Managing Surplus: Opportunity or Complication?

What do a Stranglers tribute band drummer, a pensions knowledge platform and personalised video technology have in common?More than you'd think.David Brooks is joined by Gareth Stears of Aries Insight and Ian Beestin of FCX Technologies for a discussion on how technology is helping the pensions industry turn complexity into clarity.Our trio explore how different corners of the pensions industry are approaching the same challenge: making pensions easier to understand. Along the way they discuss legislation, AI, dashboards and hyper-personalised communications.

With DB pension schemes increasingly reporting significant surpluses, the conversation is shifting from how they arose to what should happen next. In this episode, Steve Hull, a Partner in Burges Salmon’s pensions team, and Becky Wood, Trustee Director and Head of Vidett’s Endgame Solutions team, explore the evolving legal and fiduciary landscape around surplus—who it belongs to, how it can be used, and what trustees and sponsors should consider before taking action. From benefit enhancements to one-off payments and governance best practice, this discussion offers practical insight into one of the most important—and contentious—issues in pensions today. Please note, this podcast was recorded before the publication of consultation on the Surplus Flexibilities for Defined Benefit Pension Schemes.

In this episode, host David Brooks is joined by Jez Petty Director at Like Minds and Kate Upcraft from the Association of Member Nominated Trustees (AMNT) to discuss how pension schemes can improve the way they communicate with their members.Jez shares insights from shortly to be released research, including why the industry has historically undervalued communications and whether increasing regulatory requirements have reinforced disengagement. The conversation then turns to how trustees can better understand and reach different groups within their membership, and the role of Member Nominated Trustees in maintaining that connection.

When a surplus appears, it raises some deceptively simple – but important – questions. Who controls it? How should it be used? And how does it fit with a scheme’s long-term strategy?In this episode our host David Brooks is joined by Hatty Goodwin a Trustee Director at IGG and Broadstone’s Head of Investment Consulting Marc Devereux.They explore how trustees and sponsors think about surplus in practice – from materiality and asset allocation to liquidity, run-on plans and a changing legislative backdrop.

In this episode, host David Brooks is joined by Kelly Parsons, Broadstone’s Head of DC Proposition, and Susan Hope, Business Development Director at Scottish Widows, to explore insights from the latest Scottish Widows Women and Retirement Report.Together they unpack the systemic barriers that continue to affect women’s ability to save adequately for retirement, sharing both data‑driven findings and personal reflections & anecdotes. The discussion also highlights the practical steps individuals and employers can take — from improving financial education to rethinking workplace responsibilities — to help close the gender pensions gap and deliver better long‑term outcomes for women.

Our host David Brooks, Head of Policy, is joined by Christopher McCarthy and Catherine Fenton to talk through the importance of ensuring that trustees maintain the required knowledge and understanding to execute their roles properly. They also talk through ways to identify weaknesses and source the support trustees need. Trustee knowledge and understanding is a statutory requirement, something The Pensions Regulator takes very seriously and so trustees should maintain a watchful eye on complying appropriately and effectively.

Listen in as our Head of Health & Protection, Brett Hill, talks to industry legend Iain McMillan to get his take on a career spanning 33 years in the UK PMI industry following his recent retirement from Bupa. We hear Iain’s thoughts in the current state of the industry, and his reasons for optimism about the industry’s future.

David Brooks is joined by Fiona White Broadstone's Pensions Operations Manager to discuss how we support members or beneficiaries we identify as vulnerable, how we can identify them, help them with sensitivity and help our colleagues have the tools they need to do this.

In this insightful episode, host Rahul Choudhary, Director of Risk at Broadstone, sits down with Nidhi Agarwal, Chief Model Risk Officer at Virgin Money, to demystify the complex and ever-evolving world of banking regulations and risk management.Tune in now to explore:What makes Model Risk Management the “silent guardian” of bankingHow AI is being leveraged - and regulated - in the risk spaceWhy climate risk could be the next financial crisisThe human side of risk: mentorship, ethics, and inclusion in finance

As Lenin said “There are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen”. We are living in interesting times and there is a lot to unpack with the Trump Tariffs: even though these have changed substantially in the past few days, there are things trustees can do to make sure schemes are protected in times of uncertainty. Our host David Brooks is joined by Senior Investment Consultant Matthew Downey to talk through the What, How, Why and, most importantly, “So What” of the US government’s latest economic policy.