Axa
PP Monthly Digest: March 2021
Here it is, our monthly digest of the most important pension articles Professional Pensions has written and published over the last month, along with some contextual notes.
Five stories you may have missed this week
This week’s top stories include Axa’s deferred longevity swap with Hannover Re, and Capita’s restructuring plans for simplifying the business.
Axa agrees market's first ever deferred longevity swap with Hannover Re
The Axa UK Group Pension Scheme has agreed a £3bn longevity swap with Hannover Re, insuring the longevity risk of a largely non-pensioner population.
US equities look safer than European but inflation worries are rising
The US economy is on course to do better than Europe post-lockdown, thereby supporting US equities but raising inflation worries, according to economists.
How employers are changing their benefit offerings as a result of the Covid crisis
Covid-19 has had a seismic impact on regular office life. Nick Martindale looks at how employee benefits provisions are expanding to reach the new normal
UK equity funds suffer £2.6bn August outflows
Outflows from UK equity funds gathered pace in August, with £2.6bn of assets being pulled from the market area over the course of the month, according to Morningstar’s latest fund flows report.
How to build cashflow strategies amid Covid-19
As more schemes look at building a CDI strategy amid the economic crisis, Sebastien Proffit looks at what to consider.
Three-quarters of schemes will be using CDI by next year, finds AXA IM
The majority of schemes are now using cashflow-driven investment (CDI) strategies as closures drive up the number of pensioners, AXA Investment Managers (AXA IM) research finds.
Feeling the pinch: UK inflation on the rise
UK inflation hit a six-month high of 2.7% in September, having held steady earlier this year. The rise is not good news for consumers - slowing the recovery in spending power.
Megatrends: Understanding the tech revolution
Partner Insight: How have companies like Amazon contributed to the megatrend tech revolution?
Are megatrends simply hype or a serious investment opportunity?
Partner Insight: From climate change, to AI, investors are increasingly turning to different themes in order to generate an income. But which megatrends are a viable long-term investment opportunity?
Bearish bonds: Are rising yields a thing of the past?
Partner Insight: For many investors, bonds represent only a 'safe haven' or 'low yielding' type of investment. But not all bonds represent safety, and there are many types of bonds that are able to provide a steady or high yield in all sorts of interest...
Global debt: Growing too much, too fast?
Partner Insight: The dangers of having too much debt in the economy are many, and as global debt hits a trillion-dollar high there are fears we could heading for a repeat of the global financial crisis.
20 years of Professional Pensions: Where are they now?
Jonathan Stapleton looks at the firms who were advertising in the first editions of Professional Pensions and how the consultancy, asset manager and provider markets have changed over the past 20 years
Hymans Robertson appoints Brolly as head of products
Hymans Robertson has appointed Karen Brolly as head of products within its life and financial services practice.
AXA IM adds to institutional solutions team
AXA Investment Managers (AXA IM) has promoted Franz Wenzel to institutional solutions strategist.
Standard Life acquires Elevate platform; Axa to sell pensions arm
Standard Life has acquired platform Axa Elevate while Axa UK confirmed plans to sell off its Wealth business.
Innovation swells in small bulk annuity deals
Smaller schemes are increasingly looking to benefit from longevity de-risking opportunities offered through swaps and bulk annuities, accordingly to JLT Employee Benefits.
Concern ISA-pension merger would harm savings culture
Government plans to merge ISAs and pensions would harm retirement saving and mean more retirees run out of money, Axa Wealth head of retirement planning Andy Zanelli has warned.
AXA scheme uses group company to insure £2.8bn of longevity risk
The trustees of the AXA UK Group Pension Scheme have agreed a £2.8bn longevity swap with Reinsurance Group of America (RGA).
Ombudsman forces managers to make up losses suffered in late transfer
The Pensions Ombudsman (PO) has ordered two wealth managers to make up the investment losses incurred by a pensioner on the late transfer of his drawdown fund.
How to build financial resilience among lower-paid employees
Financial resilience is a high indicator of financial wellbeing. Debi O'Donovan explores how employers can effectively meet the problem for their workforce and boost business productivity.
Higher work stress and more sick leave in staff aged 30-49
Employees aged between 30 and 49 are more stressed and take significantly more sick leave than their colleagues.
The rise of social impact investment
Naomi Rainey looks at the trend for investment that brings social as well as financial benefit