Mercer

The combined deficit of schemes at FTSE 350 firms climbed to £111bn in April as falling bond yields and rising inflation expectations cancelled out stock market gains, says Mercer.

Naomi Rainey looks at the issues raised by 2013’s triennial valuation

Jonathan Stapleton looks at the impact of the Budget on DC defaults

Natasha Browne explores how the guidance guarantee can cut costs for big firms

Mitchell Consulting has appointed former Mercer partner Stuart Benson as a director amid plans to expand the business.

Mercer has been appointed as the preferred provider of defined contribution (DC) schemes to more than 200 UK higher and further education institutions.

The Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA) has launched an actuarial professional qualification and membership category to support increased demand for analysts.

Mercer has appointed partner Alan Baker as UK head of defined benefit (DB) risk, replacing Ali Tayyebi who will concentrate on client work.

The Pensions Management Institute (PMI) has given Mercer's confident trusteeship courses its stamp of approval through accreditation.

Defined benefit (DB) schemes in the UK pay considerably more to offload liabilities to an insurer than schemes in other countries, according to research from Mercer.