Andrew Tully: Keeping on top of DB regulatory scrutiny
Transfers from defined benefit (DB) schemes are currently one of the most talked-about aspects of pensions. The numbers of people considering a transfer over the last few years has been one of the...
View Article‘Casualties expected’ as final master trusts apply for authorisation
The last of 38 master trusts expected to apply for authorisation have now submitted their applications to The Pensions Regulator (TPR), its latest update reveals. According to the watchdog’s data –...
View ArticlePaul Darvill: SSAS still has a place for advisers and their clients
Over recent years small self-administered schemes (SSASs) have somewhat taken a back seat to self-invested personal pensions (SIPPs) in terms of popularity. This has led some to question whether this...
View ArticleTPR: Tough master trust supervisory regime will follow authorisation
Master trust authorisation is ensuring high standards in this growing market to better protect the nearly 14 million people saving into these schemes. All expected applications from existing master...
View ArticleUSS receives master trust authorisation as BCF Pension Trust applies
The Universities Superannuation Scheme’s (USS) defined contribution master trust – USS Investment Builder – has received master trust authorisation from The Pensions Regulator (TPR). Announced today...
View ArticleGovt urged to act on pension saving as self-employed at record high
The government has been urged to focus on making pension savings more attractive to those working for themselves as new ONS figures have revealed the number of self-employed workers has reached a...
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XPS Pensions: Up to 1.5% of eligible members quitting DB schemes each month
XPS Pensions has combined its transfer value index and its transfer activity index to create a transfer watch service to understand the trends and behaviours of members accessing the pension freedoms....
View ArticleMPs offer FCA compromise on DB transfer contingent charging ban
The Work and Pensions Select Committee (WPC) has called on the FCA to explore the case for setting an upper limit for the amount of a DB transfer fee that can be received via contingent charging. In a...
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Industry Voice: Q&A with Iain McGowan…
Q: What is the Scottish Widows ‘family of funds?’ Our family of funds refers to our three core ranges of pension funds, which are available to individual pension customers (through our Retirement...
View ArticleSteven Levin: FCA’s investment pathways are largely on the right track
The rationale behind the FCA’s investment pathways solution is sensible but, believes Steven Levin, the initiative does need tweaks – particularly since it risks exacerbating the real issue: a lack of...
View ArticleTPR takes action against employer prioritising dividends and reveals 15%...
The Pensions Regulator has set out how it has used its powers over the first three months of the year in a bid to better protect scheme members. The watchdog’s quarterly compliance and enforcement...
View ArticleWhere Game of Thrones meets the world of retirement
What do we say to the God of Seriousness? Not today. Sure, few Game of Thrones characters get to retire but, reckons Hannah Godfrey, there are more overlaps than one might think between the hit TV...
View ArticleJack Rose: Banging the drum for tax-efficiency
The tax-efficient sector has a convincing message that deserves a wider hearing so, argues Jack Rose, every opportunity should be taken to talk up the benefits for both investors and the wider economy...
View ArticleJacqueline Clezy: Help! I need a refund on my pension contribution
Paying taxes is part of our contribution to society but, writes Jacqueline Clezy, surely nobody wants to make tax-efficient pension provision that turns out to be less efficient than actually planned...
View ArticleMore than 600 firms sign up to PFS’s gold standard for DB transfers
The Personal Finance Society (PFS) backed pension transfer gold standard has seen more than 600 advice firms sign up to it since it was unveiled at the beginning of April. The Pensions Advice...
View ArticleMore people expect to be fit to work above state pension age – AIG
The older people are, the longer they believe they will be healthy enough to work – with the average expectation being to carry on until they are 68 – according to research conducted by AIG. The...
View ArticleIndustry Voice: Investing in volatile times
A more volatile investment environment can prompt a sharper focus on diversification as a way to manage risk and renewed interest in different approaches to multi-asset investing and fund choices. A...
View ArticleDunnes Stores DC trustees replaced after ‘governance failures’
Pension trustees of Dunnes Stores in Northern Ireland have been stopped from running its defined contribution (DC) scheme by The Pensions Regulator (TPR), following “a catalogue of governance...
View ArticleAscot Lloyd triggers master trust market exit
The Ascot Lloyd Pension Trust has triggered its exit from the master trust market, becoming one of the 44 which have chosen not apply for authorisation from The Pensions Regulator (TPR). The master...
View ArticleCharlene Young: The pitfalls of the nonsense tapered annual allowance
The tapered annual allowance is poorly designed and not fit for purpose. Its impact on the NHS has recently been well documented in the press but the problems don’t stop there. The taper strangles the...
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