Towers Watson
Five stories you might have missed: Towers Watson merger; Awards winners; NEST evolves
The biggest stories on PP this week were the merger of Towers Watson and the Willis Group, the Pension Scheme of the Year Awards and NEST revealing its retirement blueprint. Here are the top five.
Towers Watson merges with Willis in £11.4bn deal
Towers Watson has merged with insurance broker Willis Group in an $18bn (£11.4bn) deal to create a wide-ranging global advisory, broking, and solutions provider.
Towers Watson merges with Willis in £11.4bn deal
Towers Watson has merged with insurance broker Willis Group in an $18bn (£11.4bn) deal to create a wide-ranging global advisory, broking, and solutions provider.
Why Towers Watson and Willis Group have merged: The strategic rationale behind the deal
Towers Watson and Willis Group have announced they will merge in a deal worth around $18bn (£11bn). But what is the rationale behind the move? PP takes a look at the five key reasons behind the amalgamation.
Do trustees fear DB-DC transfers?
While some schemes are facilitating DB-DC transfers others are more hesitant. Michael Klimes looks at why this is happening
Is good governance only for large pension schemes?
Natasha Browne asks whether TPR is right to say small schemes will never meet its governance targets
Lock, Stock and Two Broken Promises?
Chancellor George Osborne's commitment to austerity might force him to break his promise on the triple lock for state pensions. Michael Klimes finds out why
How can the industry provide long-term sustainable income for retirees?
As the freedom and choice reforms kick in it is more likely retirees will opt to remain invested in the markets rather than purchasing an annuity. The challenge for the industry is how to provide such products that provide sustainable income through retirement...
Towers Watson appoints PwC as auditor for LifeSight
The master trust LifeSight has appointed PwC as its auditor after a tender involving four other firms.
Towers Watson upgrades bond rating to 'neutral' amid rising yields
Towers Watson has urged dynamic investors to take a short-term neutral position on UK and US bond rates after previously recommending a moderately underweight position.
Why a secondary annuity market has legs
Natasha Browne takes a look at some of the proposals for a successful secondary annuity market as the consultation closes
Two in three workers ignorant of pension freedoms
Nearly two thirds (62%) of British workers have at most extremely limited knowledge of the pension reforms introduced by the last government says Towers Watson.
Towers Watson appoints two to master trust board
Gill Barr and Mervyn Walker have been made trustees of Towers Watson's UK defined contribution (DC) master trust, LifeSight.
PMI launches DC governance qualification
The Pensions Management Institute (PMI) has launched its latest qualification, a certificate in defined contribution (DC) governance.
Scheme funding: Treading water for years
PP looks at the latest statistics from the regulator on scheme funding
Aon Hewitt appoints head of fiduciary management for large clients
Mike Rogers has been made partner and head of large clients in the delegated consulting services team of Aon Hewitt.
Mercer appoints UK administration chief
Richard Tuff has been made UK head of retirement by Mercer and succeeds Claire Ross who has gone to the North American side of the business.
Scottish Widows appoints IGC chairman
Babloo Ramamurthy has been appointed chairman of Scottish Widows' Independent Governance Committee (IGC).
Has the triennial valuation had its day?
Michael Klimes asks whether the triennial valuation should be scrapped
Fidelity and Towers Watson forced to pay out over delayed transfer request
The Pensions Ombudsman (PO) has ordered Fidelity Investments and Towers Watson to compensate a scheme member who lost out due to a "needless delay" of his transfer request.
Budget 2015: Three things to look out for
What will the be the major developments for pensions?
MNOPF: Steadying the ship at the multi-employer scheme
Andrew Waring talks about buy-ins, buyouts, longevity swaps and multi-employer DC arrangements
The evolution of pensions: 20 years of change
Pensions are in constant flux but contributions remain stable even if employees are failing to make use of employer matches, Natasha Browne finds
Towers Watson makes research appointment
Kate Hollis has been appointed to Tower Watson's credit research team.