Pensions

Pensions actuaries advise trustees and companies on the management of their pension schemes.
Pensions actuaries work with other specialists, such as pensions lawyers and administrators, to help different pension schemes meet the needs of trustees, employers, and scheme members. Pension schemes are affected by the investment market and changing legislation and regulation. Actuaries provide specialist advice on:

  • scheme funding: the funds needed to be held in respect of scheme benefits now as well as the funds needed to be paid in the future
  • investment: strategies for selecting the most suitable assets for the funds held in the scheme
  • scheme design: the level and form of benefits to be provided to the members
  • accounting for pensions: determining the impact the pension scheme has on the company’s accounts
  • managing risk: strategies for managing and mitigating the risks associated with providing pension benefits, affecting the trustees, company, and members
  • corporate transactions: advising on the pensions aspects of sales or mergers which can have a significant impact
  • individual benefits: advising trustees, companies, and often individual members on complicated options relating to individuals’ pension benefits

Research working parties

Explore all the IFoA’s active pension research working parties.

IFoA communities

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Pension Board

The Pensions Board is a senior, member-led committee of volunteer actuaries. It advises the IFoA on important pensions issues and is a source of expertise within the profession on matters relating to the pensions practice area. It supports and promotes the interests of practice area members in accordance with the profession’s strategic objectives.

The board operates within a terms of reference and supports the IFoA’s Council in the delivery of our strategy.

Further information for volunteers, including tips on how to chair a meeting, can be found in our Volunteer Information Pack.

Membership for the Pensions Board is drawn from a broad cross-section of the pensions community to ensure full coverage of all pensions-related issues. Its current members are:

  • Debra Webb (Chair)
  • Glyn Bradley (Deputy Chair)
  • Jane Biggerstaff
  • Simon Bramwell
  • Gemma Cayton (Lifelong Learning)
  • John Dunn
  • Mahima Gupta
  • Donna Matteucci (Research)
  • Iain McLellan
  • Mark Shaw
  • Qamar Shazad
  • Malcolm Slee (Council Representative)

Join a practice board or sub-committee

For all volunteer opportunities arising for the practice boards and their sub-committees, check our volunteer vacancies.
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Specialist sub-committees

The Pensions Board is supported by the: 

  • Pensions Life Long Learning Sub-committee: supports members, in the UK and overseas, and promotes high standards of actuarial practice in pensions
  • Pensions Consultations Sub-committee: works with the Public Affairs Directorate on responses to external consultations relating to pensions
  • Pensions Research Sub-committee: stimulates and provides a focal point for knowledge development, particularly research

The Pensions Lifelong Learning Sub-committee develops and builds the pensions CPD programme and manages forward event planning. It also works with the Education Board on developments in the practice area that impact on the examinations syllabus and education needs of members.

Objectives

The sub-committee’s key objectives are to:

  • drive CPD content provision to take account of the changing pensions environment, taking into account feedback from members and responding to feedback with innovative CPD content
  • plan and develop the annual residential pensions conference, including determining the theme and appropriate content of the conference
  • work with the Education Board, via the education actuary, on developments in the pensions area that impact the examinations’ syllabus and education needs of members

The third objective includes regular reviews of the syllabus and core reading in accordance with the annual timetable, and writing and maintaining core reading material as required.

Membership

Membership is drawn from a broad cross-section of the pensions community.

  • Gemma Cayton (Chair)
  • Ruairi Campbell
  • Helen Draper
  • David Owens

Terms of reference

The sub-committee operates within a terms of reference (38.8 KB PDF). It supports the IFoA’s Council in the delivery of its corporate strategy.

The Pensions Consultations Sub-committee helps to ensure that regulation relating to pensions is current and that appropriate guidance is available to members.

The sub-committee:

  • responds to relevant consultations in accordance with the IFoA’s consultations process
  • raises awareness on issues of importance
  • provides information and assistance notes (IANs) and non-mandatory resource material (including questions and answers, scenarios, case studies, and information bulletins) to provide guidance to members

Membership

Membership is drawn from a spectrum of senior actuaries with experience in addressing policy issues, and in maintaining standards.

  • Jane Biggerstaff (Chair)
  • Robert Chestnutt
  • Philip Coomber
  • Alan Finch
  • Rowan Harris
  • Graham Mobbs
  • Debbie Webb

Terms of reference

The sub-committee operates within a terms of reference (187 KB PDF). It supports the IFoA’s Council in the delivery of its corporate strategy.

The Pensions Research Sub-committee identifies, promotes, and fosters research opportunities in the pensions practice area.

Objectives

The sub-committee’s key objective is to explore new areas of research to enhance pensions actuarial knowledge. That includes taking into consideration potential cross-practice opportunities and working with fellow committees to provide outputs from research to enhance membership knowledge.

The sub-committee oversees all research in the practice area. See the current pensions research working parties.

Membership

Membership is drawn from a broad cross-section of the pensions community to ensure full coverage of all research-related issues.

  • Donna Matteucci (Chair)
  • Kelly Hurren (Deputy Chair)
  • Keith Gourlay
  • Clare Hobro
  • Yushuo Liu
  • Alison Pollock
  • Mark Tinsley

Terms of reference

The sub-committee operates within a terms of reference (202 KB PDF). It supports the IFoA’s Council in the delivery of its corporate strategy.

Contact us

Contact us

For more information about any of our practice areas, please email the Communities Engagement Team

Email the team