funding

Aggregate spending on defined benefit (DB) pensions has dropped from £19bn to £15bn in 12 months, according to Hymans Robertson.

This week’s top stories include Prudential Retirement urging schemes to insure member benefits, and the Universities Superannuation Scheme submitting its 2018 valuation.

Willis Towers Watson's fiduciary clients have seen funding levels improve by 23.1 percentage points over the last 10 years, according to its latest performance figures.

Defined benefit (DB) schemes are facing fresh challenges around dividends and de-risking as they reach fully-funded status, according to Aon.

Stagecoach has launched action against the Department for Transport (DfT), claiming it breached its statutory duties in connection with the West Coast Partnership railways franchise when disqualifying the firm over pension funding issues.

There is a lack of clarity over DB funding targets. Adolfo Aponte says more transparency in this area could have significant benefits.

Alan Taylor looks at the importance of looking at alternative risk measures when developing investment and funding strategies for DB schemes

The DB white paper sets out plans to review the funding regime, with 'prudent' and 'appropriate' possibly redefined. But James Phillips asks if this could this signal a return to an MFR-like approach

Most schemes use a gilts plus discount rate for funding valuations. But, as Ben Gold explains, these can be poor predictors of scheme returns and explores three alternatives for trustees to consider.