News

04 Jul 2014

Retirement Benefit Schemes Transfer Values: Mortality Basis Review

The Demography Committee has prepared a report and recommendations following a review of the mortality assumptions prescribed for use in calculating retirement benefit schemes transfer values. This report has been endorsed by Council and is available on the website here.


Actuarial Standard of Practice PEN-2 “Retirement Benefit Schemes transfer values” (“ASP Pen-2”) sets out the requirements relating to the calculation of individual transfer values payable under the Pensions Act 1990.

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21 Feb 2014

EIOPA issues Report on single market for personal pensions

At the request of the European Commission, the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) has issued a Report on the prudential regulations and consumer protection measures needed to create a single market for personal pensions.

EIOPA’s analysis has revealed that taxation, social law and difficulties in the area of harmonisation of contract law appear to be the most significant hurdles.

EIOPA has identified two main options for creating the single market for personal pensions.

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17 Sep 2013

CMI publishes 2013 mortality projections

The CMI has published CMI_2013, an updated version of the Mortality Projections Model.  It is accompanied by Working Paper 69, which illustrates the impact of incorporating the latest England and Wales population mortality dataset into the Model.

The Working Paper also summarises the responses to the recent consultation on the future of the Model and the CMI Library of Mortality Projections and outlines the Committee’s reaction and planned next steps.  An updated version of the User Guide has also been issued.

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23 Aug 2013

International Actuarial Association Mortality Working Group - first report

The International Actuarial Association Mortality Working Group (IAAMWG) has published its first report.

The IAAMWG is a group of volunteers who study mortality and monitor studies completed by other organisations worldwide, focusing on the impact on insurance products (including life, pension and living benefits) or on government or world organisation (such as WHO and the UN) sponsored programs.  Mortality experience studies of general populations, insured life and other population subsets are within in the scope of the MWG.

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29 May 2013

Minister Burton introduces new measures to assist Defined Benefit pension schemes meet their funding proposals

The Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton T.D., has announced a number of regulatory changes to assist defined benefit schemes as they prepare their funding proposals before the Funding Standard deadline of 30th June 2013.  The regulations will reduce the level of risk reserve that the schemes are required to

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22 Mar 2013

OECD publishes report on DC pensions

 

In its report on "Design and Delivery of Defined Contribution (DC) Pension Schemes - Policy Challenges and Recommendations", the OECD summarises the challenges policymakers face and recommends key improvements that can help to ensure DC delivers the incomes that individuals need.

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21 Mar 2013

Not shopping for an annuity could cost British retirees £237m this year

According to Association of British Insurers’ figures 50% of the 400,000 people a year who purchase an annuity do not search the market for the best deal. The consultancy’s analysis of annuity data found that, based on the difference between the average and best annuity rates available on an average £40,000 pension pot, these people would be missing out on income worth over £237m in total over a 22-year retirement.

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21 Mar 2013

Britain ‘not ready for ageing population’

Britain is ‘woefully underprepared’ for the consequences of an ageing society and could face a series of age-related crises, a House of Lords committee has warned.

The committee’s report, “Ready for ageing”, suggests that private sector employers, government and the financial services industry must work together to tackle the ‘serious deficit’ in defined contribution pensions.
It called on the government to work with the financial sector to support the growth of a ‘safe, easy-to-understand equity release market’.

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21 Mar 2013

Changes to the Continuous Mortality Investigation

The CMI, supported by the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries, has a long history of providing authoritative and independent mortality and sickness rate tables for UK life insurers and pension funds. The CMI tables have underpinned the prudential and financial reporting of almost all these institutions.

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04 Feb 2013

Groupe Consultatif publishes position paper on Pensions Portability Directive

The Groupe Consultatif has published a position paper on the draft Pensions Portability Directive which is presently under preparation in the EU. 

The objective of the paper is to set out for EU institutions and stakeholders the views of the actuarial profession on this subject.

Read the position paper

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11 Dec 2012

Institute & Faculty of Actuaries publishes Longevity Bulletin

Issue four of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries Longevity Bulletin explores the data that evidences that we are all living longer but questions how healthy we are during those extra years.

From Philip Scott, President of the Institute and Faculty:

"In the past longer life was generally driven by better health. However data collected over the last twenty years highlights that life expectancy and healthy life expectancy are not one and the same.

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