October 2026
06Oct

UK. DB schemes divided on endgame strategy amid improved funding

Defined benefit (DB) pension schemes are increasingly pursuing different endgame strategies as funding levels improve, according to research from the Pensions Management Institute (PMI) and Schroders. The study revealed that while 45 per cent of schemes were targeting a buy-in or buyout within the next decade, a third expected to run on indefinitely, 18 per cent planned a limited period of run-on before moving to insurance, and 5 per cent selected a consolidator route. The PMI and Schroders UK Pension Scheme...

October 6, 2026
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02Oct

The Underpensioned: Updating the Gender Pension Gap

By Pensions Policy Institute The Gender Pension Gap (GPG) is a measure of difference, or inequality, in pension outcomes for men and women. This can be considered in terms of either the disparity in the pension wealth accumulated or by the income they receive in retirement as a result of that pension wealth. It has been suggested that the GPG should be subject to statutory reporting requirements, in the same way as the Gender Pay Gap.8 While the GPG is widely...

October 2, 2026
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02Oct

UK. Employee pension contributions jump to £3.2bn

Employee contributions into private sector defined contribution occupational pension schemes reached £3.2bn in the first quarter of 2026, according to ONS data. This figure represents an increase of around £600m from £2.6bn in Q1 of 2025. Employer contributions also increased significantly, rising from £6.2bn in Q1 2025 to £6.8bn in Q1 2026. Active membership of private sector DC schemes edged up by 30,000 over the same period to 11.5 million. Deferred membership of private sector DC schemes increased from 22.1 million...

October 2, 2026
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01Oct

UK’s Nest pension picks Wellington in £3.5 billion emerging market active equity shift

Britain's largest workplace pension scheme Nest has moved its entire £3.5 billion ($4.6 billion) in emerging ​market equities to US active manager Wellington Management, ending a focus on index investing to better manage sustainability risks, ‌an executive told Reuters. Nest, the £68 billion scheme into which more than 14 million workers are automatically enrolled, had invested the money passively for more than a decade, echoing a global market trend in which trillions of dollars have followed suit to save on...

October 1, 2026
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September 2026
30Sep

UK State Pension Triple Lock To Be Scrapped, Andy Burnham Says

Millions of state pension holders will now receive a less generous retirement income as a result of changes announced by Prime Minister Andy Burnham at the 2026 Labour Party conference. The pivot, which will mean the state pension “triple lock” will be downgraded to a “double lock,” comes after intense pressure from across the political spectrum. Under the existing system, the state pension triple lock uprates annual state pension payments by the higher of wage increases, inflation, or 2.50%. Under...

September 30, 2026
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29Sep

UK. More than a third doubt their pension will provide a comfortable retirement

More than a third (36 per cent) of people do not believe their pension will provide a comfortable retirement, while growing numbers are unsure whether their savings are on track, according to Trafalgar House’s 2026 Trust & Confidence Survey. The survey found that confidence in retirement outcomes remains low, with just 24.4 per cent agreeing that their pension will enable them to live comfortably in retirement, down from 26.3 per cent in 2025. The proportion who strongly agree fell from 6.8...

September 29, 2026
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25Sep

UK. FCA: Over 320,000 pension pots withdrawn at 8%+ rates and risk emptying pension pots

While smaller pension sizes see the highest proportion of high withdrawal rates, over 15% of pots of £250,000 or larger and more than a third (36%) of pots between £100,000 and £249,000 were still withdrawn at 8% or over through the latest financial year. Looking at the data by age, half (50%) of those aged 55-64 are making regular withdrawals at an annual rate of 8% or higher. The data also shows that 479,485 pensions were fully withdrawn at the first...

September 25, 2026
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23Sep

Thinktank linked to Reform UK calls for abolition of state pension

A thinktank linked toeform UK  Rhas called for the abolition of the state pension and £75bn worth of sweeping tax cuts in a “radical” report likely to influence the party’s platform for the next election. The Centre for a Better Britain’s (CFABB) report – which also calls for weaker rules for UK banks and Trump-style investment accounts offering £1,000 to newborns – will be formally launched at a private event with City executives on Wednesday. The 183-page report, entitled “Boosting Britain”, proposes...

September 23, 2026
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22Sep

UK. Gen Z faces retirement poverty risk at auto-enrolment with only 4 in 10 on track

Four in 10 Gen Z workers are on track for retirement poverty if they remain at auto-enrolment contribution levels, according to research from Penfold. The research found that younger people want to retire earlier and achieve greater financial freedom, but retirement saving can struggle to compete with more immediate financial priorities, with high housing costs and wider economic uncertainty are adding to these pressures. Younger workers are also prioritising accessible and flexible savings options such as cash savings and ISAs. According to...

September 22, 2026
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18Sep

UK. Work and Pensions Committee to review auto-enrolment minimums

The committee, chaired by Labour MP Debbie Abrahams, announced the inquiry this week. It will explore potential reforms to the auto-enrolment system “to help ensure fair employer and employee contributions to secure a decent retirement income for low earners”, according to a press release. The inquiry will run concurrently with the work of the Pensions Commission and aims to feed into its final report, expected in the spring of 2027. Abrahams said: “Last year we looked at the devastating effect of...

September 18, 2026
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