From buy-in to buy-out: why clearing hurdles early is essential

A buy-in is a significant milestone in a pension scheme’s journey for trustees, sponsors, and advisers. However, moving from buy-in to buy-out can be long and complex, involving multiple concurrent projects and for this reason, many stall. Professional trustees must ensure projects run to time and cost and, if not, be ready to have difficult […]

A smooth landing to wind-up

This case study looks at the way we helped this client’s pension trustees by leading pension scheme operations, looking after all day-to-day activities, effectively managing trustee priorities and ensuring the plans run smoothly.
It also looks at how our team ensures the pension trustees benefit from transparency and cost efficiency.

Micro schemes in maximum focus

At our Endgame Solutions Conference earlier this summer, one of the most insightful sessions turned the spotlight onto a part of the market often left in the shadows: micro schemes. I was pleased to chair the discussion and was joined by a panel of expert colleagues from across the industry, including Adam Davis (K3/Isio), Alma […]

Planning better journeys for buy-ins and buy-outs

Drawing on practical experience from real transactions, let’s take a look at the common pitfalls and key success factors that schemes must consider to deliver smooth, timely, and member-focused insurance transactions in the current market. Ready, set, go! At Vidett’s recent Endgame Solutions Conference at Silverstone, our third session, ‘Beyond Blame – Building Better Outcomes’, […]

The great DB debate

Despite the decision to join a master trust sitting with a pension scheme’s sponsor, the trustee’s view remains important. Pension scheme journeys are a partnership between sponsors and trustees; both wanting the best outcomes for scheme members. As responsible trustees, we need to consider which schemes the master trust approach might be right for and […]

Talking endgame: trustee insights and perspectives

As professional trustees, we bring essential skills to all defined benefit (DB) pension schemes and particularly during endgame transactions. This was a hot topic at our ‘Endgame Solutions Conference‘, where myself, Becky Wood, Ben Salmons and Mark Johnston discussed our experiences and insights, alongside the session’s chair, Joanna Carter from XPS. A busy year In […]

The bulk annuity market: a new wave

At our Endgame Solutions Conference in May, I chaired an engaging panel discussion titled ‘New insurers entering the market and future outlook’, where I was joined by: Adam Davis, Managing Director at K3 Advisory; Dweenisha Caleechurn, Pensions Director at PwC; Gurbani Swanni Leach, Director at M&G; and Gary Needham, Head of BPA Business Development at […]

Getting ‘under the bonnet’ (of the insurer decision-making process)

Understanding the insurer decision-making process and what drives their triage is crucial for trustees and sponsors to secure the best deals for buy-in and buy-out transactions. At our ‘Endgame Solutions Conference,’  I chaired a discussion on how to do this alongside fellow industry experts: Pete Jennings (Just), Adrian Somerfield (L&G), Costas Yiasoumi (formally WTW, now […]

Beyond traditional buy-outs: viewing alternatives through different lenses

Endgame continues to be one of the hottest topics in the pensions industry, with the conversation expanding beyond traditional buy-outs to a range of alternative solutions, such as the establishment of a public consolidator and a heightened focus on schemes running on indefinitely. We recently hosted our Endgame Solutions Conference, bringing together over 250 professionals […]

Is now the time for pension trustees and employers to act on scheme security?

For most defined benefit (DB) pension schemes, funding positions have never been better. This is a reason for action rather than complacency as the environment could change, certainly over the timeframes of DB schemes. Pension trustees should have a clear plan to take advantage of current positions. Setting and delivering a strategic plan is in […]

The journey to buy-in and buy-out

Watch our video explaining the typical journey a pension scheme will go through buy-in to buy-out, and eventually wind-up; something we have lots of success with, having taken many pension schemes through their end-to-end journey. If this sounds like something you’d like to hear more about, then please visit our ‘Endgame solutions’ webpage.