Government change to workplace pension system could benefit millions

Last year, over £130 billion was saved into workplace pension schemes

Over 90% of workplace pension savers are invested in their scheme’s default strategy (PA Wire)

A change to the system for workplace pension schemes could improve transparency and ultimately lead to better value for savers, according to the Government and regulators.

A traffic light-style rating system could improve transparency, they said.

The plans aim to reduce the number of savers sitting in poor-value pensions and schemes would be publicly rated red, amber or green, once the framework is finalised.

Competitive pressures should help to drive up standards and over time, regulators expect to see less of a gap between worse-performing schemes and the market average.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and the Pensions Regulator (TPR) aim to put the joint framework in place for workplace defined contribution (DC) schemes.

This would be used by pension providers and those making decisions on behalf of savers to provide greater transparency over how schemes are performing.

Under the plans, schemes will be compared on public metrics that demonstrate value – not just costs and charges, but also investment performance, and service quality.

Poorly-performing schemes will be required to improve or ultimately protect savers by transferring them to better schemes. This should lead to better value pensions, without savers themselves having to take action, those behind the plans said.

The proposals will also support the FCA’s objectives around growth and competitiveness. Focusing on value rather than costs will enable providers to invest in assets which could deliver greater long-term returns but may have higher management costs, such as infrastructure or venture capital.

Sarah Pritchard, executive director of markets and international at the FCA, said: “Sixteen million people save for their retirement into defined contribution pension schemes. We’re working with the Government and the Pensions Regulator to help them get better returns.

“We want to see a focus on long-term value, not just costs and charges. Given the impact these changes could have we are consulting now to ensure that the pension system can be ready to go when the legislative changes that need to happen are ready.”

Minister for Pensions Emma Reynolds said: “Last year, over £130 billion was saved into workplace pension schemes – money which we want to see working hard for future pensioners to give them better retirement incomes.

“Our Pension Bill and Pensions Review will make pensions fit for the future, and having an effective Value for Money framework will lay the foundations for this.

“I would encourage responses from across the industry, including trust-based schemes, to this consultation.”

Nausicaa Delfas, chief executive of the Pensions Regulator, said: “We want every pension saver to get value for money from their pensions.

“That means good investment returns, and high-quality services, for a competitive price.

“This is a great opportunity for the pensions industry to help to transform pension saving for millions, and to deliver greater value for their retirement.”

A new traffic light-style rating system for workplace pension schemes could improve transparency over their performance (Rui Vieira/PA Wire)

The FCA is seeking feedback by October 17 on the framework for pension schemes it regulates.

Its consultation document said: “We are clear that value for money is not only about a focus on costs and charges – the cheapest schemes to run will not necessarily deliver the best performance in the long term for consumers.

“Other factors are relevant including the quality of services provided, investment performance and customer experience.”

The document also said that over 90% of workplace pension savers are invested in their scheme’s default strategy.

It added: “While many employers want to support the long-term wellbeing of their employees, they don’t have a direct financial interest and switching a scheme is costly.”

The framework will fit within the existing consumer duty on financial firms to put customers at the heart of what they do. Under existing rules, firms have an obligation under the duty to consider the value of the pension products they offer.

The Government has recently announced its intention to legislate so that the framework can also apply to schemes regulated by TPR, and feedback is also invited in relation to these schemes. Responses will be shared with the Government and TPR.

Pensions dashboards are also in development, which will eventually help people to see all their pension pots in one place online.

Laura Myers, head of DC pensions at consultancy LCP (Lane Clark & Peacock) said: “These are radical proposals which will shake up the workplace pension market.

“But it is vital that the Government’s drive towards bigger and bigger pension schemes does not ignore the value which is provided to members by many high quality smaller and medium-sized schemes. The priority must always be the best outcomes for scheme members and not simply size for size’s sake.”

Patrick Heath-Lay, chief executive of People’s Partnership, provider of the People’s Pension, said: “We expect that this reform package will rightly move conversations from cost to value and seek to drive better outcomes for savers across the workplace pension market. We expect that there will be market and regulatory consequences for schemes that don’t measure up.

“We believe this framework should be expanded to include non-workplace pensions as soon as possible and be a feature of commercial dashboards at launch, so that savers can easily compare pensions across the whole market.”