These uncertain times are often seen as a window of opportunity for scammers looking to prey on vulnerable individuals. A report by Action Fraud found that pension scams had become one of the most common types of fraud to occur last year. The pensions industry is facing pressure to do more to prevent this situation, but what role can trustees play?
Recent guidance from The Pensions Regulator (TPR) and Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has clarified a number of issues for pension scheme sponsors and trustees with regards to supporting pension savers with their financial decision making. It codifies best practice and clarifies a number of issues that have been live over the last six months. So, if you’re a scheme sponsor or a trustee, here’s what you can do – and what you can’t.
Pensions is boring: what can Master Trusts do about it?
Some of you may have attended the PMI’s webinar in April where I spoke about whether environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors are the panacea for pension engagement, and considered where we, as an industry, are going wrong on engagement. As can be seen from the graph below, there was a recognition that pensions engagement strategies aren’t very effective, with only 36% of respondents to a live poll on the day believing that their strategy was really effective. From this we can probably tell that there still appears to be a considerable amount of work to do.
“Welcome, it’s lovely to meet you!” I say enthusiastically, studying the new face on my screen. With a lack of body language and visual cues to help me, I find myself searching my new colleague’s backdrop for clues to her personality and interests. It doesn’t give much away, but after spying a cat picture on the wall, I get the sneaking suspicion that we will get on just fine.
The PMI recognises there are senior professionals with considerable experience working successfully within the pensions industry, but they may not hold a formal PMI qualification. It may not have been practical for them at this stage in their career to undertake the PMI qualification but as the PMI develops and expands, the Institute would like to find a way of engaging these individuals.
The Pension Schemes Act 2021 (the Act) introduces a requirement for occupational pension schemes to manage the effects of climate change as a financial risk, and to report on how they have done so in line with the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) recommendations. A compliance framework regarding the new duties will be put in place, including additional powers being given to The Pensions Regulator (TPR).
