Always a Pensions Angle

One of the pensions world's more stubborn headaches gets a proper airing - does it actually make sense to have both the FCA and TPR overseeing pensions? From there the conversation turns to a new global report and some uncomfortable questions about whether gig economy workers are being left behind on retirement saving. Oh, and two people who have clearly never considered the finer points of skeleton racing attempt to find a pensions angle from the sport. It goes about as well as you'd expect!

Welcome to the first of a special, five-part series Always a Pensions Angle is running in partnership with The Fiftyfaces Podcast. In this series, we will hear from five leading figures from across the LGPS ahead of March 31st.In this first episode, The Fiftyfaces Podcast host Aoifinn Devitt sits down with LGPS Central's Chief Client and Advisory Officer Trevor Castledine.

Fresh from the LAPF Strategic Investment Forum (and a close encounter with aggressive geese), Tom explores LGPS governance challenges and the advice accountability dilemma. Nick tackles the gender pensions gap, trustee diversity initiatives, and why politicians paying lip service to pension campaigns always comes back to bite them.

Nick reports from wet and windy Scotland (with trainee guide dog Jenny) as the duo dissect the Pension Schemes Bill's journey through the House of Lords. From LGPS forced consolidation powers to DB surplus negotiations and fiduciary duty debates - will the government's reassurances be enough? Pour a coffee and find out.

Nick and Tom shake off the Christmas cobwebs as the Pension Schemes Bill faces serious Lords scrutiny. Plus: The LGPS grapples with Fit for the Future timescales, and we talk bulk annuities.

Pour yourself some mulled wine and settle in as Nick and Tom dissect the wildest year in pensions for ages. They tackle the Pension Schemes Bill's many moving parts, explore the dramatic LGPS pooling reorganisation, and debate the merits of last-minute Christmas shopping. From mega funds to local investment mandates, value for money frameworks to defence spending controversies - it's pensions, politics, and festive cheer. What more could you want?