Longevity

Sponsoring employers are increasingly updating mortality assumptions at a more frequent rate to keep on top of changes in pension liabilities, according to Mercer.

The funding level of defined benefit (DB) schemes improved by five percentage points in March on the back of a reduction in mortality improvements, JLT Employee Benefits has estimated.

Defined benefit (DB) schemes saw a £20bn reprieve on their deficits over the course of March, PwC's SkyVal index shows.

Mortality improvements have declined for yet another year, ducking previous estimates. James Phillips explores what this means for pension schemes

Higher health and social care spending between 2000 and 2010 may have caused a blip in longevity estimates by accelerating improvements, according to Barnett Waddingham.

This week we want to know if the pension system is better now than 20 years ago, and what has been the biggest development in pensions.

This week's top stories included coverage of a report which was highly critical of The Pensions Regulator, and a Supreme Court judgement would could see schemes having to provide death benefits to unmarried partners.

The ABI is charging too high fees for providers to take part in the pension dashboard and it would alienate smaller firms, the industry has said.

The collective defined benefit (DB) deficit could be slashed by £25bn if schemes used more accurate longevity assumptions, according to Club Vita.

Most respondents in this week's Pensions Buzz believe there should be higher scrutiny of advisers after the BHS fiasco.