Employers should lead on support and education for young savers to capitalise on their engagement with pensions, according to Quantum Advisory. New research from Pensions UK has perhaps surprisingly revealed that younger pension savers are more likely to understand and proactively engage with their defined contribution pension investments than older colleagues.
The Pensions Dashboards’ marathon appears to be nearing the final lap. The largest pension schemes, those covering most UK savers, are already connected to the digital architecture. Only the smaller, individual trust-based schemes remain - and there is a confident expectation these final schemes will be on board ahead of the October deadline. We already know that the infrastructure works. A first wave of testers have confirmed their identity and added their national insurance number.
Investors take a glass-half-full view of the Middle East ceasefire. Oil prices remain elevated, with the Strait of Hormuz in focus. TSMC sales beat market forecasts, AI hardware trade still attractive. Gold on track for third consecutive week of gains
Aaron Punwani, LCP CEO, commented: “Promoting new partners is always a highlight of the year because it recognises the people that play a key role in helping to drive our firm forward and maintain our culture and approach to business.
Fragile agreements in the Middle East won’t change the longer-term picture for oil, says Malcolm Melville, Fund Manager, Commodities at Schroders in his latest market commentry below.
Broadstone rebases its Sirius Index for 2026 to track a ‘growth focused’ and ‘matching focused’ investment strategy. The ‘growth focused’ scheme funding had improved to 90.8% funding by the end of February but dropped back to 89.0% over March. The ‘matching focused’ scheme funding was less volatile, with funding rising slightly to 90.3% at the end of February, falling back to 88.6% over March
The annual release of stolen vehicle recovery (SVR) data from Tracker Network UK Limited, confirms the success of its growing collaboration with U.K. police, car manufacturers, leading dealer groups, and insurers. In 2025 Tracker and U.K. police reported a 55% increase in the total number of stolen cars they jointly recovered, with a total value of £41.3 million – a 72% year-on-year increase and an all-time record.
2025 saw a shift in the risk transfer market towards smaller pension schemes, says Hymans Robertson, as it releases its latest report today. Buy-in deal volumes in 2025 of £38.2bn represented a fall of more than 20% compared with the prior year (£47.8bn), while the volume of deals less than £100m in value increased by over 30%.
WTW’s perspective on EIOPA’s 2025 Market-Wide Generative AI Study shows how AI—backed by real insurer use cases—is poised to rewrite the rules of insurance analytics. Key findings from the EIOPA survey include: Generative AI adoption is widespread. Efficiency is the primary goal. Key hurdles remain. Most common AI applications. Human oversight remains essential. AI hallucinations and risk concerns. Governance is catching up. Reliance on third-party providers is increasing
Over a third of Millennials (35%) and Gen Z (39%) see both pensions and property as their main retirement asset. Gen X (52%) are most likely to rely on pensions alone. Regional differences: 56% in the Northeast expect to rely mainly on pensions vs just 32% in Greater London.
Canada Life has appointed Rhian Littlewood as Strategic Delivery Director, Bulk Purchase Annuities (BPA), effective 7 April 2026. Rhian will help shape Canada Life’s growing footprint in the BPA market and will join the BPA Senior Leadership Team, reporting to Shreyas Sridhar, Managing Director, BPA.
Central estimate still suggests no redress payable on DB transfers but wide range of factors mean consumers could still be due compensation. Current instability having minimal impact on redress calculations with poor asset performance offset by rising bond yields
FTSE opens higher this morning. US stock futures give up some of yesterday’s gains. Oil gains ground after renewed Israeli strikes on Lebanon. Meta’s new AI model sparks optimism
From April 2027, unused defined contribution pensions will be part of estates for inheritance tax purposes.Despite this, the vast majority of people won’t have to worry about inheritance tax.Those that have a potential inheritance tax issue can do something about it.There are various gifting allowances that you can make use of.However, be sure to balance your own needs with managing inheritance tax.
Aviva has completed a £100 million bulk purchase annuity transaction with the Iveco Limited Pension Scheme, securing the benefits of all 225 deferred and 1,127 pensioner members. The transaction, which completed in March 2026, represents a significant milestone in the Scheme’s long-term de-risking strategy and provides members with increased security and long-term certainty for their pensions.
Recent geopolitical events have had wide ranging economic impacts, including for defined benefit (DB) pension schemes, with many trustees navigating a period of significant uncertainty about how much their employer covenant will be impacted. However, at the same time they are being asked to reach increasingly firm views on key aspects of their covenant for the new DB funding regime. So how can trustees decide how reliable their covenant is when so much is uncertain?
The market capitalization of the world’s 25 largest insurers is fracturing along regional lines as US managed-care giants lose $226 billion in value while Asian and European insurers gain ground, signalling a structural repricing of healthcare and life insurance risk in Q1 2026.
The Aon UK DC Pension Tracker rose over the final quarter of 2025, with all savers expected to see an increase in their expected future living standard in retirement. Despite another volatile year both geopolitically and in investment markets, DC savings have held up well with expected member outcomes increasing over the year even when allowing for the increase in the Retirement Living Standards
Stock markets bounce on Middle East ceasefire. Oil posts double-digit drop on hopes the Strait re-opens. Interest rate expectations react to potential resolution. UK house prices post slowest gain in 3 months
Electronic pension transfers reached a record 1.7 million in 2025, up 70% in three years, and with the Pensions Dashboards Programme expected to drive a surge in consolidation requests, pressure on the system is set to intensify.
LCP has been appointed as Scheme Actuaries to the four BAE Systems UK defined benefit (DB) pension schemes: the BAE Systems Pension Scheme, the BAE Systems Executive Pension Scheme, the Royal Ordnance Pension Scheme and the Royal Ordnance Senior Staff Pension Scheme.
More than 70% of respondents use actuarial analysis for underwriting performance reviews and pricing adequacyClaims development and trend analysis is used by more than two thirds of MGAsThe average MGA uses actuarial expertise across five different functional areas
I started my actuarial career in South Africa in the early 1990s, a time of change in both politics and pensions. 1994 heralded the first democratic elections in South Africa’s history but it also took place at a time when the defined benefit (DB) pensions landscape was undergoing a profound transition. Final salary schemes were closing at pace, and employers were transferring liabilities to insurance companies. Defined contribution (DC) pensions were on the rise, and with them, came a steady shift of risk away from employers and towards individual members.
Global markets prepare for potential volatility. US markets in wait-and-see mode. Broadcom announces expanded partnerships. Oil creeps higher, hovering at levels not seen since 2022