Scheme Actuary services
Pension scheme trustees must appoint a Scheme Actuary to satisfy a number of statutory duties and obligations set out in legislation and under the rules of their scheme.
​The bedrock of our approach is delivering succinct and timely advice to pension trustees, with clear options and recommendations. We strongly believe that this enables trustees to fulfil their role more efficiently.
 

 Overview

 
A successful Scheme Actuary must actively engage with trustees on several levels. We believe: 
  • a Scheme Actuary appointment is a personal appointment - we build strong relationships with trustees to understand their particular circumstances
  • every pension scheme and every group of trustees is unique - so we tailor our actuarial advice and provide different solutions to ensure we truly meet the trustees' needs
  • it is essential that our advice as Scheme Actuary is ‘joined up’ with other advice you receive, most crucially pension scheme investment and covenant advice
We have developed tools to support and enhance the way we deliver our advice. We find they really do help our clients make effective, informed and timely decisions.
 

 Insights and views

 
    Pensions Bulletin - March 2013
    6 March 2013
    In our latest Pensions Bulletin, we ask whether it is time for more joined-up thinking on pensions: do the various recent initiatives suggest that Government departments are working together to achieve the right balance between reform and continuity in the pensions system? The Bulletin also looks at some other recent developments, including ‘micro pot’ refunds, changes to the disclosure requirements and DC pension charges.
     
    In addition, the Pensions Bulletin flags key dates for your diary over the next quarter, including some Punter Southall events.
     
    View the bulletin


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    Valuations in a cold climate revisited
    5 March 2013
    Following an announcement made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his autumn statement last year, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has published a ‘call for evidence’ entitled ‘Pensions and Growth’ on whether to allow smoothing of assets and liabilities in scheme funding valuations and whether to require the Pensions Regulator (TPR) to have a new statutory objective to consider the long-term affordability of deficit recovery plans to sponsoring employers.

    View the briefing note


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    Call for evidence on new statutory objective for the Pensions Regulator
    21 February 2013

    Punter Southall’s response to the call for evidence on whether to introduce a new statutory objective for the Pensions Regulator.

     

    View our response

     

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    What if... smoothing is allowed?
    21 February 2013

    What is the current position?

    Actuarial valuations are undertaken based on market prices and yields on the date of the valuation. Assets are taken at market value and liabilities are priced using discount rates set with reference to gilts or other similar markets on the valuation date. Gilt yields have fallen significantly over recent years due in part to quantitative easing and this has led to widening deficits.

    View the hot topic

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    Pensions Regulator analyses defined benefit funding regime
    13 November 2012
    On 10 October 2012, the Pensions Regulator published further evidence and analysis on the defined benefit funding regime and the funding flexibilities that have been used by pension schemes and sponsoring employers. It highlights that practices vary and that, in facing challenging conditions, schemes are making increasing use of the flexibilities available within the funding regime. This corroborates the findings of Punter Southall’s 2012 Scheme Funding Survey, ‘Reaching pragmatic funding agreements in challenging times’ which showed that both trustees and employers were exploring avenues that had not previously been considered as part of their negotiations.
     
    View the briefing note

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    Pensions Bulletin - September 2012
    6 September 2012

    In this issue:

    •    Playing the waiting game
    •    Playing the waiting game: speed read
    •    Behind the scenes
    •    Other recent developments
    •    Publications round-up
    •    Dates for your diary

    Download a copy


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    Recovery plans: the fifth analysis
    27 July 2012
    In June 2012, the Pensions Regulator published its fifth analysis of the recovery plan submissions it has received. As in previous years, the analysis includes comparisons of the assumptions used for technical provisions, details of recovery plans and information on how many of those recovery plans failed the trigger tests.
     
    View the briefing note

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    Pension scheme funding in current environment
    3 May 2012
    On 27 April 2012 the Pensions Regulator (“the regulator”) published a statement aimed at trustees and employers who are carrying out valuations over the period September 2011 to September 2012. The aim of the statement is to set out the regulator’s views on acceptable approaches to the valuation process in the current economic environment.

    View the briefing note

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    Valuations in a cold climate
    5 March 2012
    With gilt yields at historic lows, trustees and sponsors with valuation dates around the end of 2011 and start of 2012 can expect liabilities or ‘technical provisions’ calculated on current agreed bases to be higher than ever.
     
    View the briefing note

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    Visit the Industry Insights page for news and views on the latest industry developments
 

 Online services

 
    Postcode life expectancy estimator
    Use your postcode and gender to get an estimate of your life expectancy, in comparison to the national average, and an indication of the difference that your postcode could make to your annuity.
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    Risk evaluator
    An online tool that looks at five key areas of risk and gives trustees an initial high level review of the quality of the governance procedures in place.
    Read more
    Visit the Online services area to access our full range of online modelling tools and facilities
 

 Events

 
    Dealing with the Challenges of Pensions Taxation
    11 June 2013
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    The DB GameChanger: The Regulator’s New Funding Objective
    18 June 2013
    For Trustees, Finance Directors and those responsible for Pensions and Corporate Risk
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    De-risking Masterclass
    25 June 2013
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    Trustee Training - Trustee Knowledge and Understanding (Intensive)
    25 September 2013
    This course addressed the knowledge and understanding requirements
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    2013 Pensions Conference
    10 October 2013
    A Conference for Trustees, Finance Directors and Pension Managers
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    De-risking Masterclass
    21 November 2013
    Read more
    De-risking Masterclass
    28 November 2013
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    Trustee Training - Trustee Knowledge and Understanding (Intensive)
    3 December 2013
    This coursed addresses the knowledge and understanding requirements
    Read more
    Visit the Events area for all forthcoming Punter Southall seminars, conferences and events
    Speak to us
    Speak direct to our specialists in this area
    Adam Stanley
    Head of Trustee Services
    Email Adam
    Or call us on
    020 3327 5000