Equity release products are winning over an increasing number of independent financial advisers (IFAs), although suspicions about the proposition still remain.

The news of Hector Sants’ resignation as chief executive officer of the Financial Services Authority (FSA) has cast further doubt on the future and effectiveness of the regulator.

Fresh concerns have been raised about the funding of pension schemes attached to UK charities, after a branch of the YMCA in Wales was threatened with insolvency.

Schemes should put the bulk of the £4bn they spend on active management fees towards more forceful corporate governance, according to Lord Myners.

Plans to equalise guaranteed minimum pensions (GMPs) will “significantly” increase the cost of buyouts, forcing some smaller schemes out of the market, research shows.

Paternoster has announced a £2bn longevity swap with BMW – its first deal since switching its business model from insurance to product design.

The Pensions Regulator has criticised the industry over a ‘patchy’ adoption of its administration guidelines.

You know you are nearing a general election when political rhetoric goes Star Wars. When it was revealed the government was looking at how different ways of funding long-term care would play with voters, the Tories were quick to accuse it of plotting a death tax.

A 10-year fall in leading equity indices is prompting advisers and providers to create a range of guaranteed funds to defined contribution (DC) schemes.

Ethical funds that seek to constructively engage with firms are quickly replacing funds that exclude certain stocks, according to an environmental, social and governance (ESG) specialist.

Fidelity will have no problem reaching the $1bn (£639m) target for Anthony Bolton’s soon-to-launch China Special Situations investment trust, according to Peter Hargreaves.

What of the market from here? We think that the kind of stocks held in our portfolio are cheap. But it would be fatuous to expect these stocks to go up while the rest of the market falls. So ideally the value is best realised in a market that is at least stable or, better still, rising.

Defined benefit (DB) pension scheme deficits prevented at least 100 companies on the brink of insolvency being saved by vital recapitalisation last year.

BT has agreed to a 17-year payment plan for its £9bn deficit, following talks with its trustees.

Two reports into fund management have slammed the charges managers apply to their funds, claiming they often exceed the funds’ returns.

Prospects for growth in developed markets are poor, and recovery is likely to be hampered by significant structural changes. Investors are now looking to emerging markets as a means of spreading risk.

Lawrence Churchill, current chairman of the Pension Protection Fund (PPF), has taken on the same role at Nest Corporation, the body established to roll out the Nest project from 2012.

Experienced auditor Marta Phillips OBE has been appointed as chief executive of the Pensions Advisory Service (TPAS).

Mattioli Woods has claimed it would have been “irresponsible from a moral perspective” to leave Freedom Sipp clients abandoned.

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has been criticised for making an “unhelpful and unnecessary” change to the rules regarding taxable property and unauthorised payments.

MGM Advantage has officially launched its long-awaited flexible asset-backed annuity.

Living Time has praised LV for its new fixed-term annuity, after it became only the second company to launch such a product in the UK.

The Pinch: How the baby boomers took their children’s future – and how they can give it back (Hardcover) by David Willetts - £18.99

Just call The Book Service on 01206 255777, or email cashsales@tbs-ltd.co.uk, quoting reference ‘pensions’, before the end of April to secure this fantastic deal.

Redundancy payments are always bittersweet. But current government proposals could mean compensation leaves an even less palatable taste in the mouth. That’s because, in an ugly side-effect of its bid to spread the tax relief on pensions more widely, the government could soon find itself penalising the newly unemployed, simply because of their redundancy money.

Now, I’ve just been trying to explain to a bunch of people that we don’t have a compulsory retirement age in the UK these days and I got into all sorts of bother with it. I think the problem is not that I’m unable to explain things well – I’m pretty good at that in my opinion – but rather that people who are not part of the pensions’ priesthood find some of the basic pension concepts we use in the industry too hard to grasp.

Investing in energy-inefficient property could have adverse effects for investors and fund managers alike if associated risks impact on asset values

Suspicion has long dogged this particular income-generating strategy, but an ageing population – among other things – are making it more viable

As pensions moves into the era of DC, just how well can the schemes be expected to perform, going by historical data from several countries?

Key speakers

• John Moret - Sales and marketing director at Suffolk Life
• Andy Bell - Chief executive at AJ Bell

Hymans Robertson has appointed two partners from its sister company, longevity specialist Club Vita.

The Universities Super­annuation Scheme (USS) has made a trio of hires to reinforce its global emerging markets equities team.

Intelligent Pensions (IP) has promoted David Trenner to its board of directors.