Best defence

Neither required by law, nor even necessary for all pension schemes, nevertheless, for those scheme trustees who are exposed to liabilities, the role TII plays is of vital importance, says Gregor Watt

Slow and steady wins the race

The humble TIP may have stayed at the back of the field, lagging behind the higher profile Sipp, but success could be within reach if it can cash in on funds going spare after the Treasury’s sudden U-turn, says Ruth Emery

How to make Tips work their magic

As the popularity of self-invested personal pensions (Sipps) continues to grow and equity market conditions improve, so the trustee investment plan (Tip) market has also continued to show steady gains.

Trustees seek protection as litigation grows

Insurance is one of those things in life that, much like one’s partner, you just can’t live without, however much, at times, you think you might like to.

Part of the trouble is that it always seems so expensive, with premiums increasing exponentially year on year. As the average customer cannot acquaint these hikes with their own claims history, they put them down to usury rather than prudence on the part of the insurance community. That is until you make a claim. Then it seems not only perfectly reasonable, but the decision to insure demonstrates your professionalism and a little more than your fair share of wisdom and foresight.

An expensive essential

Trustee indemnity insurance is now an essential product for the put-upon trustee. However, with a smaller number of companies offering it at higher premiums, good advice is just as important, says Pádraig Floyd

It’s a risky business

Falling stock markets, combined with the vast claims following the September 11 attacks, have all contributed to sharp falls in profits for insurance companies, which has had a severe impact on the area of trustee indemnity insurance, says Katie Hope

Spreading out your nest eggs

Although there is some ambiguity as to what exactly a Tip is, their popularity is unquestionable. Since their inception in the 1980s, they have gone from strength to strength and this looks set to continue, says Katie Hope