Helping members run their schemes – September update

The cost of living crisis is the number one issue for people, businesses and politicians – and pension schemes are no exception. My most recent conversations with PLSA members suggest that some of you are just starting to see the very first indications of your members adjusting their behaviour.

It’s vital for the PLSA – as your trade body – to develop a proper understanding of all this. Are people reducing their pension contributions? Or opting out? Or even transferring out of DB to get their hands on extra cash? Or just thinking and asking about any of these options?

We are running a member survey to delve into these issues and we’ve already had a good number of responses. Thank you if you’ve already responded; it will inform our Policy team’s conversations with the new Government. Take part in the survey to get involved, deadline is 19 September.

We can expect plenty of debate about all this at our Annual Conference in Liverpool (12-13 October). We’ll open with our Chair, Emma Douglas, addressing the cost of living issue directly, alongside the longer-term question of making sure people can retire on decent pensions. These issues will also be central to the ‘Pensions Panel’ session that journalist Fiona Bruce will chair for us.

I am looking forward to seeing plenty of our members in Liverpool. Do register if you haven’t. And as ever, do please contact me if you have questions about any aspect of our member services at [email protected].