Getting Started
Welcome to Engaged Investor - the website and magazine specifically for pension fund trustees. If you are a new trustee, here is the ideal place to start to build up your knowledge. Follow any of the links below to understand what your new role involves and how a trustee board works.
Click on any of the links on the right hand side of the page for an introduction to each of the key areas you'll need to understand as a trustee.
Essential Information
What is a trustee and what does the role entail? Click on the links below to find out
A welcome message from Engaged Investor’s Trustee of the Year
Your First Meeting
Your first trustee board meeting need not be a daunting undertaking. Here are some links to help you prepare for what to expect when you sit down with your fellow trustees for the very first time.
Trustee Knowledge and Understanding
Another great place to start is our Trustee Handbook. Follow the links below to find out more about the basics of trusteeship.
Trustee Handbook
Trusteeship explained: Your role as trustee
What it means to be a trustee, your duties and what is expected of you
Global custody: What is global custody?
A custodian will offer core services and in addition value-added services which can enhance returns and enable trustees to better monitor their investments
Investment strategy: Approaches to investment
In determining investment strategy trustees will need to take into account asset allocation, diversification and decide the type of mandate to award investment managers
Administration: What is administration?
Administration - it sounds simple but what does it really mean?
Defined benefit: Pension scheme accounting
How accounting standards are defined will affect the valuation of a pension scheme’s liabilities
What is good governance?
Governance should be a regular agenda item for most trustee boards and many have governance sub-committees.
De-risking: What is de-risking?
With pension scheme deficits preying on the minds of many trustees, de-risking ultimately remains their highest priority as funds seek to get back onto an even keel.
Getting started with..
Being a trustee of a final salary scheme
All about running a defined benefit scheme
Being a trustee of a defined contribution scheme
The essentials of defined contribution scheme trusteeship
Investing
Asset classes, investment strategies, asset allocation – all explained in this section
Managing a pension scheme
How to ensure that your trustee board runs your scheme effectively
Administration
Making sure that the right pensions get paid to the right people – at the right time
Taking risk out of your scheme
Reducing risk in your scheme – investment, inflation, longevity and more
Some Useful Links
The Pensions Regulator
Regulator of workbased pensions in the UK
Pensions Management Institute
Provides training and qualifications for trustees in the UK
Pension Protection Fund
Provides a safety net for the members of UK defined benefit schemes and defines/manages the PPF levy.
National Association of Pension Funds
The industry body representing pension funds in the UK
The Pensions Advisory Service
An independent body that provides advices on occupational pensions, for scheme members
Department for Work and Pensions
Government department responsible for private sector workplace pensions policy and managing the state pension.
HM Treasury
Government department responsible for public sector pensions policy and also for managing tax.
European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority
A European financial supervision body with responsibility for pension funds across Europe.
