Defined benefit (DB) pension schemes are entering a more demanding phase for trustees. Many schemes continue to see funding improvements and a growing range of endgame options has created a DB trustee community that is increasingly focused on the endgame strategy of their schemes. But strategic planning is increasingly competing for attention against a wide range of governance, regulatory and operational demands.
This first insight report from the TPT DB Trustee Pulse 2026, based on an independent survey of 100 UK DB pension scheme trustees, explores the pressures competing for trustees attention and the practical demands of running a scheme.
The findings suggest that trustees are trying to think strategically while managing a growing list of day-to-day priorities. Dashboard readiness, liquidity considerations, member communications and governance requirements are all placing demands on trustee time and resource, creating a more crowded decision-making environment than many schemes faced just two years ago.
Read this insightful article to explore how operational pressures are reshaping trustee priorities.



