OPT advises pension funds in danger of entering the PPF: keep running and generating returns so members can receive full benefits

Although trustees are demonstrating a greater awareness of the impact of increasing longevity, they must work harder at analysing the risks to their own schemes.

Speculation that auto-enrolment might be permitted before the introduction of personal accounts in 2012 has been scotched by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

The administration for personal accounts may be run by a company based in North America or Europe.

More than 90% of small firms’ defined benefit (DB) schemes are closed to new members, and half of those are closed to new accruals, according the Association of Consulting Actuaries (ACA).

The acceleration in UK defined benefit (DB) scheme closure will continue in 2009, Watson Wyatt has predicted.

Influential industry figures are calling on the government to compel pension schemes to incorporate a responsible inve-stment clause into their statement of investment principles.

Pension schemes are eager to reduce hedge fund and fund-of-hedge fund fees, according to research from Bfinance, the independent consulting firm.

Litigation funding could prove to be a recession-proof asset class, according to US law firm Juridica.

The world is entering a possibly lengthy recession and while no country will be immune from the downturn, Japan, having experienced the depths of a deflationary malaise in the 1990s, may well be better positioned to provide opportunities for pension fund investment over the long term, not-withstanding recent yen strength.

Terminology used to describe advisers after the retail distribution review (RDR) comes into force needs clarification, according to industry experts.

Gathering assets is a surefire way to building a sustainable advisory business, but the world of fund creation is expensive and therefore difficult for the average adviser or wealth manage – until now, that is.

Providers of self-invested personal pensions (Sipps) face a difficult year, and those who are not sufficiently prepared could go under, according to predictions from Premier Pensions Services.

Analysis by Suffolk Life of its first 1,000 self-invested personal pension (Sipp) customers has revealed a wide variety of performance, with some instances of a 30% divergence between investors’ returns.

MetLife Europe has declared 2009 as the “year of the guarantee” while announcing the launch of its Guaranteed Investment Bond.

Extra pressure on firms running defined benefit (DB) pension schemes could deepen the recession and hamper the UK’s economic recovery, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has warned.

Advisers are set to gain from the credit crunch, according to research from Axa.

Industry bodies have come out in support of the lifting of the ban on short selling on January 16. But a leading legal firm has warned against a possible backlash against trustees.

Scottish Life has revamped its defined contribution (DC) offering, which it believes is better suited to unstable economic conditions and treating customer fairly compliance.

Companies operating defined benefit (DB) schemes need to be more aware of the costs involved in these schemes if they are to successfully overcome the economic downturn, according to research by Pension Capital Strategies (PCS).

The state of the economy has triggered a new-found hesitation to retire, and the knock-on effect this might have on financial advisory services could be immense

I’m pretty much into all this science stuff that pops up in the media these days. You know the kind of thing; the Large Hadron Collider, the Hubble telescope and all that.

Simon Hopkins, CEO, Fortune Group, tells Pádraig Floyd that even though the hedge fund industry requires a complete overhaul, it still has a place for UK pension schemes

Jeremy Smith, UK equity fund manager at Neptune, discusses the joys of working for a smaller firm, the importance of locking in performance and new opportunities in the structural growth sector

Ahead of the introduction of auto-enrolment in 2012, the process to procure the administrative services that will form the backbone of the system has now begun.

Measuring longevity can be seen as an impossible task, but steps are being taken to reduce the risk to schemes and improve trustee awareness. Pádraig Floyd leads the roundtable discussion.

When putting plans in place for personal accounts, the UK would be advised to learn by some of Australia’s mistakes, writes Owen Walker.

With the markets braced for yet another turbulent year, PM takes a look at how the key asset classes might fare

The Scheme Communications Awards were initiated to acknowledge the vital role of selling the pensions message to members

The UK has lessons to learn from global pension plans that have been working to manage the risks associated with people living longer

From 2012, schemes will no longer be able to contract out on a protected rights basis and will soon have to take action to address this change

Legislative changes mean trustees are now responsible for best estimates of transfer values. But what does this mean for employers?

Pan Governance has hired former Capital Cranfield Trustees founding director Charles Goddard.

Redington Partners has appointed Mark Herne and David Thompson as senior consultants, devising investment strategies for clients and providing advice on asset and liability management.

A further eight employees of the Punter Southall Group have completed all the examinations of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.