Kate Smith
Employee DC contributions drop by 11% amid pandemic pressures
Defined contribution (DC) contributions were scaled back by 11% in the second quarter of 2020 as the impact of the pandemic set in, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Master trusts lead the way in pensions
As TPR prepares to kick off its first master trust supervisory cycle, Kate Smith explores how the market has changed and may continue to
TPR to remove late payment reporting flexibility from January
The time flexibility provisions introduced to help schemes which need to report late payments from employers for workplace pension schemes will be revoked, The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has confirmed.
Industry reaffirms need to gain savers' trust as dashboard data call for input closes
The data behind the pensions dashboard must be secure, transparent, and comprehensive enough to gain the trust of savers, the industry has said.
Government suffers defeats in House of Lords over Pension Schemes Bill
Amendments to the Pension Schemes Bill passed by peers in the House of Lords last night will see a wide-ranging suite of reforms for the pensions industry draw another step closer.
GAD and DHSC increase tax flexibilities for NHS Pension Scheme
Senior clinicians within the NHS Pension Scheme will receive extra assistance to adjust their pension accrual to fit within tax allowances.
TPR publishes Covid-19 pension guidance for employers
The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has published guidance setting out how employers can meet their automatic enrolment (AE) duties as they navigate the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
TPR extends late payment reporting deadlines
The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has temporarily relaxed the timeframe for schemes which need to report late payments from employers for workplace pension schemes.
Number of women without pensions almost doubles in two years
The number of women in the UK without any pension arrangements has almost doubled from 7% in 2017 to just over 13% in 2019, according to research from Aegon.
40,000 companies fined over auto-enrolment failures
More than 40,000 companies were issued fines for failing to meet auto-enrolment (AE) obligations in 2018, The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has confirmed.
Opperman becomes second-longest serving pensions minister
Guy Opperman is the second-longest serving dedicated junior pensions minister, overtaking Labour's Malcolm Wicks.
Aegon, Ensign and Fidelity seek authorisation as applications reach 22
Aegon Master Trust, Fidelity Master Trust and Ensign have sent off their authorisation applications to The Pensions Regulator (TPR).
Inflation edges up to 1.9% on higher food prices
Inflation in the UK rose slightly in February to 1.9% on the back of higher food prices, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Cold-calling ban receives parliamentary approval and becomes law
The long-awaited regulations for a cold-calling ban have been approved by the House of Commons after an onerous journey to becoming law.
Budget 2018: Ban on regulated firms buying cold-called leads mulled
The government and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) are "keeping under review" suggestions the regulator should update its rules on regulated firms buying leads obtained by cold-calling.
Lifetime allowance to rise to £1.05m as inflation falls to 2.4%
The lifetime allowance will rise to £1,054,800 from April next year as the Office for National Statistics (ONS) recorded inflation at 2.4% in the year to September.
Aegon promotes Kate Smith to head of master trust
Kate Smith has been named head of master trust at Aegon following the acquisition of BlackRock's defined contribution (DC) businesses.
'Radical shake-up' brings one-to-one TPR supervision to 60 schemes
The Pensions Regulator (TPR) will double down on its supervision with hundreds of schemes expecting increased oversight, while more than 60 will be subject to dedicated, one-to-one supervision.
Concerns remain over govt support for dashboard after McVey's statement
The government's announcement that it will support the industry in delivering the pensions dashboard has been met with mixed reaction, after months of uncertainty about the project's future.
Nine in 10 people affected by 'scourge of cold callers'
More than half of savers are worried about the government's delay to initiate a ban on cold calling, Aegon says as its research also reveals 91% have received them.
TPR issues first fine for out of date scheme information
The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has fined a scheme after it failed to notify the regulator it had appointed a professional trustee, in the first instance of a penalty being levied for this reason.
Over seven million people may have misplaced retirement savings
Just over one in five people with multiple pension pots have lost track of some of their savings, Aegon research finds.
A closer look at TPR seeking forced entry powers to seize assets
The pensions watchdog has appointed enforcement officers to seize assets from employers who fail to pay fines relating to their schemes. Victoria Ticha asks if this is the right approach
Single financial guidance body and cold-call ban provisions come into law
The bill creating a new single financial guidance body and introducing provisions for a ban on pension cold-calling has received Royal Assent today.
