Skip to main content
CLOSE

Charities

Close

Corporate and Commercial

Close

Employment and Immigration

Close

Fraud and Investigations

Close

Individuals

Close

Litigation

Close

Planning, Infrastructure and Regeneration

Close

Public Law

Close

Real Estate

Close

Restructuring and Insolvency

Close

Energy

Close

Entrepreneurs

Close

Private Wealth

Close

Real Estate

Close

Tech and Innovation

Close

Transport and Infrastructure

Close
Home / News and Insights / Blogs / Pensions / 63: Annual value for member assessments from 1 October 2021

From 1 October 2021, the Occupational Pension Schemes (Administration, Investment, Charges and Governance) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 introduce a requirement for trustees and managers of most trust-based DC schemes with assets of less than £100 million to publish a detailed annual assessment of value for members.  This must take account of accompanying DWP statutory guidance that can be found here.

Key points to note include:

  • the requirement to assess and report on value for members will apply to schemes with total assets of under £100 million which have been operating for three or more years. For hybrid schemes with both DB and DC benefits, the £100 million threshold will apply to the combined assets. Schemes that hold only AVCs and SSAS’s and executive pension schemes are exempt;
  • the assessment must be published for the first scheme year ending after 31 December 2021, and then annually. It must be included in the annual chair’s statement, published on a publicly accessible website, and reported to the Pension Regulator via annual returns;
  • there is no precise definition of ‘value for members’, but the statutory guidance sets out details of three factors which must be taken into account: costs and charges; net investment returns; and administration and governance;
  • investment returns and costs and charges must be assessed by comparison with three other schemes. Trustees must have a clear rationale for the schemes chosen as comparators and should include a scheme different in structure to their own wherever possible. The expectation is they will have more than £100 million of DC assets. Trustees must also have discussions with at least one of their comparator schemes about a transfer of members’ rights should their scheme be wound up. This is likely to mean obtaining at least indicative terms, albeit a transfer may not ultimately be possible;
  • the default arrangement in the comparator need not be identical, while self-select funds must be compared with the nearest comparable fund. If the scheme has a legacy fund (eg with profits) it should be compared to the comparator’s default arrangement, where there is no direct comparison;
  • investment returns, net of all costs and charges, should be evaluated over the longer term, going back at least five years, or longer where possible. If, after giving greater weight to default arrangements, the cost and charges and net investment returns are comparable or favourable to the comparators, then it is reasonable to assume the pension scheme represents good value for money. Higher costs and charges may still be good value if accompanied by higher investment returns;
  • administration and governance must be assessed against seven factors set out in the guidance: promptness and accuracy of core financial transactions; quality of record-keeping; appropriateness of default investment strategies; quality of investment governance; level of trustee knowledge, understanding and skills; quality of communication with members; and effectiveness of management of conflicts of interest; and
  • if the assessment concludes that the scheme does not provide value for members, trustees must say whether they are going to wind up and consolidate in a larger scheme.  If not, they must state the reasons why, and the improvements proposed to ensure the scheme does provide good value for members within a reasonable period, likely within the next 12 months.

Comment

The value for members assessment builds on the government’s drive to tackle underperformance and inadequate governance, and to accelerate consolidation in order to achieve better value for DC members.

Trustees and managers of relevant schemes are advised to begin considering how to collate the financial details necessary to calculate and report on value for members. There may be difficulties in obtaining investment data and a possible capacity crunch as advisers and larger comparator schemes (such as master trusts) adjust to these requirements.

For schemes considering winding up and consolidation, the guidance makes clear that the associated costs should not be taken into account in assessing value but should not be a barrier in the event that winding up is in the best interests of members.

The route to winding up can be time consuming but the appropriate advisers and careful advanced planning will go a long way to ensuring it proceeds in the most direct and cost efficient way. Our experienced pensions team can help.

Related Articles

Our Offices

London
One Bartholomew Close
London
EC1A 7BL

Cambridge
50/60 Station Road
Cambridge
CB1 2JH

Reading
The Anchorage, 34 Bridge Street
Reading RG1 2LU

Southampton
Grosvenor House, Grosvenor Square
Southampton SO15 2BE

 

Reading
The Anchorage, 34 Bridge Street
Reading RG1 2LU

Southampton
Grosvenor House, Grosvenor Square
Southampton SO15 2BE

  • Lexcel
  • CYBER ESSENTIALS PLUS

© BDB Pitmans 2024. One Bartholomew Close, London EC1A 7BL - T +44 (0)345 222 9222

Our Services

Charities chevron
Corporate and Commercial chevron
Employment and Immigration chevron
Fraud and Investigations chevron
Individuals chevron
Litigation chevron
Planning, Infrastructure and Regeneration chevron
Public Law chevron
Real Estate chevron
Restructuring and Insolvency chevron

Sectors and Groups

Private Wealth chevron
Real Estate chevron
Transport and Infrastructure chevron