Always a Pensions Angle

By DG PublishingBusiness News Investing

Always a Pensions Angle episodes

September 28 Binary Conversations
Tom and Nick report back from the DC and Master Trust Summit, where fears are growing that value for money's traffic-light ratings could push schemes to "herd" toward a safe light-green rather than risk the fallout of amber or red. Also on the agenda: the industry's about-turn on forward-looking performance metrics, and a new LGPS case study on the gender pensions gap.
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50 min
September 14 Fixing It Before It Breaks
Tom and Nick look at TPR's shift towards "no surprises" enforcement and what early engagement really buys schemes. Also on the agenda: the government's contested £25bn DC scale test, new data on retirement housing costs, and a tale of two LGPS pools as Wales secures full FCA authorisation while Access prepares to close its doors.
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45 min
September 08 LAPF Investments Magazine Review Special
In this special edition, Tom sits down with Brian Gielty, Editor-in-Chief of LAPF Investments Magazine, to unpack the brand new Issue 10, from a career-spanning cover interview with LGPS legend Fiona Miller to deep dives on climate risk, local investment, pension committees, and the gender pensions gap.

Plus, a first look at the shortlists for the 2026 LAPF Investments Awards, taking place 30 September at the Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square, London - all available now in print or online at lapfinvestments.com.
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18 min
September 02 LGPS Interviews Special: Max Townshend
In this episode of the LGPS Interviews, we sit down with Max Townshend, Head of Investment Strategy at LPPI, to discuss how the pool has managed its recent expansion from three to nine partner funds. He shares what that growth has meant for the team day-to-day, how LPPI is rethinking its product range and investment beliefs to serve a more diverse partnership, and his views on local investment, surplus management, and how recent geopolitical shifts are reshaping the way funds think about risk and diversification.
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40 min
August 24 Endgame Drift and Investment Dilemmas
Tom and Nick look at the risks trustees may have overlooked over the summer, from DB schemes drifting without a clear endgame strategy to the growing investment implications of climate change, AI and a more fragmented geopolitical landscape. Also on the agenda: the latest LGPS debate over investment in conflict zones and the tricky question of fiduciary duty, before turning to Oxfordshire Pension Fund's backing for a new fund aimed at tackling homelessness through affordable housing.
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41 min
August 03 Plumbing the Depths of Section 75
Tom and Nick unpack a TPR enforcement report involving the Plumbing and Mechanical Services scheme, an unpaid debt, and a fined accountant. Also on the agenda: Torsten Bell's continued grip on the pensions brief, Lords criticism of the Pension Schemes Bill, and a possible new fund from Nest, Railpen and the LGPS pools aimed at scaling up UK businesses.
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33 min
July 20 What the Commission Heard
Torsten Bell drops a bumper package of regulatory roadmap updates - Tom and Nick sift through the value for money delay, guided retirement, and the pushed-back superfund timeline. The pair also discuss LGPS contribution rates, and what the Pensions Commission's call for evidence responses reveal about the industry's asks.
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44 min
July 15 LGPS Interviews Special: Mark Smith
In this episode of our LGPS Interviews series, we sit down with Mark Smith, Head of the Oxfordshire Pension Fund and newly appointed Senior LGPS Officer, to unpack what the role really involves day to day. Mark shares candid insight into governance reviews, local government reorganisation, pooling, the new independent person role, and Oxfordshire's approach to local investment.

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25 min
July 08 LGPS Interviews Special: Jennifer Devine
In this episode of the LGPS Interviews, we sit down with Jennifer Devine, head of Wiltshire Pension Fund, to discuss the fund's journey to a new pool following the Fit for the Future reforms. She shares what it was like to receive the news, how the fund set about finding a new pooling partner, and the lessons learned along the way.
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20 min
July 06 Gold Stars and Grey Areas: The New LGPS Guidance
Tom and Nick are joined by special guest Brian Gielty to dig into the newly published LGPS statutory guidance - from the Secretary of State's new intervention powers to the revamped four-tier governance ratings - plus reflections from the LAPF June conference, surplus strategy, and Faith Ward's move to LPPI
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48 min