Press Releases

Chris Noon, Head of Workplace Savings, comments on the complex area of the annual allowance taper, and the approach taken by Government

We challenged some of the views set out by the FCA in response to its Asset Management Market Study consultation. In particular it emphasised there is more competition in the investment consulting market than the FCA study suggests. It also raised concerns about strategy advice coming into the regulatory regime for fund managers when the high professional standards of scheme actuaries, which most players in the investment consultancy industry abide by, is more appropriate.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP’s) Green Paper, released today, raises the prospect of measures being introduced to encourage sponsors with significant resources but substantial deficits in their schemes, to make faster progress in repairing those deficits. Our Head of Corporate Consulting, Jon Hatchett  and Calum Cooper, Head of Trustee responds to the findings.

If a ‘hard’ Brexit leads to a drop in migration, this could put pressure on the State Pension Age (SPA) to increase by 18 months for workers under the age of 40, finds research our reserach.

None of the solutions for equalising and indexing GMPs proposed by the Government in this consultation are without drawbacks. 

The FTSE 100 sponsored Pension and Assurance Scheme of the Land Securities Group of Companies has completed a £110m buy-in with specialist insurer Just. Hymans Robertson were the lead adviser to the Trustees, with Sackers providing advice on legal aspects. 

Survey highlights lack of strategic leadership as the real pension deficit.

While the EU Referendum and the US Presidential elections may have dominated the national headlines in 2016, the Transitional Measure on Technical Provisions (TMPT) was never far from the spotlight in finacial services circles;  from consultations to supervisory statements, through turbulent economic conditions and much-needed recalculations.  And it is against that backdrop that the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) has issued for consultation some proposed amendments to Supervisory Statement 6/16 in which it clarifies its expectations for maintaining the calculation of the TMTP.

The inauguration of Trump has led to deficits shrinking to levels not seen since the eve of Brexit. In aggregate terms for UK DB schemes, the two biggest political shocks of last year have cancelled out, like matter and anti-matter colliding and exploding in a ball of light.

An over-valuation of how long people are likely to live is equivalent to continuing to pay everyone’s pension for 4 months after they’ve passed away; companies with 2017 valuations could face bigger cash calls to shore up deficits than necessary. Given low interest rates, this has the potential to tip some schemes into closing.

When faced with choosing how to access their pension saving, releasing equity from property has become a mainstream choice for retirees. A low interest rate environment and product innovation has made equity release more popular 

“Karen brings over 20 years’ experience in product research and development to this exciting role, having worked with insurers, banks and asset managers. Her breadth of knowledge across financial services, both in terms of business models and product issues, means she provides our insurance clients with invaluable advice as they look to adapt to an ever-changing market.