Pension funds
Inflation hedging: How the Dutch pension sector is moving its focus from nominal to real liabilities
The Dutch pension sector has long-held a focus on nominal liabilities but both schemes and regulators are investigating whether a move to assessing real liabilities would be a step forward.
The tax timebomb
The decision by Royal Berkshire’s pension fund to conduct a longevity swap is an atypical action in a sector whose sky-high equity allocations and lack of risk awareness have seen the UK’s Local Government Pension Scheme plummet into the red over the…
Corporate statement: Retirement strategies
Recently, reduced household incomes from the decline in home and equity prices, as well as rising unemployment, have forced Americans to reconsider how they spend and invest their personal finances. For those in retirement, wealth preservation and…
Enhanced transfer value transactions activity marks return of buy-out market
The UK’s long-dormant pension buy-out market could be on the verge of resurgence, as improving market conditions and increased de-risking activity through enhanced transfer value (ETV) transactions have combined to make pricing more attractive and…
Finding certainty in uncertainty
Pension funds need to operate efficiently during periods of long-term uncertainty, so how can they best mitigate their risks? Theo Kocken, chief executive of Cardano, examines two theories by Keynes and Pascal on decision-making during uncertain times
Pensions puzzle
Senior politicians in Brussels are calling for Solvency II to be extended to incorporate occupational pension schemes. But actuaries and other solvency experts say this would be a disaster for plan sponsors and members. John Ferry reports
Firm or flexible?
Fonchim, Italy's largest occupational pension scheme, has been spared the worst of the fallout from the credit crunch thanks to tough investment laws. But the question over whether to loosen asset restrictions may be back on the table. Blake Evans…
The PPF principle
The result of the recent economic dislocation is an increase in corporate insolvencies - many of which will result in deficit-ridden pension schemes falling into the lap of the UK's Pension Protection Fund. It is timely that the organisation has reviewed…
Survey reveals record £96bn deficit for FTSE 100 pension schemes
The financial crisis has plunged the pension schemes of the UK's 100 largest companies into a £96 billion deficit, according to a report by the London-based actuarial consultancy Lane Clark & Peacock (LCP).
The Big Interview: Redington's Robert Gardner
The co-founder of pension consultancy Redington Partners talks about the pros and cons of switching funds out of equities and into fixed income.
Can one size fit all?
Editor's letter
New York pension probe widens; Politician charged
Losses and Lawsuits
Sting in the tail
Credit spreads on highly rated names have blown out to levels that are proving irresistible to many buy-and-hold investors such as pension funds. But tail risk in the form of increased default expectations is still a major consideration. Blake Evans…