November 2022
07Nov

UK bond turmoil leaves smaller pension schemes with longer-term costs

The recent crisis in Britain's government bond market means smaller UK pension schemes may fork out more money for a bespoke liability-driven investment (LDI) strategy in future to ensure better protection, industry sources say. LDI products, sold by asset managers such as BlackRock, Legal & General and Schroders to pension funds, use derivatives to help them "match" assets and liabilities so there is no risk of shortfall in money to pay pensioners. Pension funds, who must post cash as collateral against...

November 7, 2022
News, ,
Read more...
04Nov

China. Authorities release guideline for private pension plans

Five central departments released a guideline for the implementation of private pension plans on Friday, in an effort to improve the nation's pension system. The guideline, jointly released by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, the Ministry of Finance and the State Taxation Administration, said individuals joining the private pension plan should first open an account at State-run social security platforms or those operated by commercial banks and then open a capital account at an authorized commercial bank...

November 4, 2022
News, ,
Read more...
03Nov

The Story of UK Pensions: An engaging guide to the pensions system

By Matthew Rhodes This book explains the wonderful world of UK pensions. It starts with a brief history of how the system has developed over time, covering the different arrangements provided by the private and public sectors, as well as the State. It then investigates the system in more detail, explaining some of the complexitiies and why pensions so often make news headlines. This book is suitable for anyone - whether you know nothing about pensions, or are someone in...

November 3, 2022
Books, Books, System Characterization, , ,
Read more...
02Nov

FCA extends pensions dashboard deadline by two months

FCA regulated pension providers have been given an extra two months to comply with the regulator's pensions dashboard rules. In the final rules for the regulations published today (November 1), the Financial Conduct Authority said providers will now have until August 31 for implementation, to align with the government’s extension to a deadline on occupational pension schemes. The FCA has also extended the connection deadline for providers with fewer than 5,000 pots in accumulation and who rely on a third-party integrated...

November 2, 2022
News, ,
Read more...

October 2022
27Oct

Don’t Count on Sunak to Protect Your UK Pension

Liz Truss lasted only 44 days as UK prime minister. But her legacy in respect of your pension will almost certainly endure for decades. It is important to understand how this might affect you and how best to respond. One of Truss’s last acts as PM was to reaffirm the government’s commitment to raise the state pension each year by the higher of earnings, inflation or 2.5%. The more fiscally hawkish new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has been more circumspect...

October 27, 2022
News, OP Ed, Op-Ed,
Read more...
26Oct

UK. TPR publishes consolidated enforcement powers

The Pensions Regulator has published its new enforcement policy, which contains new powers awarded in the Pension Schemes Act 2021, and replaces and consolidates compliance and enforcement policies governing defined benefit, defined contribution and public sector pension schemes. Amid a raft of announcements, TPR also published responses to a consultation issued after the PSA 2021, which came into force in order to provide clarity on how the watchdog intends to use its new powers. “Feedback from stakeholders also highlighted a need...

October 26, 2022
News,
Read more...
25Oct

Pensions regulator plays down LDI risk to EU

Eiopa doubts UK gilt market chaos could occur to same degree in Europe Read also Swiss regulator expects underfunding for pension funds facing volatility The European Union’s top pensions and insurance regulator is cautiously optimistic that the chaos suffered by UK pension funds will not be crossing the Channel any time soon. When government bond prices moved against them in late September, the funds were left scrambling to meet large margin calls on derivatives and leveraged repo positions. “Our insurance and...

October 25, 2022
News, ,
Read more...
25Oct

Swiss regulator expects underfunding for pension funds facing volatility

The Swiss occupational pension supervisory commission – OAK BV – expects that a number of pension funds will end up underfunded at the end of the year as a result of market volatility and negative returns. Some pension funds may decide to ultimately trigger restructuring measures, depending on the specific situation of the scheme. Funding ratios of Swiss pension schemes in fact continued to fall this year, from 103.4% at the end of June to 99.5% at the end of September,...

October 25, 2022
News, ,
Read more...
24Oct

UK. Inflation sparks a new era of pensions inequality

The generosity of public sector pensions was a compensation for low salaries. However, this gap is narrowing. The average worker in the private sector earned £622 a week in the year to August, according to an IDR analyst. The average public sector worker, excluding those who worked in finance, earned £593. Former public servants will also enjoy two layers of taxpayer-funded inflation protection next year, assuming the “triple lock” state pensions are maintained. The policy pledges to increase the state pension...

October 24, 2022
News, ,
Read more...
24Oct

UK parliament panel probes defined benefit pension schemes over safeguards

A British parliament panel on Monday launched an inquiry into the defined benefit pension schemes with liability-driven investments (LDIs) to ascertain whether they have adequate regulation to protect pension funds' value. The work and pensions committee inquiry will examine the impact of the recent volatility in gilt yields and intervention by the Bank of England (BoE) as well as the role of the pensions regulator in monitoring the use of LDIs and whether these schemes have proper oversight arrangements in...

October 24, 2022
News, ,
Read more...