Press Releases

Hymans Robertson has been working with Marks & Spencer on the de-risking strategy for the pension scheme, working collaboratively with the Trustee and its advisers.

“We agree with the ambition this consultation is trying to achieve and welcome any change which raises the average level of governance. However we remain concerned that the challenges to meeting the government’s timetable for change – provider bandwidth, small schemes not being able to find a master trust to transfer to, loss of legacy guarantees and technical issues such as contracting-out underpins – have been underestimated.

Fewer schemes needed to lengthen their recovery plan end dates in 2019 than in the previous year according to new analysis from Hymans Robertson. It looked in detail at the TPR ‘tranche 13’ valuations and discovered that only a third (32%) of schemes increased the length of their recovery plan, compared to half (50%) of schemes that had to this in the previous year (2018). 

Arguing for the need for the triple lock to be retained, as it is used to calculate State pension in 2021, Chris Noon, Partner, Hymans Robertson says:

Commenting on TPRs new guidance for trustees and employers considering a DB superfund Alistair Russell-Smith, Head of Corporate DB, Hymans Robertson, says:

A new range of strategic asset allocations (SAAs), designed specifically to meet the needs of consumers in each of the four FCA Investment Pathways, has been launched by Hymans Robertson. The Investment Pathways SAAs will allow providers to offer investment strategies that will meet the requirements of the investment pathways and help ensure consumers are invested in a way that meets their needs.

Commenting on today’s publication of the PLSA’s Climate Investment Report, Simon Jones, Head of Responsible Investment, Hymans Robertson, says:

Commenting on the PLSA’s publication of DC Decumulation: Evolving the Pensions Freedoms – Final Recommendations, Mark Jaffray, Head of DC Consulting, Hymans Robertson, says:

Hymans Robertson is warning firms to ensure they’re fully prepared for the introduction of the FCA Investment Pathways for pensions income drawdown. With only a matter of months before the 1 February deadline for their mandatory introduction, there is significant regulatory risk for those affected who don’t have a clear plan in place, claims the leading pensions and financial services firm. It is urging providers to implement technology to meet the regulatory requirements.

Commenting on the McCloud consultation as the formal response draws to a close, Catherine McFadyen, Head of LGPS Consulting, Hymans Robertson, says:

49% of pension schemes are now targeting buy-out as their long-term objective, up from just 15% four years ago, according to a Hymans Robertson survey of 100 defined benefit pension scheme trustees*. In the same period the number of pension schemes aiming for self-sufficiency as their long-term objective fell to 37%, from 81% four years ago. The remaining 14% of pension schemes are targeting a form of consolidation as their long-term objective.

Commenting on the need for consistency in how the pensions industry measures value in response to the FCA’s Value for Money in Pensions Consultation, closing today, Lee Hollingworth, Partner, Hymans Robertson, says: