A once in a lifetime opportunity – managing the process to deliver better outcomes.
GMP equalisation is now a reality for trustees and sponsors of defined benefit pension plans. However, it also presents an opportunity for pension plan trustees and sponsors to proactively manage the risks and complexities within their plan and reduce the costs and improve member understanding of the benefits being delivered.
The High Court in England ruled on 26 October 2018 that all Guaranteed Minimum Pension (GMP) benefits in UK pension plans must be equalised for males and females. As a result, all pension plan trustees and sponsors must decide on the approach to adopt for equalising GMP benefits.
Whilst there are a number of different methods available to achieve GMP equalisation, one of the approaches is to convert GMP to a ‘normal’ scheme benefit, which would not only address GMP equalisation but could also simplify other aspects of the plan’s benefits, administration and member communications.
What action should trustees and sponsors be taking?
Implementing a GMP equalisation solution is a multi-stage journey, with a series of decisions to take at each stage. Firstly, trustees would need to ensure they have completed their GMP reconciliation process, cross checking the scheme’s GMP records with HMRC records. This is likely to result in some member records needing to be corrected and member benefits being adjusted. Only then can the GMP equalisation and conversion process take place. Through this journey, trustees and sponsors would need to work together to address some important challenges, for example;
To find out more about Mercer’s solutions for defined benefit pension plans, please complete the contact form below and one of our consultants will be in touch.
Mercer Awards and Accreditations
European Pensions Awards 2018 European Pensions Consultancy of the
Year
The Institute and Faculty of Actuaries Quality Assurance Scheme (QAS) accreditation
European Pensions Awards 2016 Risk Management Firm of the Year
European Pensions Awards 2016 European Pensions Innovation Award
Financial News Investment Consultancy of the last 20 Years
Pensions Age Innovation Award 2016 for Mercer Pension Risk Exchange®
Portfolio Institutional #1 overall in 2016 Consultant Survey — for the 3rd year in a grid-x
Chief Investment Officer 2016 Outsourced Survey #1 Provider
Africa
