We partner with defined contribution trustee boards to embrace innovation with confidence. By combining deep expertise and fresh thinking, we help schemes design and deliver first-class retirement offerings. Our focus is on improving member outcomes through practical solutions that strengthen governance, enhance decision-making, and support better long-term financial security in retirement.
While many defined contribution (DC) schemes are moving to a master trust, we know remaining in an own trust arrangement is the right option for many.
As an independent firm with a specialised, experienced team, we help DC trustees deliver better value for their members. This includes innovative investment advice, wider governance support, decumulation guidance and member support, communications strategies and a comprehensive provider review service.
We have a long history of helping DC schemes on their journey to deliver great value for their members, supporting trustees through a combination of practical, outcomes-focused advice and leading technology solutions.
Today’s DC scheme landscape is increasingly complex: more regulatory requirements, an evolving provider market, environmental, social and governance (ESG) and diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) considerations. And while these challenges will only increase, we believe they also bring opportunities.
Increasingly, trust-based DC schemes will be required to demonstrate that they offer good value against master trusts. We have a suite of tools, including our Hymans Expected Retirement Outcomes (HERO) modeller, which can help trustees effectively benchmark their offerings against the master trust marketplace.
Our services include:
We work with many longstanding clients, helping them go beyond simply meeting regulatory requirements towards delivering great quality and value for their members.
We don’t run our own master trust, which means we can independently review current providers and help trustees assess their arrangements against the whole market. We believe this will become increasingly important over time.
From high-level desktop reviews to detailed analysis of a wide range of providers, our knowledge and experience to add value, backed by proven results and evidence.
We support a range of projects, from helping trustees understand more about their membership from a DE&I perspective, to creating meaningful engagement strategies tailored to members.
Increasingly, trustees need to manage emerging decumulation requirements. We’ve supported many clients in this area and can help trustees decide which path is best.
We help clients explore how they can continue to develop their scheme to keep ahead of the market and stay at the leading-edge of developments. This includes advice around including private markets in investment strategies, meaningful at-retirement support for members and evolving ESG requirements.
In this episode of PITstop, Rona Train is joined by Samantha Pitt to discuss DC decumulation.
Strong governance is the foundation of every high-performing defined contribution scheme. Our approach combines market-leading technology, clear oversight, and a focus on member outcomes to deliver governance you can rely on.
Robust compliance and regulatory oversight
Advanced technology for accurate monitoring and reporting
Member-focused decision making to support better outcomes
DC trustee consulting supports trustees in managing defined contribution pension schemes effectively, ensuring compliance, strong governance, and better member outcomes. This includes advice on investment strategy, regulatory requirements, risk management, member communications, and value for money assessments. Consultants also help trustees navigate evolving legislation and implement best practice across scheme operations.
DC trustees should benchmark their scheme against master trusts by assessing key areas such as charges, investment performance, governance standards, administration quality, and member engagement. This process typically involves value for member analysis, comparing default fund performance, and reviewing service levels. Regular benchmarking helps trustees demonstrate value, meet regulatory expectations, and identify opportunities for improvement or consolidation.
DC trustees are responsible for supporting members as they access their pension savings, ensuring appropriate decumulation options are available. This includes providing clear communications on retirement choices, facilitating access to drawdown or annuity options, and ensuring pathways align with member needs. Trustees must also meet regulatory requirements around default retirement solutions and act in members’ best interests when designing decumulation strategies.
Together, we’ll explore key topics including the implications of pension policy for corporates, the challenge of improving retirement adequacy, and what DB pensions mean in today’s environment. We’ll also look at how organisations can move from strategy to action, and what may be getting in the way.
Join employers, providers, advisers and industry leaders to explore practical ways to improve retirement outcomes.
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