From thought leadership to technical pieces, knowledge hub keeps our members and pensions professionals up to date with the recent developments in the industry.
The PMI’s DC Master Trust Group was established to help overcome barriers to offering a good service to members. As part of bringing the group together, the decision was made to include not just Master Trust providers but representatives to the supply chain. The delivery of good services requires many different components to work together in harmony. Without bringing together the component parts, we would not be able to work towards overcoming the barriers.
When pension de-risking is mentioned, our minds immediately think of defined benefit (DB) schemes. This, of course, is a big issue and needs significant attention. However, we shouldn’t forget about defined contribution (DC) when de-risking. In fact, undertaking a DC derisking review could provide substantial rewards for both Trustees and Employers, including freeing up valuable resource, and saving money.
Covenant-led de-risking: why covenant must be at the heart of all de-risking plans
To say defined benefit (DB) schemes have been on a journey over the last decade is an understatement. Most private sector schemes have closed and become a legacy liability, while falls in market-expected returns have caused many deficits to spiral.
Administration – such a simple word. Trustees could be forgiven for thinking overseeing administration is the easy part of governance. But times have changed. Whether you’re a trustee of a Defined Benefit (DB) or Defined Contribution (DC) scheme – technology underpins how benefits are delivered to your members. Innovations in technology mean that many members can now interact with their schemes online. Even with DB schemes, enriched functionality is allowing people to transact and engage online with their schemes. Administration platforms are now largely cloud-based which helped enormously during lockdown when remote working was forced on the nation. Similarly, biometric identity verification (IDV) means people don’t have to post precious certificates in order to receive their benefits; they can prove conclusively who they are simply by using a mobile device.
It is one of the verities of the Covid-19 pandemic that it has accelerated existing trends – in technology, home-working, internet shopping and so on. We have all had to learn new skills, or hone existing ones, to master Zoom meetings etc.
Pensions is more than just investments, at least for me!
My first stint with the pensions industry started in the year 1997, when music from Elton John, the Spice Girls and the Backstreet Boys were topping the charts!
Administration – such a simple word. Trustees could be forgiven for thinking overseeing administration is the easy part of governance. But times have changed. Whether you’re a trustee of a Defined Benefit (DB) or Defined Contribution (DC) scheme – technology underpins how benefits are delivered to your members. Innovations in technology mean that many members can now interact with their schemes online. Even with DB schemes, enriched functionality is allowing people to transact and engage online with their schemes. Administration platforms are now largely cloud-based which helped enormously during lockdown when remote working was forced on the nation. Similarly, biometric identity verification (IDV) means people don’t have to post precious certificates in order to receive their benefits; they can prove conclusively who they are simply by using a mobile device.
It is one of the verities of the Covid-19 pandemic that it has accelerated existing trends – in technology, home-working, internet shopping and so on. We have all had to learn new skills, or hone existing ones, to master Zoom meetings etc.
Pensions is more than just investments, at least for me!
My first stint with the pensions industry started in the year 1997, when music from Elton John, the Spice Girls and the Backstreet Boys were topping the charts!
The PMI’s DC Master Trust Group was established to help overcome barriers to offering a good service to members. As part of bringing the group together, the decision was made to include not just Master Trust providers but representatives to the supply chain. The delivery of good services requires many different components to work together in harmony. Without bringing together the component parts, we would not be able to work towards overcoming the barriers.
Covenant-led de-risking: why covenant must be at the heart of all de-risking plans
To say defined benefit (DB) schemes have been on a journey over the last decade is an understatement. Most private sector schemes have closed and become a legacy liability, while falls in market-expected returns have caused many deficits to spiral.
When pension de-risking is mentioned, our minds immediately think of defined benefit (DB) schemes. This, of course, is a big issue and needs significant attention. However, we shouldn’t forget about defined contribution (DC) when de-risking. In fact, undertaking a DC derisking review could provide substantial rewards for both Trustees and Employers, including freeing up valuable resource, and saving money.
