Hymans Robertson has launched TRUST, an end-to-end risk transfer and investment service that supports smaller pension schemes in completing bulk annuity transactions.
TRUST, which supports schemes with £150 million or less in assets, combines the firm’s risk transfer and investment expertise into one integrated service. It focuses on premium negotiation and asset realisation strategies to help schemes maximise transaction value.
It builds on Hymans Robertson’s experience, with its risk transfer team leading nearly a third of transactions by volume in 2024.
The service is supported by the firm’s investment research capability, which covers over £300 billion in assets under advice.
Hymans Robertson head of core transactions and risk transfer specialist Iain Church says: “We’re thrilled to launch TRUST, our new combined risk transfer and investment service. Buy-in broking processes, particularly for smaller schemes, risk narrowly focusing on how to deliver the best possible price from an insurer. Whilst price is certainly important, this approach misses the other side of the equation. Placing equal focus on how to realise the best value from the scheme’s assets makes a real difference to the end financial outcome.”
“TRUST ensures smaller schemes benefit from the best of both worlds, by utilising a single risk transfer and investment team that speaks the same language as insurers and uses these insights to tailor the advice to clients accordingly. Having already delivered on the benefits of TRUST to early clients, I’m excited to see it now become available to the wider market.”
Hymans Robertson investment consultant Russell Oades says: “Purchasing a bulk annuity is likely the most important asset transition in a scheme’s life, and the work involved is highly specialised compared to traditional investment consulting.”
“Insurer insights are critical to making the right investment decisions leading up to a transaction, as the way insurers invest is dynamic. Insurers will pivot their strategic asset allocations in response to changing market conditions. For instance, certain insurers are currently prioritising gilts-based investment strategies compared to historically higher allocations to credit.”
“By leveraging TRUST, smaller schemes can be equally dynamic to evolving market conditions. This will ensure that their portfolio is ideally positioned to manage the risks posed by fluctuations in insurer pricing. A single source of risk transfer and investment advice ensures schemes are primed to quickly and efficiently capture value when a market opportunity presents itself.”
