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Global survey finds employers offering more benefit choices to employees

22 October 2009

One in four employers now offers employees choice in the benefits they receive, with a third of the remainder also considering doing so, according to a survey of more than 1,700 organisations in 47 countries, conducted by Mercer.

Survey finds increasing trend to offer benefit choices to employees

22 October 2009

More than four out of ten UK employers now give employees some form of choice in the benefits they receive, and a quarter of the remainder are also considering doing so, according to a survey by Mercer.

Mercer launches investment governance assessment service for trustees

21 October 2009

Mercer has launched an investment governance assessment service to help trustees review their investment governance arrangements and compliance with the Myners principles.

Taxation of high earners – Mercer webcast

21 October 2009

Mercer is holding a webcast on the implications of the Finance Act 2009 on high earners and employers.

New global index shows Singapore’s pension system faces challenges despite high contributions

20 October 2009

While its unique attributes were recognised, challenges facing Singapore’s retirement income system were identified in a world first global pension index that compares private and public pension systems from around the world and ranks them based on...

Bulk annuity market increases over long term despite lower activity than in 2008

19 October 2009

New data issued by Mercer shows that the UK insured bulk annuity market remains active in 2009 and is on a long-term upward curve, with pension plans likely to purchase more than £3bn of bulk annuities this year.

World’s first global pension index ranks public and private pension systems of US and 10 other count

19 October 2009

The US retirement income system ranks sixth in the world’s first global pension index that compares private and public pension systems of 11 countries across five continents. The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index ranks the retirement income...

Beware of Super surplus risk in light of concessional contribution caps: Mercer

18 October 2009

High income earners who have not yet acted on changes to superannuation this financial year risk exceeding concessional contribution limits with their employer contributions alone and may need to change the way they contribute to get the most out of...

Mercer voted Global Investment Consultancy of the Year for the seventh consecutive year

16 October 2009

Mercer’s investment consulting business has been named Global Investment Consultant of the Year at the Financial News 2009 Awards for Excellence in Institutional Asset Management.

New global pension index ranks Canadian system fourth

15 October 2009

Canada’s retirement income system has ranked fourth – just behind Sweden – in a world first global pension index that compares private and public pension systems from around the world and ranks them based on adequacy, sustainability, and integrity.

New global pension index ranks Sweden amongst world’s best

15 October 2009

Sweden’s retirement income system has ranked third in a world first global pension index that compares private and public pension systems from around the world and ranks them based on adequacy, sustainability, and integrity.

New global pension index ranks UK system fifth, despite high integrity

15 October 2009

The UK retirement income system is ranked fifth in a world first global pension index that compares 11 major private and public pension systems from around the world and rates them on the basis of adequacy, sustainability and integrity.

World’s first global pension index ranks pension systems of US and 10 other countries

15 October 2009

The US retirement income system ranks sixth in the world’s first global pension index that compares private and public pension systems of 11 countries across five continents. The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index ranks the retirement income...

Employee statutory and public holiday entitlements – global comparisons

13 October 2009

Employees in Europe receive the most generous statutory holiday allowances in the world according to data released by Mercer. However, taking public holidays into account, employees in Lithuania and Brazil have the potential to access the most time...

New global pension index ranks Australia second

13 October 2009

Australia’s retirement income system has ranked second - but failed to obtain an A-grade classification - in a world first global pension index that compares private and public pension systems from around the world and ranks them based on adequacy,...

Government commitment to senior public sector pay freeze welcomed, but longer-term reform needed

12 October 2009

Mercer has welcomed the government’s proposal to give senior public sector employees a one-year pay freeze.

Mercer launches pandemic advisory service

7 October 2009

Mercer’s health & benefits business has launched an advisory service for companies concerned about the impact of pandemics, including the H1N1 virus (swine flu), on their workforce.

Strong equity performance fails to improve funded status of pension plans

7 October 2009

There have been six consecutive months of positive US equity performance over the past two quarters. Such periods of sustained positive equity performance do not occur frequently. However, despite this performance, the funded status of pension plans...

Mercer appointed by Co-operative Pension Scheme for implemented consulting services

6 October 2009

Mercer has been appointed by The Co-operative Group’s PACE pension scheme to provide implemented consulting services for the alternatives investments in the £5bn pension fund which will be phased in over two years to represent 13 percent of the...

Pension plans flat in third quarter

6 October 2009

Continued strength in portfolio returns helped buoy pension plans in the third quarter as the cost of purchasing annuities climbed. While government bond yields were stable over the quarter, the assumed credit premium over the yields decreased,...

Health care quality pioneer Arnold Milstein accepts 2009 Excellence in Health Data Leadership Award

5 October 2009

Mercer chief physician and national thought leader Arnold Milstein, MD, MPH, will accept the 2009 Elliott M. Stone Award of Excellence in Health Data Leadership from the National Association of Health Data Organizations (NAHDO) at its annual meeting...

Mercer opens state-of-the-art customer relations centre

5 October 2009

Mercer has opened a new state-of-the-art customer relations centre to support members of its clients' pension schemes in the UK. The new centre, based in Chichester, will have extended operating hours, dedicated multi-skilled professionals and...

UK companies increase DC pension contributions despite downturn

5 October 2009

Despite the recent economic downturn, average contributions to UK defined contribution (DC) pension schemes have increased by 1.5 percent over the last two years, according to a Mercer survey.

‘Automatic’ features in defined contribution plans gaining worldwide acceptance

5 October 2009

A new 33-country survey by Mercer of organizations that sponsor defined contribution (DC) retirement plans reveals widespread adoption of automatic enrollment and other relatively new “automatic” features designed to boost employee enrollment and...

FTSE350 pension funding deficits increase despite equity market revival

2 October 2009

FTSE 350 pension scheme funding deficits on a company accounting basis continue to increase despite the equity market revival, as credit spreads start to fall back from recent record highs.

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