Research and analysis

Defined contribution pension schemes: landscape and charges survey 2013

Research about charging levels and structures in defined contribution pension schemes.

Documents

Landscape and charges survey 2013: charges and quality in defined contribution pension schemes

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Summary: landscape and charges survey 2013: charges and quality in defined contribution pension schemes

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Details

The government is taking action to help support existing pension provision in light of automatic enrolment to workplace pensions and has made a commitment to monitor its possible impacts. This report provides the findings of a study commissioned by the Department for Work and Pensions designed to:

  • explore charging levels and structures in trust and contract-based pension schemes
  • understand the characteristics of schemes that maximise the chance of better outcomes for members

The research comprised a combination of quantitative research with private sector employers offering a defined contribution workplace pension, supplemented by qualitative and administrative data supplied by providers and other industry participants.

The charges survey was split into 3 parallel elements:

  • trust-based defined contribution schemes
  • contract-based schemes
  • contract-based pension providers

The field work was conducted during April and May 2013.

The landscape and charges survey is one of the primary sources of information the Department for Work and Pensions uses for measuring the charges levied on both trust and contract-based pension schemes.

Published 18 February 2014