June 2024
21Jun

UK. Could ESG factors for pension schemes be a hot topic following the General Election?

The General Election and ESG With the General Election looming, all of the main parties have now published their manifestos, setting out their key pledges and policy aims for the next parliamentary session. The election debates have already produced some heated discussion around areas such as immigration, defence, the NHS and tax levies. In past elections, political parties have made bold promises in relation to meeting net zero targets and tackling climate change – and this year is no different. It...

June 21, 2024
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20Jun

UK. Watchdog consults on pension abandonment

The Pension Regulator on Thursday repeated its concerns that companies may abandon final-salary pension obligations to cut risks and warned that scheme members' benefits could be in danger. The Regulator is to consult the industry about growing interest in companies passing their pension liabilities to outside businesses. It said there are about 10,800 private-sector funds in Britain that pay a defined benefit, usually based on pay levels. "While the Pensions Regulator welcomes innovation that helps employers and trustees better manage pensions...

June 20, 2024
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20Jun

US. The Best Places to Retire Overseas for LGBTQ+ Seniors

A growing number of U.S. citizens are looking to retire overseas. For those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer, there may be special considerations beyond affordability and access to quality health care. For example, it’s important for most LGBTQ+ retirees to settle somewhere that’s safe, allows same-sex marriage and boasts a lively and dynamic LGBTQ+ community. But before deciding on a home overseas, LGBTQ+ retirees should consider some practical aspects. "I recommend extensively researching how your income will be taxed in your potential...

June 20, 2024
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19Jun

UK. The General Election And Pensions Policy

Parliament was dissolved on May 30, 2024, with the General Election being held on July 4, 2024. As a result, much of the planned pensions legislation has been lost and it remains to be seen if the various bills will be reprised by the new Government. The Finance (No.2) Act 2024 survived the election cull and was published on May 24, 2024. Sections of the Act which are relevant to pensions make amendments to the Finance Act 2004 in respect...

June 19, 2024
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19Jun

UK. ‘Serious disparity’ around retirement savings of people identifying as LGBTQ+

One in four (25%) people who identify as LGBTQ+ are not saving for their retirement, a survey has found. The research was released by Scottish Widows to coincide with Pride Month in June. It also found that just under a fifth (18%) of people who do not identify as LGBTQ+ report they are saving nothing towards their retirement. People who are LGBTQ+ were also less likely in the survey to say that they have taken financial advice. One in nine (11%) people surveyed who identify as...

June 19, 2024
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18Jun

UK. DC contributions exceed DB pensions for the first time

A report published today by Barnett Waddingham (BW), the leading professional services consultancy shows that for the first time, contributions paid by the FTSE 350 defined benefit (DB) scheme sponsors into defined contribution (DC) schemes exceeded those paid into DB schemes. BW conducted an analysis of the FTSE 350 companies with DB pension schemes over the last twelve months to 31 May 2024. The data reveals that contributions totalling £8.1 billion were paid into DB schemes (consisting of £4.7bn of...

June 18, 2024
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17Jun

UK. Election could create an opportunity for ‘radical shake-up’ in pensions

The start of a new parliament is a good time to stand back and ask some pretty fundamental questions about the UK pension system. Much of the complexity in the current system has arisen as a result of piecemeal changes, often because the government of the day was short of a billion or two to balance the books. But the promised pensions review under a potential new government offers a long-awaited opportunity to think strategically about the system as a whole...

June 17, 2024
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17Jun

UK. DWP Spending Review May Require PIP Recipients to Repay Money

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) provides State Pension and welfare benefits to about 22.7 million people across the United Kingdom. New numbers revealed in the 2024 Fraud and Error in the Benefit System report show that the overall number of benefit overpayments over the last year was £9.7 billion (3.7%), up from £8.3 billion in 2023. Personal Independence Payment (PIP) was implemented in 2013 to aid with additional expenditures associated with a long-term disability or health condition. The numbers reveal that...

June 17, 2024
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14Jun

UK. Labour manifesto confirms key pension priorities

The Labour Party has shared its 2024 manifesto, confirming plans to conduct a pensions review if elected, to consider what further steps are needed to improve security in retirement, and increase productive investment in the UK economy. In its manifesto, Labour said that it will act to increase investment from pension funds in UK markets, by adopting reforms to ensure that workplace pension schemes take advantage of consolidation and scale, and to deliver better returns for UK savers and greater...

June 14, 2024
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13Jun

UK. Auto-enrolment ambitions must go above and beyond just pensions

If I were to point to the most sensible decision made in pensions policy in the last 20 years, the introduction of auto-enrolment (AE) in 2012 would no doubt top the list. In one swoop, the mandatory law made saving for retirement the norm and improved the chances of maintaining a decent standard of living in later life for millions of employees. Of course, AE was never supposed to be the last word. It was meant to be the beginning of...

June 13, 2024
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