Fund manager fees for mandates are falling as trustees hurt by poor performance put a greater focus on value for money.

Lawyers have identified a clause in the Pensions Act that could lead to uncertainty during funding negotiations and an increase in litigation.

The government has been accused of continued timewasting in providing help to those affected by the Equitable Life collapse.

Baring Asset Management’s dynamic asset allocation fund has reached more than £1bn in value as pension funds seek less volatile investments to appease sponsors.

Litigation funding could prove to be a recession-proof asset class, according to US financial services company Juridica.

The administration for personal accounts may be run by a company based in North America or Europe.

Cardano UK, the independent solvency management firm, has taken on 20% of the assets of the £1bn Asda Group pension scheme.

The Leyland DAF pension scheme has offloaded its liabilities to Pension Insurance Corporation in a £230m buyout deal.

Influential figures are calling on the government to compel pension schemes to put a responsible investment clause into their statements of investment principles.

The total deficit of the UK’s final salary pension schemes soared to £194.5bn last year, according to the Pension Protection Fund (PPF).

Investment Solutions has launched a monthly index to help small pension schemes lock in investment gains.

Pension schemes are eager to reduce hedge fund and fund-of-hedge fund fees, according to research from Bfinance, the independent consulting firm.

Tony Hobman has been a mainstay of pensions regulation and protection for scheme members throughout the many changes the industry has experienced, and is keen to push for further improvements as DB moves to DC. He talks to Tom Willetts

Demographic projections are notoriously difficult to get right. The Beijing Olympic organisers had to draft in volunteer spectators because their projections overestimated crowd size. Prisoner populations in the UK worried the former home secretary John Reid enough to consider recommissioning prison ships. Population projections have to be constantly updated to reflect changes in fertility, mortality and immigration.

History will undoubtedly judge that the financial meltdown of 2007-2009 could and should have been avoided if only better tools were used, finer judgments made and greater care taken. Perhaps that damning assessment is inevitable given the benefit of hindsight, but there is more than a grain of truth in it nonetheless.

While voting disclosure is slowly being embraced in certain corners, the Companies Act 2006 should be employed to rally those who are still dragging their heels, suggests Tom Powdrill

Marketing pensions in this dire economic market can’t be much fun at the moment, so it’s no surprise to hear that marketing executives like Shelagh are seeking solace in outside interests.

The process to determine whether a final salary pension scheme is eligible for compensation from the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) begins on the day the sponsoring employer becomes insolvent. On this date the scheme enters the assessment period of the PPF, which typically lasts 12-24 months.

Law firm Osborne Clarke has promoted Paul Matthews to head of its employment and pensions practice group.

Henderson Global Investors has snapped up a five-strong currency team from the investment banking arm of Fortis.

Chartered accountant Hays Macintyre has hired Brendan O’Connor as a senior pensions audit manager to strengthen its business.

Anthony Hodges Consulting (AHC), pension communications specialists, has named Linda Painter as principal consultant to strengthen the business.