Pensions Regulator improves oversight of largest DC schemes to enhance member outcomes

Following a 12-month review, the Regulator has published a report on its oversight of the DC and master trust market, setting out details of its new approach. 

The Regulator says “2025 will be a year of decisive action, with genuine and open collaboration and a focus on long-term outcomes for savers over tick-box regulation”. Having noted that the master trust market is now thriving, the Regulator’s focus is to ensure all savers receive value for money, with clear priorities around investments, data quality and innovation at retirement. The change reflects the Regulator’s move towards a prudential-style regulation model that places greater emphasis on managing regulatory risks, anticipating potential threats to savers, and addressing risks to the UK economy.

The new approach includes grouping DC schemes with similar risk profiles into four segments of supervision: 

• Monoline master trusts (larger schemes that carry a higher risk to the market).
• Commercial master trusts, including those that form part of an insurance offering.
• Non-commercial (or industry-wide) master trusts and collective DC schemes.
• Single-employer trusts. 

Each segment will have tiers of engagement based on the specific risks they present to market and saver outcomes.

The biggest master trusts will have a dedicated team of experts at the Regulator assigned to them, which should “ensure the right questions are asked at the right time to identify risks and challenges and support effective decision-making”.