Problems that arise
Increased costs coupled with poor service are putting a significant number of relationships at risk between clients and their advisers
News Cast
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Erste Bank closes second-pillar pensions business in Hungary
Bank says recent regulatory changes made profitable operations 'impossible'.
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Q&A with EIOPA chairman Gabriel Bernardino
IPE speaks with chairman about revisions to IORP directive, White Paper on pensions.
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Wednesday people roundup
ING IM, PIMCO, Janus Capital, LCP, Société Générale, City Financial
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UK roundup: Wedgwood Museum, Rothesay Life, Prudential Retirement
Minister rules out changes to pensions legislation to prevent fire sale at museum.
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Mandate roundup: Clwyd, Essex, Stafford Timberland
Welsh local authority pension scheme to invest in frontier markets with £7m mandate.
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Institutionals willing to invest in hedge funds, but concerns remain
Investors increasingly worried about ability to meet performance targets, says SEI.
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Second German pension fund thinking to apply responsible investment charter
North Rhine-Westphalia scheme awaiting review of UN's SRI principles.
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Dutch regulator confirms more than 100 pension funds facing discounts
More than 30 pension schemes thinking to make maximum 7% discount, DNB says.
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Chief risk officer at ING Investment Management to step down in April
Asset manager makes number of senior hires at offices in Europe, Asia.
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Towers Watson wins delegated CIO mandate from Jaguar pension fund
Consultancy has fiduciary mandate for £4.1bn of Jaguar Land Rover's DB assets.
Pension administration, record keeping and compliance are causing companies and trustees major concerns with scheme administrators experiencing high levels of staff turnover, no client ownership in this important area and a recent trend has seen some administration providers endeavouring to provide services through centres located outside of Ireland.
Many pension and benefits consulting firms are now charging significant amounts for all services and the costs of managing a company's pension scheme or benefits programme can become prohibitively expensive with little or no apparent return on this investment.
In addition, some service providers are not stepping up to the mark and providing the levels of service required in an increasingly complex and more regulated environment.
Research has also shown that lack of proactive and imaginative advice, conflicts of interest and client activity have led to companies and trustees seeking to change their advisers.
However, one of the biggest challenges to be faced by such companies is the move from the frying pan to the fire.
