Pensions strategy
Our approach is to work in true partnership with our clients. By providing a service that fits your requirements, we can maximise the success of your defined contribution (DC) pension scheme as part of your overall employee reward strategy.
 

 Overview

 
We use a consultative and collaborative framework to gain a thorough understanding of your business, employee benefits strategy and ongoing objectives, to make sure your pension scheme is established in line with your company’s core values.

The introduction of compulsory auto-enrolment will enshrine the employer’s role in pension provision. Soon, every company in the UK will be legally required to contribute to a qualifying pension scheme on behalf of their eligible employees. In addition, the Pensions Regulator keeps DC governance firmly on its radar. The responsibility on sponsoring companies to provide adequate and robust pension provision grows ever larger.

Our defined contribution team provide:

  • guidance on what auto-enrolment and pension reform means for you
  • advice on contribution levels, scheme design and communication packages
  • bespoke modelling tools to demonstrate the impact of different financial, economic and legislative scenarios on your benefit package
  • in-depth market knowledge and experience to create the best course of action for you
     
 

 Insights and views

 
    Employer Duties Countdown
    21 December 2012

    From October 2012, the largest employers started to auto-enrol staff into suitable pension schemes following the introduction of employer duties. The new regime is being phased in over a long period (more than 5 years), starting with the largest employers first. 

    All employers will need to review what pension arrangements they offer to their employees and, in many cases, changes will be necessary. Here at Punter Southall we have a range of expertise to provide the necessary advice and support during this process, whether it is reviewing your scheme design, advising on managing costs, ensuring your payroll and administration procedures remain compliant, or updating your member communications.

    We have produced a series of straightforward and focused briefing notes to count down to the introduction of the employer duties and auto-enrolment, taking you through the issues that you need to consider.  As the regime takes effect over a number of years, many employers’ plans may only be at an early stage, so we will continue to produce briefing notes in the countdown series. 

    Note seven: Transitional period for defined benefit & hybrid schemes

     

    Note six: Certification for defined benefit and hybrid schemes

     

    Note five: Postponement

     

    Note four: Certification for defined contribution schemes

     

    Note three: Auto-enrolment and Protection Benefits – Take Care

     

    Special issue: Revised auto-enrolment staging dates published

     

    Note two: NESTWatch

     

    Note one: 2012: an overview

     

    View the Staging Timetable

    Read more
    High Earners & Contributors: Survival Guide
    10 September 2012
    Update: September 2012
     
    We are now producing additional survival guides on some of the more technical aspects of the new taxation regime. If you would like to see any of these notes, please contact Sarah Tolson for a copy.

    14: Multiple Normal Pension Ages and the annual allowance
    13: Scheme pays in the year of retirement
    12: How deferred members may be caught by the annual allowance charge
    11: Using pension benefits to pay the annual allowance charge: scheme pays in practice
    10: HMRC provides further detail on fixed protection
    9: HMRC revises its interpretation of the carry-forward rules
     
    Further notes will cover topics such as on the ‘carve-out’ from the annual allowance for deferred members, the valuation of benefits for the purpose of the annual allowance and the new ‘scheme pays’ provisions.
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    In the 2009 Budget, the Government announced fundamental changes to the way that pensions will be taxed from 2011 for high earners and introduced immediate measures designed to prevent individuals increasing their pension savings in anticipation of these changes.

    These changes will affect not just high earning individuals but also companies, trustees and pensions managers. At the Punter Southall Group, we can draw on a range of expertise to enable us to provide advice to all of these parties. We can ensure that:
    • companies have the right remuneration strategy in place for their key staff;
    • individuals make the right decisions on their pension based on their circumstances; and
    • trustees can implement the new information and administration requirements effectively.
    We are now launching our “High Earners & Contributors: Survival Guide”. Through a series of straightforward and focused briefing notes, we will help you to develop an understanding of the changes ahead and keep you up to date with developments as they occur.
     
    Note 6: What do the annual allowance changes mean for pension schemes?
     
    Note 5: More detail on the tax changes emerges
     
    Note 4: Annual allowance approach confirmed  
     
    Note 3: HM Treasury consults on alternative approach  
     
    Note 2: Annual allowance: an alternative universe 
     
    Note 1: High earners: five key tax changes – will you be ready?
     

     

    Read more
    DC Pensions Bulletin - April 2012
    30 April 2012
    In this issue
    • Auto-Enrolment Update
    • Other recent developments
    • The Pensions Regulator Focus
    • Window on the world: News from our International team
    • International Mobility
    • European developments
    • Publications round-up
    • Dates for your diary

    Download a copy


    Read more
    2012 Punter Southall DC survey
    1 February 2012
    Click here to request your copy
     

    The ten key findings of our new Survey, ‘The impact of auto-enrolment’, are summarised below:
    • Almost three quarters of companies intend to undertake a pension review (page 4)
    • Just 5% intend to engage with NEST (page 5)
    • Fewer than half knew their correct staging date (page 6)
    • 55% intending to maintain their current contribution structure do not have a sufficient minimum contribution level (page 6)
    • Employers considering offering alternatives to pension saving has dropped from 11% to just 3% (page 12)
    • 59% of employers with commission-based pension schemes are unaware of the impact of the RDR (page 13)
    • 70% of employers do not get asked questions about the performance of the funds their pension scheme members are investing in (page 16)
    • 44% believe the majority of their employees do not understand investment fund names (page 16)
    • A quarter of companies are willing to pay for improved pension communications (page 20)
    • 62% of companies do not review their pension scheme on an annual basis (page 21)
     
    Read more
    Expectations around DC governance
    23 November 2011
    The Pensions Regulator (the Regulator) has recently published a statement aimed at trustees of defined contribution (DC) schemes clarifying the behaviours expected from trustees in order to achieve good member outcomes. Over the coming months, the Regulator aims to publish a series of statements and tools to help define the criteria for a ‘good’ pension scheme.

    View the briefing note


    Read more
    Pensions bulletin - October 2011
    13 October 2011
    In this issue
     
    • Back to work for the Pensions Minister
    • Back to work: speed read
    • Behind the scenes
    • Other recent developments
    • Publications round-up
    • Dates for your diary
     
    Download a copy


    Read more
    Pensions bulletin - July 2011
    1 July 2011
    In this issue:
     
    • Policy focus: one year on from the Coalition’s first Budget
    •  Policy focus: speed read
    •  Behind the scenes
    •  Other recent developments
    •  Publications round-up
    •  Dates for your diary
     
    Download a copy 
     
    Read more
    Visit the Industry Insights page for news and views on the latest industry developments
 

 Events

 
    Dealing with the Challenges of Pensions Taxation
    11 June 2013
    Read more
    Auto-enrolment: Your Practical Guide
    11 June 2013
    Read more
    2013 Pensions Conference
    10 October 2013
    A Conference for Trustees, Finance Directors and Pension Managers
    Read more
    Auto-enrolment Workshop for HR and Payroll
    24 October 2013
    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
    Neil Latham
    Principal
    Email Neil
    Or call us on
    020 3327 5000
 

 DC Survey 2012

 
Now available! For more information and to request a copy: