At the beginning of 2022, ESG was at the forefront of every discussion. Despite focus shifting to the volatile market and mini budget of late last year, ESG remains a key addition to everyone's agenda. So, where does fiduciary management fit in the ever-evolving world of ESG, and how can it help schemes in their net zero journeys?

This session will address: 

• Is there any uncertainty around fiduciary duty which is hindering impact investment?
• How far should trustees follow or diverge from its pension fund's business requirements to achieve maximum returns without causing issues for the sponsor?
• How can the industry remain consistent and continue to make progress towards a greener future when ESG is so difficult to measure?
• How does TCFD reporting fare in a fiduciary management environment?
• What insights can we gain from larger schemes currently going through the TCFD process?

LDI has been the buzzword within the industry since September 2022, especially following The Pensions Regulator's and Financial Conduct Authority's published guidance released on the 24th April. It said trustees should only invest in leveraged LDI arrangements which have put in place an appropriately sized buffer and a market stress buffer. With so much for trustees to already worry about, how can fiduciary management help take the pressure off schemes, and what can we learn from them?

This session will address:

• How did fiduciary managers cope during the LDI crisis?
• How did this impact investment performance vs their objectives?
• How have fiduciary managers changed their LDI structures since the crisis?
• Lessons learnt regarding the governance of fiduciary management
• What should schemes be looking for in terms of LDI when selecting and monitoring a fiduciary manager?

Join Ajeet Manjrekar as he unravels the intricacies of investment outsourcing based on the key findings from the Schroders Institutional Investor Study 2023. This enlightening session will provide a comprehensive view of current trends and perspectives of UK corporate pension plans.

Ajeet will guide attendees through the various outsourcing options available, from consolidating asset managers to fiduciary management and beyond. He will also address the vital considerations for today's schemes, such as journey planning, governance models, and ESG integration.

In recognition of the growing significance of sustainability in investments, Ajeet will share valuable insights from the SchrodersAsks Sustainability Survey 2022, emphasizing how trustees are leveraging ESG to manage risk and return. The session will conclude with actionable takeaways for aligning investment strategies, maintaining flexibility, and optimising provider support to achieve your investment goals.

IC Select's annual survey revealed stalled growth for the UK fiduciary management market in 2022. Despite a 50% increase in clients and 16% growth in assets under management over the past five years, 2022 marked the first significant decline in a decade. Client growth also stalled, with only three new funds, as scheme buyouts and transfers to the Pension Protection Fund offset new fiduciary management acquisitions. Moving forward, what can the industry gain from this report, considering strategies for market resilience and growth amidst changing financial landscapes?

This session will address: 

• How has the fiduciary market developed?
• Outlook, are the market drivers still in place?
• Are schemes listening to the Pension Regulators call for greater oversight of fiduciary managers?
• What is happening to the costs of fiduciary management?

Following the investment market and LDI turbulence, there has been lots of negativity recently towards liability driven investment and the industry has been left feeling uncertain on the future of LDI. Different fiduciary management providers got through the end of 2022 in different ways. However, can the introduction of fiduciary management help schemes in uncertain times?

This session will address: 

• How did fiduciary managers fare during the turbulent events of last year?
• What were the learning points for fiduciary managers, and their arrangements with investment managers?
• Has trustees’ growing appetite for fiduciary management changed?
• How might this impact fiduciary management fees going forwards?
• Are schemes in a better place now if we see a rerun of last year, or does more need to be done?