Over the past few years, we’ve seen material increases in gilt yields. More recently, equity markets have hit record highs while credit spreads have narrowed.

In a 45-minute webinar, which takes place on Monday 16 December at 3pm, we will discuss how all these market changes impact Defined Benefit schemes.

A panel of investment specialists will cover:

• Gilt markets – Is deflation likely to affect hedging strategies?
• Equity markets – Is the market overvalued and excessively concentrated?
• Corporate bonds – How are tight credit spreads affecting schemes in various positions?
• Alternative asset classes – Where do we currently see value?

Speakers will include Andrew Overend, Ross Bennett, and Jennifer Mahtani.

There will be time for Q&A.

Under the Pensions Act 2004, trustees must demonstrate a sound awareness of investment principles. They should also be able to question and challenge investment advisers effectively.

In this half-day course, we cut through the jargon to give trustees a clear understanding of pension scheme investment.

Scheme trustees need knowledge and understanding of legal, financial and investment issues. This half-day course takes trustees through:

• The role and duties of the trustee
• Scheme governance
• Scheme funding.

Trustees and employers need to keep on top of developments in the Defined Contribution world and respond appropriately.

Our one-day Defined Contribution course in central London will help you comply with legislation and follow best practice at all times.

If you want to set up a new scheme, strengthen your scheme governance framework, update or simply improve your Defined Contribution knowledge, this course is designed for you.

As we approach the end of 2024, the balance sheet positions of DB schemes have never been stronger. But improved accounting positions bring new options to consider and different questions to answer.

In this 45-minute webinar, which takes place on Wednesday 4 December 2024 at 10am, our pension cost accounting specialists will discuss:

• Changes in financial markets over the last 12 months and what they mean for your accounting position
• Key areas of flexibility in setting your assumptions at the year end
• Hot topics for auditors this year, including the latest developments in the Virgin Media legal case.

Under the Pensions Act 2004, trustees must demonstrate a sound awareness of investment principles. They should also be able to question and challenge investment advisers effectively.

In this one-day course, we cut through the jargon to give trustees a clear understanding of pension scheme investment.

As part of the new funding code, DB schemes are encouraged to consider the best option for their members – buy-out, transfer to a consolidator or scheme run-on.

In this 45-minute webinar, which takes place on Tuesday 19 November 2024 at 11am, funding, investment and run-on specialists will discuss:

• Why now is the right time to revisit your scheme strategy
• Why run-on isn’t just for the largest schemes
• Which schemes run-on could work for
• Real-world case studies of schemes actively considering run-on
• How to make run-on a reality.

There will be time for Q&A.

This 45-minute webinar – which takes place on Monday 30 September 2024 at 10.00am – will provide an update for SHPS employers, following the publication of the 2023 valuation results.

Our housing pension specialists will update you on:

• Reasons behind the funding position changes from 2020 to 2023
• Impact of reduced deficit contributions combined with increased expenses
• Suspension of the CARE 120th benefit structure
• Defined Benefit (DB) section cost changes and their impact on both scheme members and employers
• SHPS bulk transfer activity over the past year
• Defined Contribution (DC) changes planned by TPT for the next 12 months
• How to safeguard financial wellbeing across your workforce, with tools like a Financial MOT.

Housing pension speakers will include Dale Walmsley and Neal Thompson. Camille French and Louise Foxton will cover DC and financial wellbeing issues, respectively.

Complex assumption choices and intensified auditor scrutiny make year-end pension cost accounting disclosures more and more challenging for university and school finance teams.

Join our pension cost accounting specialists for our 45-minute webinar, Key issues for pension cost accounting in the education sector.

The webinar takes place on Thursday 18 July 2024 at 10am and will focus on the education sector.

In this webinar, our panel of experts will discuss:

• Financial market and demographic shifts over the last 12 months and what these mean for your year-end accounting position
• Intensified auditor scrutiny in areas such as surplus recognition and the treatment of special events
• Hot pension topics in the education sector – including the latest developments in sectoral schemes (such as TPS, USS and LGPS) and in-house schemes.