Schroders’ experts have today shared their comprehensive 2026 outlooks across public and private markets, highlighting the opportunities and challenges investors face in light of significant geopolitical and economic developments.
Commenting on the PRAs Life Insurance Stress Test (LIST), Lara Desay, Partner and Head of Risk Transfer said: “On 24 November 2025, the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) published individual findings from its latest LIST. The 2025 exercise marks a significant milestone as it is the first under the Solvency UK regime and focuses on the eight largest bulk annuity providers.
Using credit to pay for insurance continues to gain popularity and nearly half value the ability to pay monthly, Premium Credit research shows. More than one in four worry their ability to pay bills will deteriorate in the next 12 months
5.2 million adult non-ISA savings accounts generate enough interest to breach basic-rate personal savings allowance threshold of £1,000. Rises to nine million accounts for higher-rate taxpayer threshold of £500. Government expected to generate £6 billion in savings interest tax this financial year
Public opinion on the future of pension tax relief is sharply divided, according to new research from PensionBee - with views split along age and income lines, and even unexpected support for reform among the highest earners.
Much of the discussion over recent weeks has focused on potential changes to the amount of tax free cash members can withdraw (though this has reportedly been ruled out by the Treasury) and more recently on abolishing, or perhaps more likely limiting, salary sacrifice arrangements for pension contributions (the latest rumours suggest a £2,000 cap is anticipated).
Directing just £200 a month from overtime into your pension could grow into a six-figure boost for your retirement savings. Those who work overtime for a limited period could also see significant benefit - an individual contributing an extra £200 a month between ages 30 and 45 could still see their pension boosted by £52,000. Income tax thresholds could be frozen for longer at the Autmn Budget - using overtime to top up your pension could protect your earnings from the impact of higher tax bands
With global populations over 65 expected to double by 2050, aging is often seen as a risk multiplier. Yet it can also be a source of resilience. During societal contingencies, most older people need more help than others, because physical frailty is a fact of life. But senior citizens also have crucial skills, not least because they have spent most of their lives in an era during which digital tools and solutions didn’t exist.
Market volatility remains the top concern, cited by one in three (33%) trustees. Data quality and illiquid assets continue to shape readiness for endgame transactions, according to one-third (31%) of trustees. Confidence is increasing as nearly one in five (17%) schemes report no barriers to endgame planning
The Society of Pension Professionals (SPP) has today published a comprehensive Diversity, Equity & Inclusion paper, “Inclusive futures” which covers Social Mobility, Neurodiversity, LGBTQ+, Disability, Gender and Ethnicity.
Employers will end up taking most of the responsibility for helping to solve the retirement adequacy problem if we are to see real and impactful change in retirement outcomes, according to a new paper by Hymans Robertson.
Marcus Jennings, Fixed Income Strategist, Global Unconstrained Fixed Income, Schroders, explains why now the US government shutdown is over, we expect the fog clouding the view of the economy to gradually lift.
Workplace pensions are one of employers’ most powerful tools to support their people’s financial wellbeing, engagement and long-term retention. But despite often being the single largest employee benefit cost, many schemes run on autopilot - offering limited insight into the value they deliver for the business or its people. Employers stand to gain far more when they treat pensions as a strategic asset with significant value and not just another expense on the balance sheet.
The Aon UK DC Pension Tracker fell over the quarter, with the younger savers seeing decreases in their expected outcomes, while the older members’ expected retirement income increased slightly over the quarter.The April increase in the state pension improved the position for all savers but this was offset by changes to the Pensions UK Retirement Living Standards
Whether it’s due to starting a family, taking a break from work, recovering from injury or illness or retraining for a new profession; around half of women have taken a career break at some point in their lives, compared to just one in five men.
The Asia-Pacific (APAC) life insurance industry is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.3%, from an estimated $1.2 trillion in 2025 to $1.6 trillion in 2029, in terms of written premiums, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
Just Group comment on the latest HMRC update showing that Inheritance Tax (IHT) receipts totalled £5.20 billion through the first seven months of the 2025/26 financial year (April to October).
Broadstone comment on the latest HRMC data showing Insurance Premium Tax (IPT) has collected £5.52 billion through the first seven months of the Financial Year (2025/26).
Defined contribution pension schemes are seen as low risk for employers, but if staff don’t understand and appreciate them, the risks can add up. With the rise of defined contribution (DC) pensions, many of the risks associated with building and managing adequate retirement savings have been transferred to individuals. However, this doesn’t make DC a no-risk option for employers. For instance, if a lack of savings means people can’t retire, this can introduce succession and workforce management challenges for their employers.
The ABI has stressed that the fight against fraud must continue as its annual detected fraud data reveals that £1.16 billion worth of fraudulent general insurance claims were identified in 2024 - a 2% increase on the £1.14 billion detected the previous year.
The European Commission (EC)’s proposals, published today as part of the Savings and Investments Union (SIU) Strategy, are important steps toward further developing supplementary pensions across the EU. This initiative comes at a critical time as public finances and pension systems across Europe face mounting pressure from demographic change, with a declining ratio of active workers to retirees and profound shifts in the labour market.
Rathbones convenes industry to address global challenges, from climate tipping points to modern slavery. First Group-wide Responsible Investment Summit, delivered by Rathbones Greenbank, reflects urgent need for action in aligning long-term wealth with sustainability ambitions
Ahead of next week’s Autumn Budget 2025, and with rumours circulating about potential changes to salary sacrifice changes, please see the below comment from David Brooks, Head of Policy at Broadstone about the impacts of this possible reform, if announced.
As COP30 focuses global attention on the policies and intervention needed to deliver a net-zero future, LCP has analysed sixteen of the UK’s largest master trusts, representing over £200 billion in assets. The findings reveal a growing awareness of climate policy advocacy but also highlight key areas where further action is required.