Smart Pension
PP Monthly Digest: April 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.
Chair's statements do not entirely work, admits DWP; Mandatory fines may be relaxed
Chair’s statements are failing to achieve the multiple policy goals they were designed for, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has conceded.
Chin Chin. Let's raise a glass for a key dashboard milestone
Darren Philp says the dashboard programme team should be congratulated on the work it has done to put together a properly scoped out and stress tested plan that will maximise the chance of the project's success
Five stories you may have missed this week
This week’s top stories include the government’s renewed focus on superfunds and Smart Pension’s commitment of £100m to a defined contribution private market default strategy.
Exclusive: Smart Pension commits £100m to DC private market default strategy with Natixis IM
The Smart Pension Master Trust has allocated £100m of its default assets to seed a blended private market illiquids fund being launched by Natixis Investment Managers.
Winds of change: How schemes are approaching the countdown to net zero
The countdown to net zero is now well underway, Hope William-Smith take a look at how schemes are aligning with Paris Agreement goals.
DWP confirms general levy hike from April; Option one chosen
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that it will increase the general levy pension rates from April 2021 in line with its preferred option.
2021: The year of dashboard progress?
Hurdles remain before dashboard implementation, writes Holly Roach.
Covid has forced us to a crossroads for tech
The technological developments arising out of the pandemic will change the pensions industry forever, says Darren Philp.
Barclays partners with Smart for pension platform
Smart Pension and Barclays have partnered to provide small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with a quicker pensions solution with a wider selection of investment funds.
Smart Pension commits to net-zero emissions before 2050
Smart Pension has committed to net-zero emissions “well ahead of 2050”, and plans to halve its emissions “significantly earlier” than the Paris Climate Agreement deadline of 2030.
DWP taskforce sets out actions to enable large-scale consolidation of deferred small pots
The small pots working group has made a number of recommendations on how to tackle the growth of deferred members with small pension pots within the AE pensions market – urging the government and industry to take action to enable large-scale mass transfers....
DWP proposes hiked general levy over three years; DB costs to more than double
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has launched a consultation on the future of the general levy, seeking to close a potential £230m funding gap if rates remain unchanged.
Covid pushes tech up the agenda but drags on pensions
The pensions industry still trails behind others with its use of technology, writes Holly Roach.
Smart launches retirement product
Smart has launched a retirement product in a bid to help guide members and bridge the advice gap.
Smart launches in the US as Secure Act widens access to pensions
Smart has formally entered the American pensions market ahead of the launch of a record-keeping solution for pension equity plans in 2021.
PP Rising Star Awards - The Winners
Here they are – the winners of the second annual Professional Pensions Rising Star Awards...
Government confirms pension freedoms age hike to 57
The government has confirmed the minimum pension age will rise from 55 to 57 by 2028 to coincide with the rise in the state pension age to 67.
WorkLife partners with Smart Pension to offer SME employees workplace pensions
Employee benefits service WorkLife has partnered with Smart Pension to add workplace pensions to its digital platform.
WPC asks industry for ideas to solve small pots problem
The Work and Pensions Committee (WPC) has asked the industry for “workable solutions” to address the problem of problem of proliferating small pension pots.
Dashboard data call for input launched as schemes urged to get 'on the front foot'
The Pensions Dashboards Programme (PDP) has launched a formal call for input, seeking industry views on data standards for the initial dashboards.
Darren Philp: Covid-19 will give the industry the 'kick up the backside' it needs to move to modernity
Beer and brainfood: How Smart Pension has coped with a crisis
Natixis makes strategic equity investment in Smart
Natixis Investment Managers has made a strategic investment in Smart, the technology platform behind the Smart Pension master trust.
Tapered allowance thresholds confirmed to rise by £90,000
The government will raise the two tapered annual allowance thresholds by £90,000 in a bid to reduce the tax impact on high-earning NHS staff.
