European pension funds increase alternative weightings By Barney Hatt 21-Apr-2009
European pension schemes are increasing their allocation to non-traditional asset classes to manage their risks more effectively following last year’s market turmoil, according to Mercer’s annual European Asset Allocation survey.

Pension funds trapped in Small Cap exposure By Rob Mackinlay 30-Mar-2009
Several pension funds were exposed to the shifts in pricing of the biggest movers in the FTSE Small Cap index today.

With-profits insurers react to tough market conditions By Nyree Stewart 19-Feb-2009
Norwich Union, Friends Provident and other with-profits insurers have reacted to the tough investment conditions by reducing terminal with-profit bonuses.

Most viewed: Currency lift won't repeat in 2009 for Scot Eq Overseas Bond By Jonathan Boyd 13-Feb-2009
John McNeill, investment manager fixed income for the £363m Scottish Equitable Overseas Bond pension fund, says it is unlikely to repeat last year's performance this year because currency exchange rate trends will be different.

Pension funds still seek the 'alternative' way By Barney Hatt 30-Jan-2009
Despite the challenges facing hedge funds a number of UK local authority schemes are maintaining signficant exposure to this asset class. The question may be what are they seeing that many others are not?

Most read: Standard Life Managed pension fund By Jonathan Boyd 23-Jan-2009
Pensions are a hot topic currently with the massive dips in fund values through 2008 having forced many long-term savers and their advisers back to the drawing board.

Equities basis of growth in Sharia fund availability for UK By Jonathan Boyd 15-Dec-2008
The launch of a Sharia fund specifically targeting UK investors is basing its future on the performance of UK equities rather than other asset classes, and sees a key opening in the market for group pensions.

UK workers opt for ‘pension holidays’ as financial crisis hits By Nyree Stewart 05-Dec-2008
The financial crisis is impacting directly on pension saving as people start to reduce contributions or take pension holidays because of affordability, yet measures announced in the Pre-Budget Report (PBR) last month suggest the Government is making spending rather than saving the priority.

Time for an ethical pension? By Martin Morris 20-Oct-2008
Salting away money in a pension plan is a must for many people, given these uncertain economic times. And for some, SRI (Socially Responsible Investing) is an important consideration.

Savers warned not to ditch their pensions By Nyree Stewart 23-Sep-2008
In the current credit crunch one of the first areas to be impacted is savings, particularly pensions, with a large number of people still intending to rely on the state pension, inheritance or property as a way of financing their retirement.

After the turmoil By Carolyn Bandel 07-Aug-2008
While many professional and individual investors have been left with severe losses, the massive dislocations kick started by the credit crunch also raise new opportunities for those brave enough to go beyond the mainstream

SIPP choices gain credence By Nyree Stewart 03-Jul-2008
Protected rights in pensions are the benefits accrued when a person contracts out of the State Second Pension, and until now they have been subject to separate rules relating to their investment and decumulation.

Taking a variable view By Nyree Stewart 03-Jun-2008
Variable annuities are a growing market in the UK, but just how flexible are these ‘third way’ products which are meant to bridge the gap between income drawdown and what is effectively compulsory annuitisation from age 75. Aegon is the latest

Sharper investment decisions expected from pension trustees By Nyree Stewart 01-May-2008
A recent review of the Myners Principles by the National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF) has resulted in the government issuing a joint consultation on reducing the number of principles to provide a “sharper focus” for trustees to improve

The meanness of means testing By Nyree Stewart 01-Apr-2008
Growing concerns over the interaction of means-testing with auto-enrolment into personal accounts and 'good' occupational pension systems, have not been allayed by the final report from the Thoresen Review of Generic Financial Advice.

Pension funds looking for a GPP trick By Nyree Stewart 29-Feb-2008
As the latest Pensions Bill moves from the Committee stage to the Report stage, and the reality of personal accounts becomes closer, the government and pensions industry have yet to find a solution to the issue of auto-enrolment into group personal

Stuck between a rock and a hard place By Carolyn Bandel 01-Feb-2008
It has been a turbulent recent past on the financial markets, filled with French rogue traders, globally slumping stocks, and the US Federal Reserve cutting its base rate by 75 basis points in an apparent shock reaction. These developments have

SIPPing the cup of success By Cherry Reynard 01-Jan-2008
SIPPs have been big news in 2007, considering that a year ago many still considered them expensive, unnecessary and in danger of being the next mis-selling scandal. But costs have come right down, there are moves to allow protected rights and

Further strolling in pensions no-mans land By Victoria Kelly 01-Dec-2007
Experts believe government plans to bring forward changes to the State Second Pension (S2P) could speed up the demise of Britain’s once great final salary pension schemes. Proposals announced in November’s Pre Budget Report (PBR) mean certain

Pensions still lack encouragement By Victoria Kelly 01-Nov-2007
Newly ensconced chancellor Alistair Darling announced a number of changes to pension legislation last month that will affect the long-term savings landscape if cemented in the 2008 Finance Bill. While containing no major shocks, Darling’s

Diversity to benefit pensions By Victoria Kelly 01-Oct-2007
Pension investors have endured a tense time recently, with stock market volatility posing a real threat to the value of their life savings. Despite this, advisers remain resolute that pension investors, like those with self invested personal

Boosting the role of ISAs By Kristen Paech 02-Sep-2007
The drive to encourage greater private savings among Brits has been bolstered by changes to Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) which take effect in April next year. The Economic secretary to the Treasury, Kitty Ussher, has laid out regulations

Beating the interest rate trap By Kristen Paech 01-Aug-2007
Rising interest rates are wreaking havoc for mortgage holders with the Bank of England hiking rates five times in the last year, pushing the cost of borrowing through the roof. However for pension savers who are about to retire and take out an

Working the options in SIPPs By Jo Tura 02-Jul-2007
Self invested personal pensions, or SIPPs, allow the investor to use a number of financial products which can be used to enhance your portfolio. The instruments available vary with each SIPP provider, but on the whole investors have access to

Pensions with principles By Kristen Paech 01-Jun-2007
Sweeping changes to the way in which IFAs and providers market products in the retail financial services sector could prompt a re-think over the savings products on offer in the pre- and post-retirement market. Treating Customers Fairly (TCF),

Risky business By Kristen Paech 01-May-2007
Pension holders could be relieved of some of the risk they are lumped with as members of defined contribution schemes under regulatory changes being contemplated by the Department for Work and Pensions. The facilitation of risk-sharing schemes

How to kill an ASP By Trustnet Correspondent 02-Apr-2007
The tightening up of ASP in this year’s Budget has killed, by means of punitive tax, the chance of transferring accrued funds to family members after death. To many, this is a nail in the coffin of what could have been an opportunity for the

The DC pensions tightrope By Trustnet Correspondent 01-Mar-2007
There is undoubtedly a need for regulation within the ever-growing defined contribution pensions market, but while protecting the interests of scheme members is vital, a heavy-handed approach could see employers walk away from pension provision

Using your home to support retirement By Trustnet Correspondent 01-Feb-2007
The fate of thousands of elderly people in the UK struggling to survive on state pensions is well-documented and as the basic state pension which is linked to inflation fails to keep up with earnings growth, this problem is set to

Personal accounts: A flop in the making? By Trustnet Correspondent 08-Jan-2007
Is the government going to rescue the UK from its pensions crisis with its latest proposals? It seems not. Freelance journalist Jo Tura looks at Personal Accounts. As part of its admirable efforts in trying to encourage pensions savings

Back to top of page