We responded to ythe DWP consultation on the above quality requirements noting the tests are well established and understood and we support retaining the current requirements without changes. more »»
We responded to ythe DWP consultation on the above quality requirements noting the tests are well established and understood and we support retaining the current requirements without changes.
We welcome the DWP consideration of improvements to these regulations. We strongly support the removal of the amber flag for overseas investments, and explicit legislative provision for transfers to reputable schemes to be processed efficiently. We also support additional flexibility Read More ... more »»
We welcome the DWP consideration of improvements to these regulations. We strongly support the removal of the amber flag for overseas investments, and explicit legislative provision for transfers to reputable schemes to be processed efficiently. We also support additional flexibility Read More …
The ACA Pensions Adequacy Working Group has submitted its report to the Pensions Commission, setting out a package of reforms aimed at improving sustainable retirement income for under-pensioned groups. The report notes that while automatic enrolment has significantly increased pension Read More ... more »»
The ACA Pensions Adequacy Working Group has submitted its report to the Pensions Commission, setting out a package of reforms aimed at improving sustainable retirement income for under-pensioned groups. The report notes that while automatic enrolment has significantly increased pension Read More …
We made a response to the consultation on draft secondary legislation amending Finance Act 2004 for calculating pension input amounts for annual allowance purposes following guaranteed minimum pension (GMP) conversion. We welcome the opportunity to provide input. We responded in Read More ... more »»
We made a response to the consultation on draft secondary legislation amending Finance Act 2004 for calculating pension input amounts for annual allowance purposes following guaranteed minimum pension (GMP) conversion. We welcome the opportunity to provide input. We responded in Read More …
In response to the HMRC consultation on information sharing regulations and associated documents circulated to interested parties to implement the Government’s policy to bring unused pensions funds and death benefits within the scope of inheritance tax (IHT), we responded as follows:. more »»
In response to the HMRC consultation on information sharing regulations and associated documents circulated to interested parties to implement the Government’s policy to bring unused pensions funds and death benefits within the scope of inheritance tax (IHT), we responded as follows:.
We welcome the opportunity to comment on The Pension Regulator’s (TPR’s) corporate strategy and we broadly agree with its priorities, as set out in the consultation document. There are however a few additional important issues which we would like to Read More ... more »»
We welcome the opportunity to comment on The Pension Regulator’s (TPR’s) corporate strategy and we broadly agree with its priorities, as set out in the consultation document. There are however a few additional important issues which we would like to Read More …
We welcome the opportunity to comment on the draft of TAS310 and we strongly support the objective of having the final version available in advance of it coming into force, in July, on the same day as the unconnected employer Read More ... more »»
We welcome the opportunity to comment on the draft of TAS310 and we strongly support the objective of having the final version available in advance of it coming into force, in July, on the same day as the unconnected employer Read More …
The new VFM framework will shape the DC pensions world at a critical juncture. Getting it right, and avoiding unintended and damaging consequences, could improve retirement for millions of savers. Find below our considered response to the latest FCA consultation… more »»
The new VFM framework will shape the DC pensions world at a critical juncture. Getting it right, and avoiding unintended and damaging consequences, could improve retirement for millions of savers. Find below our considered response to the latest FCA consultation…
We have submitted a response to the Department for Work and Pensions consultation on trusteeship and governance in trust-based pension schemes. We say that the current system largely functions well, with the majority of large schemes operating effectively, whilst outlining Read More ... more »»
We have submitted a response to the Department for Work and Pensions consultation on trusteeship and governance in trust-based pension schemes. We say that the current system largely functions well, with the majority of large schemes operating effectively, whilst outlining Read More …
We welcome the draft code of practice and are generally supportive of the content, and the objective of having the final code in force on the same day as the unconnected employer legislation comes into force, in July. More… more »»
We welcome the draft code of practice and are generally supportive of the content, and the objective of having the final code in force on the same day as the unconnected employer legislation comes into force, in July. More…
We are looking for essays of no more than 1,500 words on exploring innovative ideas to improve the provision, public understanding and take-up of longer-term and shorter-term pension and savings and/or overall savings adequacy at all levels of UK society. This must be presented in writing although entrants can support their essay with a video if they so wish.
The winner of the Essay Prize will receive an award of £3,000 and the two runners-up will receive awards of £1,500 each. The Winners will have the opportunity to present their entries at the ACA Bloomfield Lecture being held on 3 November 2026 at a central London venue.
The winning essay submission also will be published in The Actuary journal, alongside articles from leading writers working in the insurance, savings and pension industries from across the world.
Your essay must be:
The prize winners may be requested to grant permission for the ACA to have the right to publish or reproduce at any time all or part of the award-winning entries.
Your word count:
Use of generative AI tools: your essay must be your sole creation and original work. AI may be used for research, proofreading and checking spelling and grammar. If an entrant chooses to use generative AI, the entrant is responsible for checking the accuracy of the output. Entrants are not permitted to use any AI programme to write all or part of an essay to enter this competition. Any essay which has been written, in part or in whole, by ChatGPT or similar programmes will be excluded from the marking and judging process and ineligible. The view of the judges will be final.
References should be inserted using the Harvard style referencing system.
Reworked coursework, journals or articles: each essay must be an original piece of work written by the entrant for the competition without peer review or editing by anyone else. All essays must be the individual unpublished work of the entrant.
When the essay is submitted and at the date of the close of the competition, you must satisfy the following criteria:
The administration team and the judges have the final decision as to whether an essay is eligible. No correspondence will be entered into.
Essays will be evaluated for:
Judges for the competition will be drawn from senior professionals, academics and commentators working in the pensions and savings world.
The essay must be the sole creation and original work of the entrant. Entrants are expected already to be aware of and to follow any plagiarism guidance and policies of the academic and professional training institutions to which they currently belong or have belonged. The ACA guidance reproduces and adapts information from other such policies for the purposes of its Essay Competition. The ACA is grateful to both institutions for permission to do so.
Plagiarism occurs where an entrant copies from any other source (published or unpublished) in an unauthorised manner and attempts to present that work as if it were the entrant’s own in order to obtain an unfair advantage.
Examples of plagiarism include:
Quotations from recognised sources are usually acceptable but must be clearly acknowledged and a reference given for the source (i.e. sources must be cited). The following situations almost always require citation:
In the case of any doubt, citation is recommended.
The ACA may proactively seek out instances of plagiarism, for example by the use of an electronic plagiarism detection system or service to scan submitted essays.
Any entry which is found not to be the sole creation and original work of the entrant (“plagiarism”) will be disqualified from the 75th Anniversary ‘Future of Pensions’ Essay Competition.
Our purposes for processing your data: we will process your personal data for the purposes of administering this essay competition and (in the case of successful entrants) publicising and promoting future such competitions. Our lawful basis for this processing data is ‘legitimate interests’ on the basis that individuals would have a reasonable expectation that we will process the personal data they have provided, which include the provision of initiatives to support education and training and to promote innovation in actuarial and related fields. Please go to our privacy statement for more details.
Association of Consulting Actuaries
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