Administrating pension schemes, trusts and funds is a specialist area that requires up-to-date knowledge. This is particularly pertinent with the new employer responsibilities in relation to auto enrolment. On this page you can access a range of articles, books and online resources providing quick links to guidance, reports and useful organisations.
See also:
Online books, guides and publications
eBooks
The library provides full text access to a selection of key business and reference eBooks from leading publishers.
The Pension Trustee's Investment Guide
Ellison, Robin; Jolly, Adam (Thorogood, 2008)
‘Far too many pension trustees - even in large funds - have an inadequate understanding of investment and financial markets. This book - tailored specifically for pension fund trustees - fills an important knowledge gap. Designed as a practical, easy-to-follow guide to the new financial environment in which pension trustees are learning to operate, it provides you with a set of working definitions, and the financial techniques and tools needed in order to improve returns and safeguard risks. It summarises the latest thinking and techniques in traditional assets, such as equities, bonds, property and cash, and examines the potential for investing in less conventional asset classes, such as hedge funds, private equity and commodities, where both rewards and risks can be high.
You will need to be logged-in to the website to read these eBooks.
Briefings
Directors' Briefings and Start-Up Briefings are four-page guides written for the busy practitioner, director and entrepreneur providing concise, practical advice on core business issues.
Disclaimer: These publications from BHP Information Solutions Limited are for general guidance only, for businesses in the United Kingdom governed by the laws of England. BHP Information Solutions Limited, expert contributors and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (as distributor) disclaim all liability for any errors or omissions.
Online articles
The library provides access to a range of articles in full text from leading business, finance and management journals.
You will need to be logged-in to the website to gain full access to the range of articles available online.
Small Business Update
Small Business Update is a monthly magazine for SMEs with articles covering the latest regulatory developments, practical advice and hot topics.
Useful links
Organisations
Association of Pension Lawyers
A non-profit association 'established and run by lawyers specialising in pensions in the UK'. The site includes a useful collection of full text articles, links and guidance notes amongst other resources.
Department for Work and Pensions
Official website of the government department with responsibility for pensions. The site includes:
FSA pensions publications
Regulator for the financial services sector. The website includes publications, reports and guidance from the FSA on pensions.
Government Actuary's Department (GAD)
Government department that provides actuarial advice to the government to enable it to make pensions policy. The site includes the details of the Pension Scheme Surveys conducted between the 1950s and 2006, which are now carried out by the Office for National Statistics.
International Network of Pensions Regulators and Supervisors
International body of Pensions Regulators. A useful feature of the site are country-by-country reports on pensions, links to pensions regulatory bodies across the world and international pensions news.
National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF)
Official body representing the interests of the occupational pension's movement. The site includes news releases and a collection of policy papers.
The Pensions Advisory Service (TPAS)
An independent non-profit organisation that has provided information and guidance on pensions since 1983. In addition to a wide range of news, guidance and FAQs, the site provides a useful overview of pensions leaflets and publications from a range of official bodies.
Pensions Commission
Archived website of the commission established in 2002 to review the UK private pension system. The commission was disbanded when the review was completed. The Commission's final report in April 2006, Implementing an integrated package of pension reforms: The Final Report of the Pensions Commission, (widely referred to as the Turner Report) is available through the archived website.
Pensions Force
A free and independent service launched by the NAPF in 2006 to help raise awareness amongst employees of the need to plan for retirement. Pensions Force is provided through volunteers who deliver group presentations to employees during working hours.
Pensions Institute
Research centre based at Cass Business School that offers a virtual library of reference sources, an archive of abstracts and full text discussion papers, news and a collection of full text articles/reports. The site also includes the full text of a number of pensions-themed articles from Accountancy magazine.
Pensions Management Institute (PMI)
Professional body for pensions professionals, with information about the body, membership and qualifications. The site is packed with features, which includes an archive of their monthly publication PMI News, a downloadable model administration agreement and the full text of Pensions Terminology (a glossary of pension terms produced in conjunction with the Pensions Research Accountants Group).
Pensions Ombudsman
Ombudsman who ‘investigates and decides complaints and disputes about the way that pension schemes are run’. The site includes a guide to procedures and hearings, with an archive of determinations issued from 1 April 2001 onwards.
Pensions Policy Institute
Website of the body described as an ‘educational charity set up to promote, on a non-political basis, the study of pensions and other retirement provision’. The site includes reports on the changing pensions landscape and the regularly updated publications:
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Pensions Primer
A description of the UK pension system
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Pensions Facts
Collection of tables for frequently requested statistics on pensions in the UK
Pensions Protection Fund
Established under the provisions of the Pensions Act 2004 to pay compensation to members of eligible pension schemes in the event of insolvency.
Pensions Regulator
Regulator of work-based pension schemes in the UK created under the Pensions Act 2004. The website features an extensive document library which includes:
Pensions Research Accountants Group (PRAG)
Independent research and discussion group, which was recognised by the Accounting Standards Board as the appropriate organisation to issue Statements of Recommended Practice (SORPs) for pension schemes in 1996. The site provides information on the SORP, current research projects, news, a history of the organisation and a catalogue of PRAG publications.
Society of Pension Consultants (SPC)
Professional body representing providers of pensions advice and services. The site includes information about the organisation and a monthly news summary.
Trustee Toolkit
A website developed by the Pensions Regulator to help trustees meet the requirements for trustee knowledge and understanding, introduced by the Pensions Act 2004.
Publications
The new pension rules (TAXline Tax Practice 26) (pdf 373kb/24 pages)
Guidance published in July 2011 by the ICAEW Tax Faculty which looks at the new tax rules for payments into pension schemes, describes the changes and their implications and provides practical examples and tips for tax advisers and their clients.
Accounting for Pensions Survey
Full text of the survey for the current year from Lane, Clark & Peacock alongside an archive of previous surveys.
Report by the Financial Reporting Review Panel on the result of its review into defined benefit disclosures by companies under both IFRS and UK GAAP (PDF 233KB/17 pages)
Report published on 2 August 2006 and announced in the press release Financial Reporting Review Panel publishes Review of Pensions Disclosures under IFRS and UK GAAP (PN96). The review evaluated the completeness and clarity of disclosures on pensions obligations under IAS19 and FRS17 by comparing the disclosures of 20 listed groups using IAS19 to 10 large private companies using FRS17.
International Actuarial Standards of Practice
Full text of the standards, available from the International Actuarial Association.
Journal of Pension Economics and Finance (JPEF)
Published by Cambridge University Press in association with the International Network of Pension Regulators and Supervisors. The site includes abstracts of previous editions.
Pension Trends
Data and reports from the Office for National Statistics providing a statistical backdrop for the debate on pensions. It looks at both economic and social factors that influence changes in pension provision and pension income over time.
Pensions World
Online edition of the monthly magazine for pensions. The website includes selected features from the print edition and news stories.
Registered Pension Schemes Manual
Full text of the Registered Pension Schemes Manual (RPSM) from HMRC, which is the guide to registered pension schemes. The manual explains the legislation for the simplified tax regime and provides information for scheme members, scheme administrators and employers.
Small Business Update
A selection of articles on pensions aimed at small businesses from Small Business Update magazine
Survey of pension financial risk: 2008
Annual survey on managing pension risk from Mercer and the Association of Corporate Treasurers. The full report is available to download in PDF format and summarises the responses received, mainly from FTSE 350 organisations, including a section on changes made to mortality assumptions.
Trustee board structure, performance and remuneration survey
Annual survey conducted by Mercer addressing key issues of trusteeship. The key findings are available on the website with an option to request a copy of the survey in PDF format.
Other resources
The Actuarial Profession: Pensions
Dedicated pensions section includes guidance notes, consultation responses, newsletters and other documents.
ASB Research Project: The Financial Reporting of Pensions
Information on the research project into the financial reporting of pensions, including the consultation papers and guide published in January 2008.
Incomes Data Services: Pensions
Includes selected news and articles from IDS Pensions Bulletin, a contents listing for their annual volume Pensions in Practice, year-by-year lists of cases reported in IDS Pensions Law Reports since 1999 and information on its occasional research reports.
Model Administration Agreement
Model agreement between a pension scheme's trustees and those providing administration services provided by the Pensions Management Institute (PMI).
Pensions Archive Trust
Body established to archive material relating to the ‘management and development of occupational and personal pensions, in the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands’.
Pensions Investment Research Consultants (PIRC)
Independent research and advisory consultancy.
Pension Schemes
Dedicated section of the HMRC website, which includes its pensions updates, guidance and related information.
Pensionsurveys.com
A useful website which provides one stop access to surveys, research and reports for the pensions sector. The database of pensions survey summaries can be browsed by date, country, subject or publisher.
See also
ICAEW technical updates for employers, trustees and auditors
Articles and books in the Library collection
To find out how you can borrow books from the Library please see our guide to book loans.
You can obtain copies of articles or extracts of books and reports by post, fax or email through our document delivery service.
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