As US policymakers track the progress of personal accounts, economic adviser David John says UK’s charging structure is an unrealistic aim

The industry needs more guidance on how to implement the treating customers fairly (TCF) initiative if it is to be a success, is the stark warning to the Financial Services Authority (FSA).

A year into the credit crunch, with inflation at 3.8% and expected to rise further, a host of industry experts have voiced their concerns over the effect on pensions.

The UK cannot afford to have the Equitable Life saga hanging around any longer and must resolve it quickly, the National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF) has said in the wake of the parliamentary ombudsman’s report.

James Purnell has given his backing to the TUC’s crusade to ensure 50% of trustee boards are made up of member-nominated trustees (MNTs).

The expected sale of Synesis Life to fellow buyout provider Pension Corporation is a sign of things to come, according to the president of the Society of Pension Consultants (SPC).

As the Principles for Respon-sible Investment (PRI) initiative celebrates its second anniversary, a prominent signatory has said the campaign could be in danger of becoming a mere “box-ticking exercise”.

A claim by the ruler of the United Arab Emirates that Dubai’s development is only 15% complete has spurred one wealth management group to open a shariah-compliant property fund in the federation.

Investors looking for the next China or India should consider HSBC Global Asset Manage-ment’s New Frontiers fund, which has just been opened up to a wider audience of investors.

France is looking to catch up with the UK in a bid to secure a bigger slice of Islamic finance business, according to a report from Standard & Poor’s.

Emerging markets have had a sustained period of strong outperformance relative to developed markets in recent years and they account for more than 10% of global equity market capitalisation.

Interest in socially responsible investment (SRI) has increased significantly over the recent past as more investors across the world are becoming more concerned about the ethical and green credentials of the companies they invest in.

The Pensions Regulator’s proposal of a retrospective change to the way longevity is treated in the scheme funding regime has been halted.

The industry is about to enter a new age in which the experience of customers at the point of retirement is set to improve dramatically, according to the Association of British Insurers (ABI).

Pensions ombudsman cases are being completed quicker than ever before, according to the ombudsman’s latest annual report.

The stock market upset is boosting the popularity of cash investments, with-profits annuities and impaired life annuities, MetLife Europe research has shown.

The government’s dual annou-ncements on protected rights have been criticised for adding further layers of complexity for self-invested personal pension (Sipp) providers.

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has called for more concerted action on educating the market before the introduction of personal accounts in 2012.

SEI has addressed the burden of large numbers of deferred members on pension schemes, which can cost almost £100 each per year, by tweaking its DC Master Trust.

Rowanmoor Pensions has scooped Skandia’s small self-administered scheme (SSAS) book of business, worth £13.7m, as Skandia withdraws from the SSAS market.

More time-consuming, increased complexity, greater regulatory responsibility and an economic climate looming a dark shade of grey on the horizon: the trustee’s role is no walk in the park. However, awareness and recognition of the burden companies place on their pension scheme wardens has led to the creation of a number of useful toolkits, websites and guides to assist them in their daily duties.

Since the government published its white paper in December 2006, entitled Personal accounts – A new way to save, the pensions industry has repeatedly voiced its concerns that the current state benefits system, with its reliance on means-testing, will seriously undermine the success of personal accounts.

While trustees are not obliged by law to obtain a professional qualification, their knowledge and understanding must be up to scratch to meet the regulator’s high standards

According to ancient legend and folklore, the 13 crystal skulls that may have been central to Mayan culture were separated way back in the mists of time and dispersed to the very corners of the Earth.

The challenges ahead for the UK’s pension system may be daunting, but are unlikely to deter Jenny Willott from fighting against the ‘plague of pensions policy’, she tells Owen Walker

Higher longevity assumptions have not convinced the public that saving into a pension scheme is a necessity, but auto-enrolment in 2012 should encourage a savings culture

Ruth Emery catches up with Jeffrey Taylor and learns that a defensive approach to stock-picking is key during uncertain times, but keeping your options open also makes investment sense

Jeffrey Taylor is Fund manager at Invesco Perpetual European Equity Fund, Invesco Perpetual

The realisation that bonds can be made to work much harder has led to funds’ growing interest in strategies such as absolute return that open up access to multiple assets

The National Money Guidance Service’s vision for promoting the benefits of advised sales requires a united voice to better explain the ramifications of the non-advised sales route

Calculating the SSC payable to HMRC is not as easy as the new simplified tax regime suggests

Over recent years, the industry has witnessed concerted efforts by the government to optimise the administration of occupational pension schemes, an objective that continues today

The devil is in the detail, as the trustees of this pension scheme discovered when the High Court ruled against their decision not to grant a member an ill-health pension

In PM’s first ever general annuities survey, Ruth Emery takes a look at the at-retirement market and asks why annuities are experiencing a renaissance

A lifetime annuity is far from the only option available to retirees, who must be made aware of the choices on offer in the marketplace

The apparent obligation to annuitise has often led to a products receiving a bad press, but the benefits of a lifetime income must not be forgotten

The risks associated with longevity are here to stay, and dealing with them as soon as possible will lead to a far better outcome than simply hoping they will disappear in time

BPO has established itself as an essential strategy for businesses looking to improve client servicing levels, and its popularity looks set to accelerate

The relationship between a company and its outsourcer can mean the difference between the success and failure of future performance and the efficiency of ongoing processes

What does the emergence of wrap platforms as the gatekeepers to the sale of pensions and investment products mean to the key players in the UK market?

In-specie transfers may appear simple on the surface, but there are many traps along the way to catch out the inexperienced scheme member

Aegon will not recruit externally to fill the vacant director of pensions development position left by outgoing pensions stalwart Stewart Ritchie, Pensions Management understands.

MGM Advantage has followed its revamp with a raid on its annuity rivals for key personnel.

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has hired a trio of pensions partners, along with Richard Giles, who recently joined as director of the pensions team from Mercer.