Featured News and Research

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  Global Pensions Asset Study - 2012

  This is a study of the 13 largest pension markets in the world and accounts for more than 85% of global pension assets. The countries included are Australia, Canada, Brazil, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, Netherlands, South Africa, Switzerland, the UK and the US.Continue reading...

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  Pensions Digest - January 2012

  Pensions Digest, Towers Watson’s monthly publication brings together recent developments for pensions professionals.Continue reading...

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  Finding your balance – top tips for successful HR delivery in multiple countries across Europe

  The complex European landscape can deter organisations from considering a multi-county HR service delivery model. Successful implementation of such a model can be challenging, however it is achievable if carefully planned, with key issues acknowledged and addressed at the outset.Continue reading...

• Minimum pension contributions – just one more delay

  Today’s announcement on further delays to the Government’s workplace pension reforms means that minimum contributions will now be fully phased in almost 16 years after the Pensions Commission was asked to investigate under-saving for retirement, according to Towers Watson.Continue reading...

• Towers Watson hires Director of Talent & Organisation in the UK

  Towers Watson has appointed Arvinder Dhesi to lead its Talent & Organisation practice in the UK. Dhesi’s role is to manage and grow the company’s successful talent management consultancy practice by extending and strengthening the company’s relationships with a broad range of clients. Dhesi has over 20 years of industry experience in human resources and customer facing roles.Continue reading...

• Executive Compensation Market Watch - January 2012

  In this Issue: Government Consultations.Continue reading...

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  Thematic investing

  Why is this approach a good idea? Our paper highlights potential investment themes that we believe will be important in shaping future asset allocation and risk management strategies.Continue reading...

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  Expected property returns when government bond yields are rising

  Conventional wisdom says that property suffers when gilt yields rise. In this paper, we show that no obvious historical pattern exists between property returns and yield increases and summarise some previous research on this matter.Continue reading...

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  Is this the end of OTC derivatives for pension schemes?

  Over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives, such as interest rate and inflation swaps, have become standard tools for defined benefit pension schemes. However, the financial crisis and subsequent changes in regulation means it is likely that the way pension schemes will use such instruments will change.Continue reading...

• Towers Watson supports the RCG Code of Conduct review

  Towers Watson has announced its support of the Remuneration Consultants Group (RCG) Code of Conduct following the completion of the first formal review. As an active member of the RCG since the inception of the group, Towers Watson has participated in the review process and is fully supportive of the revisions which strengthen the Code in some important respects.Continue reading...

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  Job Levelling

  Towers Watson’s systematic approach to job levelling helps organisations manage the opportunities and challenges of talent and reward programme design and delivery.Continue reading...

• Number of International Pension Plans grow at rapid rate

  The International Pension Plan (IPP) market is expanding at a rapid rate, with 36 new IPPs set up in the past year, according to Towers Watson research. The company’s IPP survey, in its fourth year, shows the IPP market evolving rapidly with a 15% growth rate in the last year, continuing a trend which has seen it grow by 50% in the last five years.Continue reading...

• Annual car insurance prices keep pace with inflation

  Car insurance prices have continued to keep pace with inflation over the last twelve months. The cost of comprehensive cover rose by 4.9% in 2011, with third party, fire and theft (TPFT) premiums increasing in cost by 10.2% year-on-year, according to the Confused.com/Towers Watson Car Insurance Price Index.Continue reading...

• Money problems affect performance for one in ten workers

  One in ten private sector employees have money worries which prevent them from doing their best work, which rises to one in five for those earning £20,000 - £30,000 according to Towers Watson research. The research entitled, the future of workplace savings, also shows that over 86% of employees now have less trust in their company pension than 15 years ago, up from 74% in 2008, when the company first produced this research. In addition, the study shows that only one in three companies believe they are getting value from their current benefit spend.Continue reading...

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  Investment: Capturing Long-Term Themes

  Investment macro factor themes are multi-year and international in nature. They have substantial impact on assets and can cut across asset classes and managers. This paper explores how macro factors can be exploited through thematic investing.Continue reading...

• Towers Watson launches new Talent|REWARD® website

  Towers Watson today announced the launch of its Talent|REWARD version 7 (v.7) website. The website offers easy access to information and guidance on Towers Watson’s new software, enabling organisations to deliver comprehensive talent management and reward programmes. Continue reading...

• Companies set to disclose large pension deficits as shortfalls approach £50 billion

  Companies preparing their accounts for corporate years ending 31 December 2011 could be set to report widening pension deficits, according to Towers Watson. The consultancy estimates that, since the end of 2010, aggregate pension deficits in FTSE100 companies’ accounts have grown from £40.9 billion to £48.0 billion.Continue reading...

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  UK Statistics - December 2011

  Statistics contains the recent history of past statistics as well as the new monthly figures.Continue reading...

• Acquirers outperformed throughout 2011, despite testing market conditions

  Latest year-to-date figures show that acquirers have, on average, continued to outperform the Global MSCI Index (the index) in 2011, with adjusted returns of 2.9 percentage points (pp) above the index for the year to date. The figures which come from the latest issue of Towers Watson’s Quarterly Deal Performance Monitor (QDPM) demonstrate that the share prices of acquirers have continued to outperform their indices, despite detrimental market conditions and deflated levels of business confidence.Continue reading...

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  Recent market performance - the benefits of diversification

  In this paper we set out the longer-term case for diversification and our approach to building portfolios that can balance true diversity of return with most investors’ desire not to overcomplicate their asset structure.Continue reading...