SPP


The SPP recognises that a sustainable LGPS is in the best interests of scheme members, employers and local taxpayers and so has provided a range of technical comments that should prove helpful in ensuring that government policy intentions are met and that unintended consequences are minimised.

This response acknowledges that there are arguments for and against Retirement CDC schemes being made available in the retail environment; strongly supports the introduction of a ‘cohorting’ approach; and agrees that there is a strong case for a charge cap to be introduced.

If the Government introduces their Guided Retirement requirements on DC schemes in advance of Retirement CDC being made available, schemes may not have much appetite to revisit their Guided Retirement options in the short term. This could represent a substantial missed opportunity.

This paper examines issues relating to pre-1997 indexation in DB pension schemes including the costs of protection, scheme member perspectives, trustee duties and considerations for employers.

It also highlights some of the issues with a proposed across the board legislative change and comments on various potential solutions – including the possibility of discretionary payments.

SPP's short response to The Pensions Regulator's Enforcement Strategy consultation, which expresses support for the broad thrust of the proposed changes whilst detailing some areas where unintended outcomes could arise and where further clarification would be helpful.

The Diversity, Equity & Inclusion paper seeks to shine a light on neurodiversity in the pensions industry and features two articles detailing the thoughts of both Lynn Wassell, Chief Executive of national neurodiversity charity, The Donaldson Trust and Niraj Shah, Investment Analyst at LCP and a member of the SPP.

This SPP paper identifies what the Pensions Commission, recently revived to consider the question of pensions adequacy, should consider and why.

This includes defining “adequate”; identifying the under pensioned; better understanding the trade-off between adequate living and adequate saving; and improving public trust in and awareness of state provision. The paper also explores how disenfranchised groups could be better supported and calls for a long-term plan for increasing auto-enrolment contribution rates.