Pensions and SRI

More than a third of pension schemes considering appointing IFA – XPS. (So be informed about ESG!)

  The news that a third of  XPS pension schemes either have an IFA or are likely to be looking for one is important news for the ESG/SRI community – and I’d like to thank Mike Clark (Ario Advisory), who spoke at our event last Wednesday, for bringing the following to my attention. This, to […]

UK Government changes pension trustee duties and rules to include ESG

The article below my ‘preamble’ is reproduced with kind permission from  ‘Responsible Investor’ – published yesterday (11/9/2018). But first an introduction… Executive summary for retail professionals: In brief, the DWP has announced that they will expect pension trustees to consider ESG risks and opportunities – and specifically reference ‘climate change’ as an area they should […]

DWP pension consultation – deadline 16 July

For those wishing to respond to the current DWP Pension scheme trustee consultation, which will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the way DC schemes view SRI/ESG/Impact investment, here is the link to the current consultation: ‘Consultation on clarifying and strengthening trustees’ investment duties’. Occupational Pension Schemes (Investment and Disclosure) (Amendment) Regulations 2018 In brief, […]

ILP Moneyfacts: SRI lightbulb moment editorial

Investment Life and Pensions Moneyfacts magazine’s front page piece this month is devoted to ‘sustainable, responsible and ethical investment’. The editorial, which you can read here focuses on the shifts in regulation that have been a lightbulb moment for investors – who are increasingly recognising the importance of environmental and social issues. The article includes a […]

Pension Funds and Social Investment – final government report

This morning, 18 June 2018, the Government published its final response to the 2017 Law Commission report on pension funds and social investment. The following information was published today by UKSIF (whilst I was working on our MiFID2 response*!): “The foreword is written by Guy Opperman MP, Minister for Pensions and Financial Inclusion, and Tracey Crouch MP, Minister for […]

A taste of things to come – ILP Moneyfacts SRI article

My latest article in Investment Life and Pensions Moneyfacts looks at some of the key messages from UKSIF’s Good Money Week 2017.

It also talks through some of the very different ways investors can offer ‘good’ options for investors, the changing SRI/ESG regulatory backdrop, some thoughts on ‘impact’, the UN SDGs and the great ‘labels and taxonomies’ debate.

Pension funds & Social Investment – plus ESG, Stewardship and Ethics

Pension funds and social investment: interim (government) response  – 18 December 2017 SRI Services welcomes today’s report, which we view as taking pension schemes a step closer to being better able to meet the ‘Big 3’ (very different, but none the less important) ‘sustainable, responsible and ethical’ client/member aims, which believe are: to better reflect personal ethical values, to make sound […]

Why should DC pension schemes consider ESG and SRI (x 12!)

12 points from our response to the DWP consultation into ‘where DC schemes invest’
The following points are a boiled down version of our response to the DWP’s recent consultation on the topic of: ‘Where DC pension schemes invest’

DWP consultation: Disclosure of costs, charges and investments in DC schemes

DWP consultation: Disclosure of costs, charges and investments in DC schemes In October the Department for Work and Pensions issued the above consultation. Although focused on costs and charges this consultation is relevant to sustainable, responsible and ethical fund options as it also discusses making it easier for members to find out a bit more about where their schemes invest (both those using […]

ILP Moneyfacts SRI articles: Climate Risk and Ethical Fund Survey

  This month saw the publication of two SRI/ethical investment articles in ‘Investment Life and Pensions Moneyfacts’ magazine.  One was written by Moneyfacts editor Richard Eagling, the other by myself. See here for the ILP Moneyfacts annual ethical and SRI fund survey – Ethical Funds Survey July 2017 See here for my climate risk article (and in particular […]

Pensions & Social Investment: Law Commission review

We are delighted to welcome the Law Commission review of ‘Pensions & Social Investment’ published June 2017. This important review, whilst not fully digested yet, appears to support and even advance the view that social, as well as other related ethical and environmental considerations should form part of our pensions investment landscape and decision making. You can […]

Actuaries issued climate change Risk Alert

Actuaries sent risk warning by professional body (IFoA) regarding material risk of climate change for pension schemes and other clients.