Pension Clicks

In this edition of Pension Clicks, we summarise the Pensions Regulator’s annual funding statement, make the case for better DC communications and release the latest data and analysis on the UK’s risk settlement market in our annual review.

Pensions Regulator publishes its annual funding statement
The Pensions Regulator has published its annual funding statement for DB schemes. Among the regulator’s plans are an increased focus on long-term funding targets and scheme maturity. Scheme scenarios have been expanded to include expectations for investment strategies, and the regulator expects increased contact with schemes in future to identify potential risks.

The case for better communications
Karina Klimaszewski says employees need better access to financial information to make the most of their savings. First published in Professional Pensions.

The UK settlement market: Analysis of business placed over 2018 and predictions for 2019
2018 was a record breaking year for bulk annuities, seeing the market double in size. The key highlights of this dramatic growth are captured by Aon’s long-running market survey, conducted in March 2019. It also outlines our predictions of what will happen in 2019.

Going global – widening the real estate opportunity set
An allocation to global real estate enhances the stability of income in a real estate portfolio and can provide a cushion against country-specific risks. Despite this, many portfolios are not as globally diversified in this area as they are elsewhere. Our whitepaper explores the benefits of global real estate allocation.

Introduction to private equity
Private equity can play an important role in institutional portfolios. This typically makes up only a small allocation but can be one of the largest contributors to overall return. Our paper provides an introduction.

Take part in the 2019 Global Pension Risk Survey
The 2019 UK survey and global leaders survey for multinationals are now open – we would welcome all responses from scheme trustees, managers and anyone else responsible for DB scheme strategy.

Pensions training – NEW for 2019: Defined Benefit Trustee Essentials
We are aware that some trustees of DB schemes like to attend our Defined Benefit Part 1 and Part 2 courses in quick succession in order to fulfil their Trustee Knowledge and Understanding requirements. This year we are therefore launching a new ‘Defined Benefit Trustee Essentials’ course, which combines Parts 1 and 2 into two successive days.

Retirement podcast: April 2019
Key news from the last month summarised by Aon’s Victoria Panormo and a detailed focus on risk settlement. Karen Gainsford and Ben Harris discuss the markets, make predictions for 2019 and advise schemes on how they can take advantage of exceptional pricing.

Risk Settlement Bulletin – March 2019
In this month’s Bulletin, we summarise a record-breaking 2018 and comment on attractive pricing seen so far in 2019, predicting another year where risk settlement activity tops £30bn.

Week in Markets
A summary of market movements over the past week.

Aon in the press
This month, we welcome the DWP’s response to its consultation on delivering Collective Defined Contribution (CDC) pension schemes. We say that understanding the challenges of LGPS administration is vital and that the new Continuous Mortality Investigation model will reduce scheme liabilities. We highlight the increased focus on long-term funding in TPR’s Annual Funding Statement and say that employers need to think again about how they support members at retirement.