NEST

DC schemes are increasingly looking at investing in alternatives but face a number of challenges. Charlotte Moore takes a look at the issues they face.

Nest Invest has been authorised as an occupational pension scheme (OPS) firm by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

Government auto-enrolment provider Nest has mapped out how it will aim to help tackle climate-related risks, by testing ways to support cutting carbon emissions to 1.5 degrees.

There is still no available guidance for trustees on how to incorporate cyber security risks in their investment and stewardship processes, according to NEST.

The NEST members’ panel is calling on the government to start reducing the £10,000 auto-enrolment (AE) earnings threshold, before the move to start contributions from the first pound earned.

Waiting for the mid-2020s to allow AE members to save from the first pound means they will miss out on big boosts to retirement pots, says Nigel Stanley.

While private credit mandates may not be straightforward to set up, they are a reliable source of income with lower default risk, says Mark Fawcett.

The number of members to have ever used NEST rose by 28% over the 2018/19 fiscal year to 31 March, according to its research arm, NEST Insight.

AE has successfully brought millions of people into pension savings. But, as Kim Kaveh writes, it is far from perfect.

Three-quarters of self-employed workers agree it is important to save for retirement, and more than half want help with it, according to NEST.