Client feedback

“Many organisations and people provide the services that clients need. In my opinion, the differentiator is in the way those services are provided and to that extent, Kathy embodies the qualities that I have come to value from PSITL. Kathy is organised but not fussy; diligent but not dogmatic; persistent without being pushy and compliant in a pragmatic way. Whilst she takes ownership and drives issues forward, Kathy is a team player who uses her and her colleagues experience to provide services to her trustee client whilst working closely with those like me representing the sponsoring employer. She works collaboratively with advisers but constructively challenges the scope of services, fees and service standards whenever necessary and makes sure that member needs are always taken into account. I enjoy working with her and trust that she will deliver what is required by the trustee and the members they represent in a manner satisfactory to the sponsoring employer. ”

Stuart Barker,

Internal Pensions Consultant, RSPCA

“We always receive an extremely high level of professionalism from PSGS, allowing us to make informed and appropriate decisions. Their advice is always timely and well received, allowing us to focus on what are the important key issues. They are always accessible and I would not hesitate to recommend their services!”

Danny Nussbaum,

HR Director, Volvo Group UK Limited

“Mark Fletcher - excellent independent trustee, personality and high standards.”

Sukhjit Dhillon ,

RATP

“We have realised the benefit of having and independent trustee. Claire sees what general practice is like, so is able to guide us.”

Anthony Bowen,

Colart Fine Art & Graphics

“Ever increasing regulation has placed a heavy burden on trustees both in terms of time and the risk of non-compliance. PSGS has the experience and the resources to help trustees manage these burdens.”

Mark Atkinson,

Partner at CMS Cameron McKenna

“Edwin’s working to ensure the other trustees get involved. Last year he took more of a leading role, which I was very grateful for. He is well organised and proactive. Feedback from external advisers has been good. ”

Jeremy Barnard ,

Imerys

GDPR - always look on the bright side

Topic:

Legal & governance

Date published:

Monday, 12 March 2018

Author:

Suzi Lowther

I know you are probably sat there shouting at your computer/mobile/tablet screen - GDPR? Again? Enough already! For a while, I felt just as you do now. Then I reminded myself to look for the positives. Even typing the title of this blog made me smile as a certain Life of Brian ditty popped into my head (I know, I’m showing my age).

Throughout my twenty something years in pensions, one phrase has kept coming to mind time and time again - over complication. Over complication tends to lead to lack of clarity. I’m really not keen on either, and it is one of the main reasons why my career took a diversion from pensions actuarial work into communications.

A good example of over complication is General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) privacy notices. Whilst the intention behind them is good, the execution in reality is not. Many pension trustees are deciding against including the full privacy notice in their scheme’s annual newsletter because they are too long and/or too full of legalese to be engaging (and therefore actually useful) for pension members.

On the bright side, the impending arrival of GDPR means I’m spending time really thinking about how we interact with people, where the touch points are, what they need to know, what we need to know and when. Figuring out how we can be clear and engaging at the same time as compliant is not new in the world of pension communications. The new GDPR requirements are adding to the challenge, but are focusing the mind in a good way.

There are other really positive things too. Working through the steps needed to ensure GDPR compliance means many pension trustees are having a long overdue look at contracts they have in place with advisers and suppliers. It is the sort of job that trustee boards could find they never quite got to in the past. Reviewing them now could highlight areas where service scope, standards or value for money can be improved.

There are some out there to help pension trustees with GDPR compliance - especially those looking after small and medium sized pension schemes. These cut through the complications (hurray) to provide a clear (hurray again) and straightforward series of steps to follow that leave you with a at the end.

You see, GDPR really doesn’t have to be over complicated - and there definitely is a bright side.

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