March 2025

UK. DB transfer activity falls to record low

Defined benefit transfer activity fell to a record low in February, data from XPS has found. XPS Group’s Transfer Activity Index fell to the lowest observed rate since the Index was established in 2018. In February 2025, there was an annualised rate of 13 members in every 1,000 transferring their benefits to alternative arrangements. This was the third consecutive month the index had fallen, suggesting that members are becoming increasingly cautious when making decisions about their retirement arrangements. Helen Cavanagh, senior consultant at...

UK. Two-thirds of employers embrace responsible pensions; less than half have it as their default

More than two-thirds (69 per cent) of employers in the UK now offer a responsibly invested company pension, but less than half (44 per cent) have it as their default option, research from Scottish Widows has revealed. The firm said this put the onus on employees to take action if they want to switch. However, its Responsibly Invested Pensions report showed that nearly two-thirds (61 per cent) of employees had “no idea” how to change their default, highlighting a growing need for employers...

UK. DWP State Pension age to rise next year for thousands

The State Pension age will be rising from next year, the age is currently 66 for both men and women. It will gradually increase to 67 between 2026 and 2028 for those born after April 1960. The transition process is then expected to be completed for everyone by March 2028. The planned change to the official age of retirement has been in legislation since 2014, with a further rise from 67 to 68, which is set to be implemented between...

PLSA IC 25: UK pension funds urged to take more risk

UK pension funds are not taking "anywhere near enough risk", particularly given efforts to reach net zero, National Wealth Fund head of banking and investment, Ian Brown, has said, emphasising the need for more investment in key UK assets. Speaking at the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association (PLSA) Investment Conference 2025, Brown urged pension scheme trustees to "please take some more risk". "Please take some more risk - do it in a considered way by all means," he stated. "Do it...

UK Officials Urge Pension Funds to Invest 10% of Assets at Home

UK government officials are piling pressure on pension fund managers to commit 10% of their assets to listed and unlisted British equities as part of a rebooted Mansion House compact in the summer. Torsten Bell, the pensions minister, has suggested a voluntary 10% allocation to the UK during conversations with the industry, according to five investment managers who asked not to be named because the discussions were private. One of the people said the request carried an implicit threat that...

UK. 453,000 Pensioners Face Frozen DWP Payments Amid Government Cuts

Nearly 453,000 British state pensioners living overseas are facing financial hardship due to the UK’s controversial “frozen pensions” policy. This policy denies pensioners residing in certain countries, such as Canada, annual inflation-linked increases to their state pensions. The End Frozen Pensions campaign has been advocating on behalf of these pensioners for years, calling for a policy change that would adjust state pensions in line with inflation, regardless of where individuals choose to live. The Impact of Frozen Pensions on Expat Pensioners According to Edwina Melville-Grey, Chair...

UK. How US stock market falls could affect your pension – and what to do about it

Stock markets in the US fell sharply on Monday, with worries about the economic impact of President Donald Trump’s tariffs thought to be behind the dip. The S&P 500, a stock market index tracking the stock performance of 500 of the largest companies listed on stock exchanges in the United States, was down over 8 per cent at close on Monday compared to its all-time high in February. The Nasdaq, which focuses more on technology stocks, also dipped, as did Asian markets at...

Most young Brits have no pension plan… despite hoping to retire EARLY

Millions of young Brits have zero pension plan despite believing they will retire young and be easily able to travel the world, new research has revealed. The damning YouGov findings by savings and investment business M&G have shown that more than three quarters of 18 to 24 year olds, alongside nearly half of 25 to 34 year old's, have not started making a financial plan for their post-work life. However, a substantial number of the 2,000 young people surveyed said that...

The Gender Pensions Gap

By Khadijah Zaidi & James Mirza-Davies The gender pensions gap refers to differences in retirement income or retirement wealth for men and women, and it can be measured in different ways. The gender pensions gap is mainly caused by the gender pay gap. There are however additional causal factors relating specifically to pensions, such as historic state pension rules, the impact of auto-enrolment rules on different types of workers, and how divorce settlements treat pensions. The Work and Pensions Committee...

US stock market meltdown hits UK pensions as Donald Trump’s tariffs spark panic

US shares have continued to fall as investors fear Donald Trump's trade wars will cause huge damage to the American economy. The decline in the value of US-based businesses will hit millions of people with savings in pension funds in countries such as the UK as well as across America. This is because many funds from across the world are invested at least partly in the US. The NASDAQ market, which has a particular focus on technology stocks, has fallen...