News – Page 77

  • Article

    Scottish DB pension deficits double to £6bn

    2013-12-09T11:40:00Z

    Defined benefit (DB) pension scheme deficits across Scotland have almost doubled over the past 12 months, from £3.2 billion to £6 billion, according to research by pensions and risk consultancy Hymans Robertson.The Hymans Robertson Scottish pension index, which analysed 27 schemes, found that 18 of these schemes were worse off ...

  • Article

    United Response sees 3.6% auto-enrolment opt out

    2013-12-04T12:12:00Z

    EXCLUSIVE: Charity care provider United Response has seen opt-out rates of 3.6% following the implementation of auto-enrolment.Only 52 of the 1,451 employees who were auto-enrolled on 1 October 2013 opted out of its stakeholder pension scheme, which is provided by Friends Life.The organisation now has 2,618 of its 3,500 employees ...

  • Article

    Third of small employers worried about auto-enrolment

    2013-12-04T12:08:00Z

    Two out of five (39%) of small employers are worried about the ‘damaging’ impacts of auto-enrolment, according to research by payroll software provider Sage UKI.The research, which surveyed 500 small employers, found that 40% of respondents are worried about the administrative costs of setting up and managing auto-enrolment, while 51% ...

  • Article

    Standard Life launches auto-enrolment product for SMEs

    2013-12-03T11:59:00Z

    Standard Life has launched an online auto-enrolment product, aimed at helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to manage their legislative duties.The online product, called ’Good to go’, provides:A decision on pension scheme terms in 60 seconds.The ability to set up a new qualifying pension scheme in six minutes.Online support to ...

  • Article

    TPR launches consultation on defined benefit pensions

    2013-12-02T12:10:00Z

    The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has published a consultation on defined benefit (DB) pension regulation.Its Defined benefit consultation: setting a balance approach sets out how TPR intends to balance its new objective to minimise the impact on employers’ sustainable growth with its existing DB funding objectives.The new objective is contained in ...

  • Article

    ?Aegon UK to move investment platform in-house

    2013-12-01T00:00:00Z

    Aegon UK is to purchase Novia Investment Services from Novia Financial.The acquisition, which is subject to regulatory approval, will mean the development work on Aegon’s platform, Aegon Retirement Choices, will move in-house.Novia Investment Services was set up as a separate organisation to build and administer Aegon’s platform in 2011.Tommy Young, ...

  • Article

    Broadstone partners Standard Life for auto-enrolment product

    2013-12-01T00:00:00Z

    Broadstone Corporate Benefits has partnered Standard Life to launch an auto-enrolment product for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that stage from January 2014.Employers will have access to the auto-enrolment product via Standard Life’s group flexible retirement plan.It includes:Online functionality for employers and employees.Unlimited switching for member’s investment funds.An actively-managed default ...

  • Article

    Micros Systems to streamline pensions for auto-enrolment

    2013-12-01T00:00:00Z

    Micros Systems is to streamline its six existing defined contribution (DC) pension schemes into a new group personal pension (GPP) plan to comply with its auto-enrolment duties.The service provider for the hospitality and retail industries will auto-enrol around 1,000 employees on its staging date of 1 April 2014.It has appointed ...

  • Article

    91% of pension schemes charge members

    2013-12-01T00:00:00Z

    The majority (91%) of pension schemes have some form of charge for their members, according to research by the National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF).Its 39th Annual survey, which covered 950,000 defined contribution (DC) pension members, found that 79% of schemes have an annual management charge (AMC), while the employer ...

  • Article

    42% have never changed their DC pension investments

    2013-12-01T00:00:00Z

    Almost half (42%) of respondents have never made a change to their defined contribution (DC) pension investments, according to research by AllianceBernstein.Its Defined contribution survey, which questioned 500 employees who save into a DC pension, found that 22% believe changes to pension investments are not their responsibility.The research also found:55% ...

  • Article

    CIPP launches auto-enrolment self-assessment exercise

    2013-11-29T10:15:00Z

    The Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals (CIPP) has launched an online self-assessment exercise that employers can use to check their readiness for auto-enrolment.The answers received through the exercise will form the basis of advice, guidance and support the employers will subsequently receive, in line with their specific levels of readiness. ...

  • Article

    Ensign launches pensions communications product

    2013-11-27T10:00:00Z

    Ensign Pensions Administration has launched a product to help pension scheme members communicate with their scheme administrators. The product, Intouch, provides video communications services, which enable employees to receive live face-to-face support from the administration team that looks after their pension.The calls are designed to help employees share and review ...

  • Article

    Employers align auto-enrolment with flexible benefits enrolment

    2013-11-27T05:30:00Z

    For example, law firm Mills and Reeve was able to align its auto-enrolment staging date, which was 1 November, with its annual flex enrolment window, which opened on 1 October.The employer already had an 85% take-up in its group personal pension (GPP) plan, and the remaining 15% of staff who ...

  • Article

    Use of asset-backed contributions on the rise in small pensions

    2013-11-26T10:30:00Z

    The use of asset-backed contributions (ABCs) to fund smaller pension scheme deficits is on the rise, according to research by business advisory firm Deloitte.Its research, Pension funding solutions: the evolving ABC market, found that 80% of ABCs in 2013 were used to fund deficits of less than £100 million, up ...

  • Pensions supplement 2013
    Article

    Workplace pensions report 2013

    2013-11-25T00:00:00Z

    Read the digital edition of the Workplace pensions report 2013.The supplement includes the following articles:Facts and figures on pension schemesHow much do staff need to contribute for a comfortable retirement?Helen Powell: Employer’s role in improving members’ outcomes Molson Coors Brewing Company seeks pensions understanding Contract-based pension scheme comparison table How ...

  • Article

    Zoe Lynch: Will the government's proposed 0.75% pension charges cap be enough?

    2013-11-25T00:00:00Z

    Since the advent of automatic-enrolment, the government is rightly concerned to ensure that pension scheme members are getting value for money.As a result, we have seen a dizzying number of initiatives and consultations launched in the last few months on workplace pensions, with everyone from the Department for Work and ...

  • Article

    Three pensions consultations announced in November

    2013-11-25T00:00:00Z

    Consultation on defined ambition pensionsThe Department for Work and Pensions’ (DWP) proposal to introduce a defined ambition pension was first mooted in November 2012.The consultation, which will close on 19 December, proposes a defined ambition pension to create more certainty for employees, share investment risks more equally and help employers ...

  • Article

    Scottish Widows partners Gallagher Employee Benefits for auto-enrolment support

    2013-11-22T11:00:00Z

    Scottish Widows has partnered Gallagher Employee Benefits to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through auto-enrolment legislation.Gallagher Employee Benefits has developed a service, called GroupSure, which provides access to a range of employee benefits, including a workplace pension. It offers simplified administration aimed at SMEs.A key focus of the service ...

  • Article

    NCR enters defined benefits pensions buy-in

    2013-11-21T10:00:00Z

    The NCR Pension Plan has entered into a pension insurance buy-in with Pension Insurance Corporation (PIC).The transaction aims to secure benefits for members of the technology organisation’s defined benefit (DB) pension scheme by transferring around £670 million of assets.The NCR Pension Plan covers approximately 5,600 members who were formerly, or ...

  • Article

    Barnett Waddingham launches auto-enrolment website

    2013-11-21T09:15:00Z

    Barnett Waddingham has launched an auto-enrolment website to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs).The website, which is in partnership with provider Standard Life, also supports the pension consultants’ services already in place for SMEs.Its features include:Tips and a guide for SMEs on auto-enrolment.Animated videos that demonstrate the benefits of the ...