Advertise on podcast: Always a Pensions Angle

In this special edition, Tom is joined by Brian Gielty, Editor-in-Chief of LAPF Investments Magazine, to run through the latest issue of the magazine, from a cover interview with London CIV’s Dean Bowden, to taking a closer look at the new independent person role. They also cover the latest from the Scheme Advisory Board, including new guidance on investing in conflict areas and research into gender and ethnicity pension gaps, plus a look at natural capital and how geopolitics is shaping the market. The issue also includes a tribute to the late Mike Jensen and his legacy in the sector, along with full coverage of the 2026 LAPF Investments Awards, headline sponsored by Marsh. Coming soon in print or online at www.lapfinvestments.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom and Nick report back from the DC and Master Trust Summit, where fears are growing that value for money's traffic-light ratings could push schemes to "herd" toward a safe light-green rather than risk the fallout of amber or red. Also on the agenda: the industry's about-turn on forward-looking performance metrics, and a new LGPS case study on the gender pensions gap. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom and Nick look at TPR's shift towards "no surprises" enforcement and what early engagement really buys schemes. Also on the agenda: the government's contested £25bn DC scale test, new data on retirement housing costs, and a tale of two LGPS pools as Wales secures full FCA authorisation while Access prepares to close its doors. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special edition, Tom sits down with Brian Gielty, Editor-in-Chief of LAPF Investments Magazine, to unpack the brand new Issue 10, from a career-spanning cover interview with LGPS legend Fiona Miller to deep dives on climate risk, local investment, pension committees, and the gender pensions gap. Plus, a first look at the shortlists for the 2026 LAPF Investments Awards, taking place 30 September at the Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square, London - all available now in print or online at lapfinvestments.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the LGPS Interviews, we sit down with Max Townshend, Head of Investment Strategy at LPPI, to discuss how the pool has managed its recent expansion from three to nine partner funds. He shares what that growth has meant for the team day-to-day, how LPPI is rethinking its product range and investment beliefs to serve a more diverse partnership, and his views on local investment, surplus management, and how recent geopolitical shifts are reshaping the way funds think about risk and diversification. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom and Nick look at the risks trustees may have overlooked over the summer, from DB schemes drifting without a clear endgame strategy to the growing investment implications of climate change, AI and a more fragmented geopolitical landscape. Also on the agenda: the latest LGPS debate over investment in conflict zones and the tricky question of fiduciary duty, before turning to Oxfordshire Pension Fund's backing for a new fund aimed at tackling homelessness through affordable housing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom and Nick unpack a TPR enforcement report involving the Plumbing and Mechanical Services scheme, an unpaid debt, and a fined accountant. Also on the agenda: Torsten Bell's continued grip on the pensions brief, Lords criticism of the Pension Schemes Bill, and a possible new fund from Nest, Railpen and the LGPS pools aimed at scaling up UK businesses. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Torsten Bell drops a bumper package of regulatory roadmap updates - Tom and Nick sift through the value for money delay, guided retirement, and the pushed-back superfund timeline. The pair also discuss LGPS contribution rates, and what the Pensions Commission's call for evidence responses reveal about the industry's asks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of our LGPS Interviews series, we sit down with Mark Smith, Head of the Oxfordshire Pension Fund and newly appointed Senior LGPS Officer, to unpack what the role really involves day to day. Mark shares candid insight into governance reviews, local government reorganisation, pooling, the new independent person role, and Oxfordshire's approach to local investment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the LGPS Interviews, we sit down with Jennifer Devine, head of Wiltshire Pension Fund, to discuss the fund's journey to a new pool following the Fit for the Future reforms. She shares what it was like to receive the news, how the fund set about finding a new pooling partner, and the lessons learned along the way. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom and Nick are joined by special guest Brian Gielty to dig into the newly published LGPS statutory guidance - from the Secretary of State's new intervention powers to the revamped four-tier governance ratings - plus reflections from the LAPF June conference, surplus strategy, and Faith Ward's move to LPPI Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

SpaceX has gone public at a $2tn-plus valuation. Tom and Nick dig into what dual-class shares and fast-tracked index inclusion mean for pension investors who didn't sign up to own a piece of SpaceX. Plus the DWP's review of flexible apportionment arrangements after Aberdeen quietly took on Stagecoach's entire DB scheme, and Surrey's move to become a single purpose pension authority. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The beautiful game continues - for people who still get a little too excited about replacement rates. In part two, Tom and Nick pick up where the spreadsheet left off, taking the surviving nations from the Round of 16 all the way to the final to crown the world's greatest pension system. Brian is back on VAR duty, weighting his replacement rates and steadfastly denying he's been siding with anyone. Across the closing rounds you'll get squeaky-bum-time penalty shootouts, a few heavyweight clashes, the occasional 7-1 reminder that pension assets aren't everything, and three judges, three methodologies and one increasingly inevitable champion. Strong opinions throughout. Usable financial advice: still none. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the beautiful game, reimagined for people who get a little too excited about replacement rates. Hosts Tom and Nick have done something nobody asked for: assessed all 48 World Cup nations across eight pension and lifestyle metrics and run a full knockout tournament to crown the world's greatest retirement system. There's no group stage, because the real ones are complicated enough - but there is a referee, Brian Gielty of LAPF Investments, to adjudicate the inevitable disagreements via VAR. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The pensions news keeps coming, so Thomas and Nick spin the wheel again. This time: Fit for the Future deadline shuffles for LGPS pools, Nick's enduring (and largely solo) excitement about pensions dashboards, the thorny question of who actually understands the AI creeping into the industry, and what the latest Retirement Living Standards really tell us. Plus a World Cup of pension systems - coming to a future episode, maybe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.