While many within the pensions industry have welcomed the pensions bill outlined in the Queen’s speech, others have claimed it does not go far enough.

The Department for Work and Pension’s (DWP) announcement it will not give schemes extra time to adapt to EU age discrimination legislation has met with heavy criticism from industry.

With actual reform on the horizon for the UK pensions system, Philip Hammond proffers the Conservative party’s views on whether it agrees with the government’s proposals

Industry experts have made Christmas wishes about the contents of the next pension white paper.

The second white paper on pension reform will come out in December, James Purnell, minister for pension reform, has said.

Paternoster has bought out the £11m Cuthbert Heath Family Plan, bringing its total buyouts since receiving FSA authorisation in June to five.

The Pension Protection Fund (PPF) is now providing 43,000 people with financial security and 10,000 are already receiving payments from their pension schemes at PPF levels of compensation, according to its annual report.

Turnover in the UK’s asset management industry remains significantly high according to a recent survey by Investment Solutions.

Vertex has created a new subsidiary, Jessop Fund Managers, after extending its outsourcing contract with Gartmore.

Resolution International Funds and Hexam Capital Partners have launched two new long-only funds focusing on long-term capital growth within the international and emerging Europe markets.

The announcement that MetLife is to enter the crowded UK financial services market in January 2007 means that there must still be rich pickings for new entrants.

The eagerly awaited pre-Budget report will be presented at 12.30pm on Wednesday 6 December and the industry is anticipating some clarification on alternatively secured pension (ASP).

Auto strategies for defined contribution (DC) pension plans are gaining in popularity among UK pension funds, according to Watson Wyatt.

Let’s be honest – pensions is not the easiest of topics to get to grips with, after all, that’s why we have pensions managers and IFAs.

Think of the words ‘responsible’ and ‘investment’. Can those words really merge to form a cohesive idea, especially in today’s business environment where companies are spurred by profit, and aggressive customer retention is key?

Five lucky PM readers won a signed copy of Martin Bamford’s personal finance guide, The Money Tree, last month.

The introduction of a delivery authority to design the personal accounts system has been welcomed by leading industry associations.

Regular readers of PM may now justifiably feel smug about their choice of monthly pensions magazine, because you have chosen a title that is constantly striving for excellence in its field.

With all the indications looking as if the government is looking seriously at restricting the use of alternatively secured pensions (ASPs), it is worth reminding ourselves of the alternatives. The advantages of ASP include full income flexibility, with the ability to take tax-free cash with nil income, while maintaining investment of the remaining funds. At the same time, annuity rates may improve while the annuity purchase is deferred.

If I ever got offered three wishes by a genie or a fairy or a leprechaun or something I guess that the first thing I’d go for would be the gift of hindsight. Although, with hindsight I suppose unlimited additional wishes would probably make more sense as a first choice now I come to think about it. But anyway, hindsight would be right up there in my top three for sure. At least, that’s the way I see things today.

The shift from defined benefit to defined contribution pension schemes is leaving employees carrying the risk. Employers must share the burden or face significant fallout, writes Paul Watson

Gareth Isaac discusses the changing face of the fixed income market and asks why has it grown less volatile, with a much narrower range of focus

The Pensions Management Awards at The Brewery in the City of London is rightly viewed as the premier event in the pensions industry’s social calendar.

David Hemmings talks to PM’s Ruth Emery about how UK pension schemes are viewing overseas property, and discusses Henderson’s European property fund-of-funds product

Dedication to the development of staff skills, innovation and adoption of new technologies are among the assets that distinguish the winners of this year’s awards

Simple yet flexible, the pooled fund is an easy way for funds to access more complicated investment structures, such as LDI, but not all companies are happy to pay the high fees associated with it, says Antoinette Odoi

IFAs can really make a difference to the savings habits of the UK’s employees, and we are going to need a concerted effort in order to close Britain’s massive savings gap

The implications of the age laws will be far reaching in their impact, especially when, says Ian Owen, you consider the bigger retirement picture

It’s no secret that the UK population is losing interest in saving for retirement. Time for the government to jolt them out of their apathy, says Mike Kellard

Investors should review the positioning of their investment portfolios in the light of changing sources of return in the Asian markets in the future, with more emphasis on adding value through alpha-generating strategies

Ruth Emery, assistant editor, Pensions Management: What is the current state of DC in the UK and the breadth of schemes on offer?

Roger Emerson of GlaxoSmithKline, one of the members of the Marathon Club, considers the responses from the club’s consultation paper on long-term long-only investment

John Ashcroft, head of strategy at the Pensions Regulator, sets out the regulator’s role in implementing scheme funding requirements and protecting members’ benefits

Jan Floyd-Douglass has stepped in as Zurich’s new head of corporate pensions, where she will take charge of strengthening the business and its development. She also becomes chair of the Zurich Corporate Pensions executive.

Aon Consulting, Watson Wyatt and Lane Clark & Peacock (LCP) have all beefed up their teams this month with appointments in key business areas.

Claudia Philips has been appointed managing director of Alliance Trust’s investment dealing business and is set to take on the task of boosting its development.