February 2026
20Feb

UK. High-risk DC pension funds failing to match FTSE 100 over five years

Almost nine in 10 (89 per cent) medium-high- and high-risk defined contribution (DC) pension funds have failed to match the FTSE 100's performance over the past five years, according to research from Investing Insiders. The analysis reviewed 12,983 funds available to UK savers between 31 December 2020 and 31 December 2025, collectively holding more than £1trn in assets. Of the 7,370 funds in the medium-high and high risk categories, 6,540 - or 89 per cent - underperformed the FTSE 100 over...

February 20, 2026
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18Feb

UK workers pessimistic about retirement prospects

Workers in the UK are optimistic about all aspects of their personal and financial lives, except their plans for retirement, analysis from Fidelity International has revealed. Fidelity’s Global Sentiment Survey showed that overall levels of optimism among UK employees had risen to 54 per cent in 2025, up from 52 per cent in 2024 and 48 per cent in 2023. At least 50 per cent of respondents rated each aspect of their finances, working lives, and health as ‘good’, other than retirement planning. Just...

February 18, 2026
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17Feb

UK. Industry urged to ‘break cycle of failed ideas’ on pensions adequacy

The pensions industry risks “sleepwalking into another generation of under-saving” unless it experiments with new approaches to member engagement, People's Pension has warned. The master trust argued that traditional, well-intentioned efforts to boost pensions adequacy had delivered limited success in recent years and called on the industry to support bolder, more innovative engagement strategies. In particular, the scheme urged greater focus on Generation Z, which it identified as the cohort most likely to opt out of pensions but with the longest...

February 17, 2026
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16Feb

UK pensions regulator urged to fine-tune multi-employer CDC rules

The Pensions Regulator’s (TPR) revised code of practice for collective defined contribution (CDC) pension funds has been broadly welcomed, but industry players are calling for fine-tuning to reduce remaining uncertainty. Launched in December, the consultation set out how TPR plans to authorise and supervise multi-employer CDC schemes, expanding on its existing single-employer framework. The revised code reflects government regulations published in October, expected to take effect at the end of July 2026, alongside TPR’s finalised guidance. The proposals aim to open...

February 16, 2026
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12Feb

Report: UK pensions could sell up to £8bn on secondaries market in the next year

UK defined benefit pension schemes are increasingly looking to sell on the secondaries market with new research showing they could sell up to £8 billion ($11 billion; €9.2 billion) of illiquid assets. UK DB pensions could sell between £4 billion-£8 billion of illiquid assets over the next 12 months, according to the Illiquid Assets Report 2025 published by according to a joint report from pension-focused secondaries trading platform MeltX and UK pensions research and events company Mallowstreet. The report surveyed 42 advisers...

February 12, 2026
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12Feb

WTW Sees Nearly $100B UK Pension Risk Transfer Market in 2026

The U.K. pension risk transfer market—driven by plan asset surpluses—is expected to continue its growth trajectory this year, according to WTW’s annual “De-Risking Report.” The firm forecast the U.K. PRT market to reach more than 70 billion pounds ($95 billion) this year, an approximate 15% increase from last year. WTW expects the bulk annuity market to exceed 50 billion pounds, while longevity swaps—which transfer the longevity risk of plans, based on their members, to insurers—are expected to exceed 20 billion pounds in activity. “The risk transfer market is entering 2026 with strong momentum,” said Gemma Millington, WTW’s senior...

February 12, 2026
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05Feb

UK pension reforms questioned over saver risk and impact on competition

Proposed government powers over pension investment and new restrictions on default schemes have triggered warnings in the House of Lords that risk could be shifted onto lower-income savers, while market consolidation may weaken competition and innovation. The sixth committee-stage debate on the Pension Schemes Bill focused on Clause 40, covering asset allocation and investment risk in defined contribution (DC) pension funds, and Clause 42, which allows regulations restricting the creation of new non-scale default pension arrangements. Clause 40 introduces reserve powers...

February 5, 2026
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January 2026
30Jan

UK. Pension funds and the drive for greater domestic investments – the international perspective

Domestic investment initiatives from governments are on the rise as governments around the world are recognising the opportunity pension funds present to boost economic growth. However, the push for increased domestic investment by pension funds has not avoided criticism - with concerns being raised on the impact to members' best interests. The UK, Canada, Germany and the Netherlands are all countries pursuing the use of pension funds to boost domestic growth in specific sectors. The UK approach The UK has been...

January 30, 2026
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29Jan

JPMorgan (JPM) Buys UK Pensions Platform WealthOS

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) is one of the 11 Most Profitable Cheap Stocks to Invest In Now. On January 22, Reuters reported that JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) has completed a deal to acquire WealthOS, a UK-based pensions technology platform. This information comes from an internal memo seen by Reuters. This transaction is expected to strengthen JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s (NYSE:JPM) presence in the pensions industry and position the company to benefit from the growing demand for retirement planning products...

January 29, 2026
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28Jan

UK. Calls for free pension health checks to prevent ‘retirement under-savings crisis’

Pension savers should be offered free retirement funds “health checks” to help avert a potential retirement under-savings crisis, a think tank is urging. The Social Market Foundation (SMF), along with savings and investment firm M&G, is calling for health checks to be integrated directly into pensions dashboards, so that on viewing their pension information, savers would be offered the option of a free, personalised guidance session. Plans are already in place for pensions dashboards, which will allow people to see all...

January 28, 2026
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