The weather has been bitingly cold and the days often grey but there has been no winter lethargy this January! The first three episodes of the second series of The Professional Investment Podcast examined the impact of accelerating climate change and the implications of consolidation in both DC and DB pensions. Event season was off to a flying start when voice-coach Sylvia Cohen and I delivered a session to help investment professionals master the spotlight. I also moderated a panel discussion of the investment realities for pension schemes at SG Pensions Enterprises private markets day. And I finished up the month with my latest sustainable networking event where we examined the impact of consolidation in the LGPS and DC schemes’ ability to invest sustainably. The next event is on Tuesday, 25th March so get in touch if you would like to come.
Investors and accelerating climate change
In the first episode of the second series of The Professional Investment Podcast, Keith Guthrie, head of sustainability at Cardano and now:pensions, discusses the implications of accelerating climate change for pensions schemes. The wildfires in Los Angeles show the economic ramifications of climate change are now starting to be felt with the catastrophe losses rising by 30% in 2024. We talk about what steps investors should be taking to manage risks, adjust allocations and be better stewards.
Should pensions focus more on investment or consolidation?
In this episode of The Professional Investment Podcast, Jo Sharples, CIO of DC solutions Aon, talks to me about the best way to consolidate the UK’s defined contribution pensions. We discuss the implications for master trusts and GPPs and the complexities involved. We ask if there is too much focus on consolidation − the purpose of a pension is to provide the best possible retirement for scheme members and investment is the key to creating future wealth. Do give the YouTube video a watch – there is a wonderful moment where we almost recreate the infamous BBC interview with Robert Kelly where his children enter the room unknown to him!
The impact of bond market volatility on DB consolidation
In the latest episode of The Professional Investment Podcast Simon True, CEO of Clara-Pensions talks to me about ongoing bond market volatility and its implications for closed defined benefit pension consolidation. Our conversation covered the impact of the LDI crisis on Clara’s consolidation pipeline, how they have adapted their strategy in more volatile market conditions. We also discussed how their investment strategy is evolving as the assets under management grow.
Mastering the spotlight
2025 event season is off to a flying start! Thirty people turned up to the mastering the spotlight event Sylvia Cohen and I ran this month. It was a fun evening filled with practical tips and lots of laughter! We had a great audience embracing Sylvia’s voice and body language exercises with gusto and keeping me on my toes with great questions about how to message and communicate more effectively. Let me know would like us to run another event like this. Get in touch if you would like to know more about how we can help you and your team master the spotlight.
The investment realities for pension schemes
Tucked away in the concrete brutality of the Barbican is the atmospheric Ironmongers’ Hall, filled with oak-panelled rooms and crenelated ceilings. It was a great venue to moderate a panel discussion on the investment realities for pension schemes for SG Pensions Enterprise. We managed to pack a lot into our session discussing how to encourage open and closed DB schemes as well as DC pots to invest in private assets. Stephen Budge, Veronica Humble, Ruston Smith and Chris Hitchen were great panellists.
What impact will consolidation have on schemes ability to invest sustainably?
It was back to the Betsey Trotwood for a packed event with almost 40 turning up to discuss the impact of consolidation on pension schemes’ ability to invest sustainably. The audience was great − full of more questions than we had time to answer and networked with gusto! An especially warm thanks to our panellists Richard J. Tomlinson, Jo Sharples, Matt Burrell and Jonny Moore, who made such a technical subject both compelling and entertaining! The next event will be on Tuesday, 25th March with invitations going out in the next few days. Get in touch if you would like to come!
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