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Soft markets, AI and next steps for London Market pricing The twin impacts of softening markets and AI mean that London Market pricing teams will need to evolve their approach rapidly over the coming years. In this article I look at the current state of the market, highlight examples of good practice and consider key areas where firms need to evolve. Most firms in the London Market have well-established technical pricing processes. However, the role of technical pricing has been somewhat limited in hard markets, where the priority is to maximise underwriting team bandwidth to capture the abundant opportunities to write profitable business. Posted in: Articles Posted on: Friday Sep 11

SPP backs VFM framework with proportionate implementation In response to the FCA’s latest consultation on its Value for Money (VfM) framework, the Society of Pension Professionals (SPP) has confirmed it supports the proposals and its phased implementation, welcoming measures to ease the initial burden on schemes and providers. Posted in: Pensions - Articles Posted on: Friday Sep 11

Index shows both schemes hold steady through August The ‘growth focused’ scheme funding improved marginally from 94.1% at the end of July to 94.2% by the end of AugustThe ‘matching focused’ scheme funding fell marginally from 89.9% at the end of July to 89.8% at the end of August. The Broadstone Sirius Index – a monitor of how various pension scheme strategies are performing on their journeys to low dependency – posts its latest update. Posted in: Pensions - Articles Posted on: Friday Sep 11

Economy shows resilience, stagflation fears in the spotlight The Footsie is set to claw back losses in early trading after a better-than-expected report card on the economy. GDP grew 0.4% in July, beating expectations for a contraction. Over the three months to July, the economy expanded by 0.4%, the eighth consecutive three-month period of growth, but production and construction both contracted 0.5%. Services remain the engine of growth, expanding 0.6% over the three months to July, while AI-related activity is providing an additional lift. Stagflation worries still hover given the energy shock raises the risk of inflation staying higher for longer and potentially forcing the Bank of England to raise rates later this year and next. Brent crude is staying elevated, above $105 a barrel. Posted in: Investment - Articles Posted on: Friday Sep 11

Beyond Drawdown With default pension benefit solutions (guided retirement) taking shape, solutions from flex & fix to insured drawdown and Retirement CDC are being considered by the pensions industry i.e. they are looking beyond traditional drawdown solutions to deliver innovation. As a result, the Society of Pension Professionals (SPP) held a webinar on “Innovation in DC Retirement Solutions”. Posted in: Pensions - Articles Posted on: Thursday Sep 10

Flood risk in changing climate: What risk managers must know Flood risks are not restricted to those places labelled as flood zones. Neil Gunn and Hayley Fowler look at why flooding can occur well beyond mapped flood areas and suggest how risk managers can avoid being taken unaware. This year’s flood events illustrate the accelerating trend of hydrological intensification driven by ongoing global warming. A preliminary global review shows extreme and often record-breaking rainfall on every continent, with many events producing exceptional sub-daily intensities. Posted in: Articles Posted on: Thursday Sep 10

Digital health accelerates AI adoption The global digital health and wellness firms across Asia are facing slowing growth while at the same time accelerating investment in AI-powered patient care. As organisations integrate AI across their operations, accountability, governance, workforce competency and cyber resilience are emerging as critical challenges. These findings come from Beazley’s latest Digital Health & Wellness 2026 report, based on a survey of 600 executives across Asia, Europe and North America. Posted in: General Insurance Article Posted on: Thursday Sep 10

Footsie flat as oil stays above $100 a barrel Oil stays above $100 a barrel, keeping inflation and interest-rate fears firmly in focus.30-year gilt yields keep rising after hitting 5.82%, the highest rate at a UK government debt sale since 1998. Norway’s sovereign wealth fund plans to cut its US Treasury holdings, adding to pressure on the bond market. ECB interest rate decision is in focus, with a hike in interest rates widely expected. Posted in: Investment - Articles Posted on: Thursday Sep 10

Summer’s over, saving is on Putting the equivalent of the average annual cost of raising a child into a pension for 18 years could add around £351,000 to retirement savings. Even contributing half that amount could add around £175,500. As families emerge from a potentially expensive summer, ‘Dual Income, No Kids’ households may have greater financial headroom Posted in: Pensions - Articles Posted on: Thursday Sep 10

The ECB’s Second Stitch In Time Jeremy Batstone-Carr, European Strategist at Raymond James: "The European Central Bank’s (ECB) 27-member Governing Council will raise all regional interest rates, including the key Deposit Rate, for a second time in the current cycle to 2.50% (previously 2.25%). The decision will come as no surprise, financial market futures having already fully anticipated the adjustment which is likely to be approved unanimously. Posted in: Investment - Articles Posted on: Thursday Sep 10

6m+ unsure how they'll pay rent or mortgage in retirement 18.7 million people expect to pay housing costs in retirement or are already doing so. 16 million UK adults expect to pay housing costs in retirement. Over six million of those don’t know how they’ll fund the cost Posted in: Pensions - Articles Posted on: Wednesday Sep 9

DB endgame options: when strategy meets accounting reality As funding levels improve, sponsors are exploring a broader range of endgame options than ever before. While strategic discussions often focus on risk, funding and member outcomes, understanding the accounting implications of each option is becoming an increasingly important part of the decision-making process. While the strategic benefits are clear, the accounting implications can be complex and the impact significant. In some cases, the accounting standards may appear misaligned with intended strategic outcomes and UK policy objectives. Posted in: Articles Posted on: Wednesday Sep 9

Oil and trade tensions pile on inflation pressure FTSE 100 opens lower as crude prices nudge $100 a barrel, threatening another wave of inflation through higher transport, energy and production costs. UK and European gas prices are also higher, with low storage levels raising concerns about household energy bills going into winter. The intensifying US-Canada trade war adds another inflationary pressure, while the unpredictability of US trade policy makes businesses more reluctant to invest and plan. Posted in: Investment - Articles Posted on: Wednesday Sep 9

Comments on activity in the Bulk Annuity Market over H1 2026 On overall volumes in H1 2026. Sam Matto-Willey, Head of Insurer Due Diligence in Aon’s Risk Settlement Group, said: “The UK bulk annuity market remained as competitive as ever and very active in the first half of 2026. Based on transactions announced to date, we expect bulk annuity volumes for the first six months of 2026 to exceed £10bn. That’s more than in the first half of 2025 when there was £9.7bn of transactions completed. Posted in: Investment - Articles Posted on: Wednesday Sep 9

Terrorism Insurance: 25 Years After September 11 Morningstar DBRS commentary discusses how terrorism insurance backstops have evolved since the September 11 attacks that disrupted the insurance industry and prompted government intervention. Posted in: General Insurance Article Posted on: Wednesday Sep 9

Insurance as a strategic enabler of business growth Growth is built on making bold decisions. But as businesses grow, so does the potential cost of an unexpected event. Insurance is not only there to respond when something goes wrong; it helps provide the financial confidence to keep moving forward when challenges arise. Yet insurance is often viewed as a transactional purchase rather than a strategic business tool. In reality, a well-structured insurance programme sits at the heart of an effective risk management strategy. Posted in: Articles Posted on: Tuesday Sep 8

Comment on artwork worth £8m stolen from Renoir museum Commenting on the story that two thieves broke into the Renoir museum on the French Riviera early this morning, stealing four works of art, Mark Benbow, Head of Fine Art & Specie at Westfield Specialty International, said: "Incidents such as this serve as a reminder that world-renowned artworks remain highly attractive targets for organised criminals because they concentrate significant value into a relatively portable asset. Posted in: General Insurance Article Posted on: Tuesday Sep 8

Put off by student debt? Parents using pension savings to cover the full cost of a child’s university education could have £119,000 less at retirement. For a child studying in London, the potential pension hit rises to £140,000. 11% of parents are financially supporting adult children help with university fees to reduce student debt. Nearly three quarters (74%) of parents supporting adult children say it has affected their own finances Posted in: Pensions - Articles Posted on: Tuesday Sep 8

Comments on latest PPF 7800 figures from the PPF Broadstone and Gallagher comment on the aggregate surplus of the 4,838 schemes in the PPF 7800 Index edged up slightly through August 2026, increasing by £2.3 billion to reach £273.6bn (end of July: £271.3 billion) in surplus. Over the past year, the aggregate surplus has risen by £39.3bn. The funding ratio also grew by 0.4pp from 133.0% to 133.4% at the end of August, while the number of schemes in surplus saw an increase of 17 to 3,838 representing nearly four in five (79.0%) of all schemes in the universe. Posted in: Pensions - Articles Posted on: Tuesday Sep 8

When water becomes the constraint TT Club is urging logistics providers, ports, terminals and cargo owners to treat recurring drought and low-water restrictions as a business continuity risk, rather than an occasional environmental disruption. Posted in: General Insurance Article Posted on: Tuesday Sep 8

PPF publish latest PPF 7800 figures for August 2026 This update provides the latest estimated funding position, based on adjusting the scheme valuation data supplied to The Pensions Regulator as part of the schemes’ annual scheme returns, on a section 179 (s179) basis, for the defined benefit pension schemes potentially eligible for entry to the Pension Protection Fund (PPF). Posted in: Pensions - Articles Posted on: Tuesday Sep 8

The generation that cannot picture retirement 11% of Gen X say they can't picture their retirement at all, more than double the rate of any other generation (5% of Gen Z, 6% of Millennials, 1% of Baby Boomers). 56% of Gen X did not seriously think about their pension until they were 46 or older. Gen X are the most likely generation to feel indifferent about retirement (11%). Nearly half of Gen X (48%) feel they have left retirement planning too late, the highest of any generation. Posted in: Pensions - Articles Posted on: Tuesday Sep 8

Trade and geopolitical tensions add to inflationary concerns Trade tensions are back in focus, with Canada imposing retaliatory tariffs on around $20bn of US goods after trade talks with Washington broke down. Renewed tariff threats are also distorting commodity markets, with US buyers stockpiling copper ahead of possible duties, pushing prices to a record high. Geopolitical tensions are adding another layer of inflation pressure, with the lack of progress in Russia-Ukraine talks raising concerns over Black Sea supplies of wheat. Brent crude is around $97.50 a barrel, close to six-week highs, as renewed US-Iran tensions raise fears of prolonged disruption to Gulf supplies. Posted in: Investment - Articles Posted on: Tuesday Sep 8

A question of surplus Stronger funding positions and the Government's proposed surplus reforms mean more trustee boards and sponsors are thinking about a question that would have seemed unlikely a decade ago: what should happen when there is money left over? Even where a scheme has completed an insurance transaction and members' benefits are secure, agreeing how any remaining surplus should be used is rarely straightforward. The sums involved can be significant, and trustees and sponsors may have different views on the most appropriate outcome. Posted in: Articles Posted on: Monday Sep 7

Dashboard programme could help bereaved families on IHT As Pensions Awareness Week approaches (September 14 – 18) RSM UK says the government’s pensions dashboard programme could hold the key to helping bereaved families identify pension pots of deceased relatives, which may be subject to Inheritance Tax (IHT) from next year. Posted in: Pensions - Articles Posted on: Monday Sep 7

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