Topics cover Better Data, Better Governance; Diversified Growth Funds; and Foreign Exchange
The Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association has launched three new Made Simple Guides on Better Data, Better Governance; Diversified Growth Funds; and Foreign Exchange − extending the popular series designed to help demystify some of the most complex and technical areas of investment and pensions management.
Commenting on the launch of the new Made Simple Guides, Graham Vidler, Director of External Affairs, Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association, said:
“Workplace pensions have seen phenomenal change in recent years. Employers and pension schemes have been working really hard to keep up, but inevitably the pace of change has put additional pressure on already stretched resources. Schemes are experiencing a higher volume of work and they are also finding the nature of their work becoming increasingly complex. This is where our Made Simple guides come in – they cut through the pensions jargon to provide straightforward explanations in plain English.
“The Made Simple series has been consistently voted a valued and popular resource for trustees and pension managers by our members, and we now have three brand new guides to add to this important toolkit.
“I would like to thank J.P. Morgan, HSBC Global Asset Management and HSBC Bank for their expertise and support in developing these guides. Without our business members’ input we would not be able to provide the range and diversity of high quality products and services pension funds value.”
BETTER DATA, BETTER GOVERNANCE MADE SIMPLE GUIDE
Rob Calder, Head of UK Pensions for Investor Services at J.P. Morgan, sponsors of the Better Data, Better Governance Made Simple Guide, commented:
“Data management and record keeping is an area which trustees must take seriously. As the volume and breadth of required data continues to increase, trustees need to have a holistic data and reporting strategy that can satisfy record keeping, regulatory, risk management and reporting requirements. As a trustee or pensions manager it’s important to understand the principles of data management and accurate record keeping. Regardless of the analytical tools and reports you use, an awareness of the data behind the scenes will help schemes to interpret the results, helping inform decisions and distinguish real issues from red herrings.”
DIVERSIFIED GROWTH FUNDS MADE SIMPLE GUIDE
Stuart White, Head of Strategy at HSBC Global Asset Management, sponsors of the Diversified Growth Funds (DFGs) Made Simple Guides, said:
"We are delighted to launch our third Made Simple Guide for the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association. This Made Simple Guide seeks to provide a clear and simple overview of DFGs to help pension scheme trustees understand what they are, how they can help pension funds and members, and offer some questions to ask when thinking about DGF investing.”
FOREIGN EXCHANGE MADE SIMPLE GUIDE
Nic A Jones, Director, Fund Solutions Sales, HSBC Bank plc, sponsors of the Foreign Exchange (FX) Made Simple Guide, commented:
“The FX market is a fast-paced, ever-changing market which for pension funds means potentially unlocking new opportunities, but also brings uncertainty as seen recently. Global influences have created unprecedented volatility, witnessed by the surprise Swiss National Bank EURCHF support removal, the threat of Grexit and geo-political challenges around the world including Britain’s referendum on Europe.
“HSBC have been closely aligned with the pensions sector through our dedicated FX Fund Solutions team and are continuing to develop specific solutions for them as they face further regulatory and performance related challenges. Our FX offering aims to encompass multiple aspects of the currency requirements of UK and global pension schemes from transactional outsourcing, with the likes of our LGPS FX Platform to currency overlay management to reduce risk.
“We are pleased to have partnered with the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association to develop this Made Simple Guide to help pension funds understand their currency exposure, and we look forward to our continuous engagement with the pensions sector for many years to come.”
PDF versions of these Made Simple Guides are available to download FREE from the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association website. Each guide (hard copy) costs £18 for members and £35 for non-members. They can be ordered online at www.plsa.co.uk.
The guides are the first to be published under the new brand, Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association, formerly known as the National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF), which was revealed last week at the Association’s Annual Conference 2015 in Manchester.
-ENDS-
NOTES TO EDITORS:
Photographs from the Made Simple Guide launch can be downloaded here.
Other recent made simple guides include topics such as Smart Beta, Private Equity and Exchange Traded Funds.
ABOUT THE PENSIONS AND LIFETIME SAVINGS ASSOCIATION
We’re the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association, the national association with a ninety-year history of helping pension professionals run better pension schemes. With the support of over 1,300 pension schemes and over 400 supporting businesses, we are the voice for pensions and lifetime savings in Westminster, Whitehall and Brussels.
Our purpose is simple: to help everyone to achieve a better income in retirement. We work to get more money into retirement savings, to get more value out of those savings and to build the confidence and understanding of savers.
ABOUT J.P. MORGAN’S CORPORATE & INVESTMENT BANK
J.P. Morgan’s Corporate & Investment Bank is a global leader across banking, markets and investor services. The world’s most important corporations, governments and institutions entrust us with their business in more than 100 countries. With $20.5 billion of assets under custody and $401 billion in deposits, the Corporate & Investment Bank provides strategic advice, raises capital, manages risk and extends liquidity in markets around the world. Further information about J.P. Morgan is available at www.jpmorgan.com.
ABOUT HSBC GLOBAL ASSET MANAGEMENT
HSBC Global Asset Management, the investment management business of the HSBC Group, invests on behalf of HSBC’s worldwide customer base of retail and private clients, intermediaries, corporates and institutions through both segregated accounts and pooled funds. HSBC Global Asset Management connects HSBC’s clients with investment opportunities around the world through an international network of offices in around 30 countries, delivering global capabilities with local market insight. As at 30 June 2015, HSBC Global Asset Management managed assets totalling US$447bn on behalf of its clients. For more information see www.global.assetmanagement.hsbc.com
ABOUT HSBC BANK
HSBC FOREIGN EXCHANGE
HSBC is one of the leading global Foreign Exchange (FX) market makers. Whether your execution needs are driven by a transactional, hedging or investment strategy, you can leverage our global footprint, local knowledge and deep expertise to gain insights and manage your exposure in a manner best aligned with your objectives.
MEDIA CONTACTS FOR THE PENSIONS AND LIFETIME SAVINGS ASSOCIATION:
Lucy Grubb, Head of Media and PR, Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association
T: 020 7601 1726, M: 07713 073 023, E: [email protected]
Eleanor Carric, PR Manager, Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association
T: 020 7601 1718, M: 07825 171 446, E: [email protected]
Kathryn Mortimer, Press Officer, Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association
T: 020 7601 1748, M: 07901 007 713, E: [email protected]