Pensions on Air

In our Pensions on Air podcast, we delve into all things pensions-related, bringing you the key developments in pensions law and regulation through monthly 15-minute episodes that accompany our Pensions Essentials bulletin. In this episode, Matt Ward is joined by Karen Mumgaard to discuss key developments following the Pension Schemes Act receiving royal assent, including the timing of key provisions coming into force, the final position on the investment mandation powers and new guidance relating to DC schemes, winding-up and guided retirement. Matt and Karen also discuss the High Court’s decision in McKavney v Serco on the interpretation of early retirement provisions, a recent Pensions Ombudsman determination on late retirement uplifts, and recent HMRC guidance on the increase to normal minimum pension age from 55 to 57 from April 2028.

In this monthly episode, Partner, Dan Schaffer sits down with Karen Mumgaard, Knowledge Counsel, to discuss the latest key updates in Pensions law. They unpack the latest developments from the Pensions Schemes Bill, including proposed investment mandation powers for master trusts, new scale requirements for auto‑enrolment schemes and what regulators expect schemes to be doing now. They also discuss the Virgin Media remediation provisions and new trustee guidance, alongside forthcoming inheritance tax changes affecting unused DC funds and certain death benefits from April 2027.

In this monthly episode, Partner, Dan Schaffer sits down with Karen Mumgaard, Knowledge Counsel, to discuss the latest key updates in Pensions law. They cover the new Data Use and Access Act complaints requirements affecting trustees, the proposed £2,000 cap on salary-sacrifice NIC relief from April 2029, plus an ombudsman determination highlighting trustees’ evidential responsibilities in historic transfer cases.

In this monthly episode, Partner, Dan Schaffer sits down with Karen Mumgaard, Knowledge Counsel, to discuss the latest key updates in Pensions law. They cover the recent trusteeship consultation, proposed detail around the new value for money framework and targeted support and what it means.

In this monthly episode, Partner, Dan Schaffer sits down with Karen Mumgaard, Knowledge Counsel, to discuss the key updates from our November 2025 Pensions Essentials bulletin. They cover pensions developments from the Autumn 2025 Budget, new data guidance from the Pensions Regulator, and a High Court ruling on the meaning of “interests” in amendment fetters.   Subscribe to Pensions on Air to be notified when our next monthly episode will be released and hear more from the team.

In this monthly episode, Senior Counsel, Ed Hunnisett sits down with Karen Mumgaard, Knowledge Counsel, to discuss the key updates from our October 2025 Pensions Essentials bulletin. They focus on the UK Government’s decision to allow CDC schemes to be set up for unconnected employers, paving the way for commercial CDC , together with a consultation on their potential use as an option for trustees to provide pensions for members on retirement. Subscribe to Pensions on Air to be notified when our next monthly episode will be released and hear more from the team.

In this monthly episode, Senior Counsel, Ed Hunnisett sits down with Karen Mumgaard, Knowledge Counsel, to discuss the key updates from our September 2025 Pensions Essentials bulletin. They discuss topics including: Provisions in the Pension Schemes Bill on dealing with Virgin Media issues Ombudsman determinations in relation to pre-2021 statutory transfers and trustee duties The Pensions Regulator’s expectations in relation to scheme administration A decisions on possible compensation for sending benefit statements to incorrect addresses Things to have on trustee to-do lists in coming months Subscribe to Pensions on Air to be notified when our next monthly episode will be released and hear more from the team.

In our this monthly episode, Partner, Dan Schaffer sits down with Karen Mumgaard, Knowledge Counsel, to discuss the key updates from our July 2025 Pensions Essentials bulletin. They discuss topics including: The Pensions Adequacy Review Possible changes to state pension age Inheritance tax on inherited pensions and death benefits Subscribe to Pensions on Air to be notified when our next monthly episode will be released and hear more from the team.

In our this monthly episode, Senior Counsel, Charles Magoffin sits down with Karen Mumgaard, Knowledge Counsel, to discuss the key updates from our June 2025 Pensions Essentials bulletin. They discuss topics including: Mega default funds Consolidation of small pots A new value for money regime A statutory regime for DB superfunds New data protection legislation A case on construction where a mistake had been made in scheme rules Subscribe to Pensions on Air to be notified when our next monthly episode will be released and hear more from the team.

In our third monthly episode and extended episode, Partner, Dan Schaffer sits down with Catrin Young, Senior Knowledge Lawyer, to discuss the Pension Schemes Bill and key updates from our May 2025 Pensions Essentials bulletin. They also discuss topics including: Surplus sharing provisions in the Pension Schemes Bill Regulator’s latest Annual Funding Statement Mansion House Accord Potential Virgin Media fix Subscribe to Pensions on Air to be notified when our next monthly episode will be released and hear more from the team.

In our second monthly episode, Partner, Dan Schaffer sits down with Catrin Young, Senior Knowledge Lawyer, to discuss the key updates from our April 2025 Pensions Essentials bulletin. They discuss topics including: The regulator's plan to increase engagement with professional trustee firms What they have identified as areas of concerns The Defined Contribution (DC) pension survey  Subscribe to Pensions on Air to be notified when our next monthly episode will be released and hear more from the team.

In our first monthly episode where we will be discussing the main developments in the world of pensions, Partner, Dan Schaffer sits down with Catrin Young, Senior Knowledge Lawyer, to discuss the key updates from our March 2025 Pensions Essentials bulletin. They discuss topics including: The Pension Schemes Bill incoming this summer and changes in surplus extraction First dashboard connections by end of April 2025 Further First Tier Tribunal criticism of the Pensions Regulator on auto-enrolment penalties EU review of adequacy of UK data laws Subscribe to Pensions on Air to be notified when our next monthly episode will be released and hear more from the team.