Defined Contribution Services

Our consultants each possess a wealth of experience, with an average industry experience of over 15 years. We pride ourselves on delivering effective, innovative and cost effective advice that delivers measurable returns, whether that be improved member engagement, reductions to time and cost expenditure or improved member outcomes.

We will keep you up to date with changing regulation and how it impacts your scheme, and give you access to technical knowledge and our experience from an independent, expert viewpoint.

Communications

Whilst everyone agrees that making adequate financial provision for retirement is extremely important, most employees do not find pensions particularly interesting. Clear, concise and targeted communications will engage your workforce, improve their contribution rates and increase the value that they place upon the pension benefits you provide as an employer. Your employees need to understand:

Contribution adequacy;
Balance between investment risk and reward;
Impact of lifestyle changes; and
Options at retirement.

We have considerable experience in communicating these issues, using a variety of media, in a form that members can relate to. Recent communication exercises undertaken for our clients have resulted in material increases to member contribution rates and a greater interest in investment selection and ongoing monitoring of performance.

Our specialists can design and draft communications in your brand style and write these in clear, jargon-free English. We offer project management, timing-plans and technical input for all of your communication exercises, and can personalise them to your particular style, be that:

Paper-based communications
Online messaging
Face-to-face group presentations
Individual member surgeries

Online tools

Our suite of online tools gives your employees access to:

Member- and scheme-specific online booklets
Modelling tools and ‘what if’ scenarios
Online links to contact the administration team

Consultancy

It seems that barely a month goes by without the introduction of new pension legislation. Because we take the time to understand our clients and formulate our advice, you can be sure that we only raise issues with our clients if they are relevant to their pension scheme.

Furthermore, we understand that no two pension schemes are the same. So whilst the issue at hand may be the same for a number of our clients, our advice to achieve the required outcome will be tailored accordingly.

Governance

Increased regulatory focus, automatic enrolment and the continued closure of defined benefit schemes have all contributed to the increased popularity of contract-based pension schemes. Whilst not currently a legal requirement, good governance of your contract-based pension scheme, whether it be a Group Personal Pension Plan or a Group Stakeholder Plan, will deliver considerable benefits for you as an employer and your employees.

In simple terms, the good governance of a defined contribution pension scheme is dependent upon a number of areas:

Robust governance processes and procedures
Provision of appropriate investment options
Competitive charging
Engaging member communications

Charges play a big part in the quality of outcomes for employees at retirement. It is therefore vitally important that the charges that employees pay are competitive and do not unduly affect pension savings growth. Competitive fees also enhance employees’ perceived value of your pension offering. Whilst everyone agrees that making adequate financial provision for our retirement is extremely important, most employees do not find pensions particularly interesting. Clear, concise and targeted communications will engage your workforce, improve their contribution rates and increase the value that they place upon the pension benefits you provide as an employer. At Quantum we believe that good governance and achievement of good member outcomes need not cost the earth. Our experienced consultants are passionate about pensions and will take the time to understand your specific circumstances and use this to deliver high quality, relevant and cost effective advice that will benefit you and your members.

Investment

Unlike Defined Benefit pension schemes, members of Defined Contribution pension schemes bear the investment risk themselves. Therefore, it is vitally important that members have:

An investment strategy appropriate to their needs; and
Are fully supported and informed to assist in their decision making process.

Our Defined Contribution investment expertise enables us to deliver scheme specific investment advice and ongoing monitoring services that reflect the trustees’ objectives and needs of their membership.