Receive important and breaking news stories via our two daily news alerts
  • Hear from industry experts and other forward-thinking leaders

Are you a trustee, investment consultant or in-house pension and benefit scheme professional? You can apply for full complimentary access here

Join now

 

Already a Professional Pensions
member?

Login

Martin Richmond
Author spotlight

Martin Richmond

Senior Correspondent at Professional Pensions

More on Defined Contribution

Partner Insight: Making private markets work for members – a guide for defined contribution trustees

Partner Insight: Making private markets work for members – a guide for defined contribution trustees

When capturing the potential that private markets could offer defined contribution schemes, trustees need to ensure they have absolute clarity on fees, fund structures and liquidity, says BlackRock’s James Rowe.

James Rowe - Managing Director, Head of UK Institutional DC
clock 30 April 2026 • 7 min read
DC consolidation could lead to 'massive' concentration of power

DC consolidation could lead to 'massive' concentration of power

LCP report finds concentration of power in DC sector is ten times greater than DB market

Martin Richmond
clock 28 April 2026 • 5 min read
Default strategy design key to understanding different retirement outcomes

Default strategy design key to understanding different retirement outcomes

Report reveals wide variation in retirement outcomes depending on the provider

Jonathan Stapleton
clock 22 April 2026 • 3 min read
Trustpilot