Hughes Price Walker

Services - Investments

Helping trustees invest
with confidence

Overview

Unwavering commitment to long-term goals

0117 427 8900

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We combine professional expertise with tailored investment solutions and an unwavering commitment to helping pension schemes achieve their long-term goals. Our approach is built on understanding each scheme’s unique objectives and risk profile, enabling us to deliver strategies that balance growth, security, and sustainability.

Introduction

Dedicated Investment Support

In addition to our actuarial, administrative and consulting services, our dedicated investment team delivers strategic, value-driven support designed to protect and grow scheme assets. We specialise in providing comprehensive investment services tailored to UK defined benefit pension schemes with assets ranging from £2 million to £200 million. Led by qualified investment actuary Max Gilmore and overseen by Owner Director Ray Hughes, our team is committed to delivering exceptional value through a combination of expertise, innovative strategies, and personalised service. We take pride in providing meticulous and deeply informed insights to ensure that our pension scheme trustees are able to make well-informed, strategic decisions which will help to assure the protection of member benefits now and in the future.

Hughes Price Walker investment team discussing pension scheme strategies during a client meeting.

In-depth

Investment Services

Investment Strategies and Solutions

Using our expertise, technical knowledge, and vast experience, we can offer an extensive range of solutions and strategies which are bespoke to our clients’ needs.

What sets us apart

Hughes Price Walker Investment stands out from other investment service providers in many ways:

Dynamic leadership

Specialised expertise

Innovative solutions

Commitment to education

Our investment services include:

End-game solutions
We are experts in navigating end-game strategies for occupational pension schemes, including buyout strategies and self-sufficiency allocations. Our insight into insurer pricing and market dynamics ensures your scheme is well-positioned for a secure future.

Liability hedging
Our unique liability hedging solutions utilise liability-driven investment (LDI) mandates and low-dependency investment allocations, aligning with the latest DB funding code to mitigate interest rate and inflation risks. Once the strategy is set, we continuously monitor and adjust strategies to reflect any changes in underlying scheme characteristics.
Asset-liability modelling and efficient frontier
We construct investment strategies using advanced asset-liability models (ALM) to optimise risk-return profiles. Our efficient frontier analysis helps trustees balance risk and return, ensuring the best outcomes for scheme members.

Accurate record-keeping & data reviews
When we take on a scheme we assess the accuracy and completeness of the data we receive. We offer regular common and scheme specific data reviews to highlight any errors and gaps, providing recommendations to agree a data improvement plan to address the issues.
Member support
Members can contact our UK-based team directly via email, phone or in writing. If they are local, they can bring their retirement forms to us if they let us know when they are coming.
Member portal
We can offer members access to their pension information securely 24/7 via our online portal, where they can update details or raise queries.
Member communications
We can keep members up to date with scheme updates and newsletters, including informing them of member nominated trustee elections and funding updates.
Benefit calculations & member transactions
We handle all the usual aspects of member processing - providing benefit illustrations on request, regular annual benefit statements, and arranging settlement of payments in respect of transfers, retirements and deaths.
Pensioner payroll
We offer monthly payroll services and conduct annual pensioner existence checks.

Value at risk calculations
Our comprehensive value at risk calculations help trustees understand potential risks and make informed decisions, so they can anticipate and manage risks effectively. These insights support de-risking strategies as schemes mature and move towards their long-term objective.
Trustee training
We offer tailored trustee training to build and maintain understanding of the mechanics and risks of the strategies we implement. Empowering trustees with knowledge is a cornerstone of our approach, ensuring competence and making sure they are able to act in the best interests of pension scheme members at all times.
Investment switching
We facilitate investment switches both within your portfolio and to different fund managers, ensuring optimal asset allocation and performance, limited time out of the markets, and clear communication throughout. Our proactive approach to investment switches ensures that your scheme remains agile and responsive.

Contribution monitoring
We track and reconcile contributions to ensure they are received in line with statutory deadlines.
Pension increases
We calculate and communicate pension increases, keeping members informed ahead of the increase date.
Annual reports & accounts
We draft annual pension scheme accounts for trustees liaising with the scheme auditor to ensure a smooth accounts preparation process. We also draft the accounts and update Companies House for schemes who have a corporate trustee in place.
Banking & cash flow management
Our team manages trustee bank accounts, monitoring scheme cash flow on a monthly basis to ensure disinvestments to cover pension outgo are made on a timely basis when required.
Stewardship reporting
We provide regular, tailored administration reports to keep trustees informed and in control of scheme performance generally and any cases to note that the team feel you should be aware of.
General compliance
We assist with the Pensions Regulator and HMRC scheme returns, and other regulatory submissions such as event reporting.

How Our Service Works

Our approach to investment services is client-centric, focusing on delivering tailored solutions that align with each client's specific needs and goals. We pride ourselves on our ability to provide:

Personalised service

Expert guidance

Diverse asset management

Portfolio management

Regular reporting

Trustee meetings

Investment reviews

Fund insights

Manager meetings

Nil commission

Hughes Price Walker investment administration team collaborating at their desks while reviewing client information.

Statement

Compliance Statement

HPW is not authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 but we are able in certain circumstances to offer a limited range of investment services to clients because we are licensed by the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries. We can provide these investment services if they are an incidental part of the professional services we have been engaged to provide.

We are required to maintain adequate professional indemnity insurance for a firm of our size. In accordance with the disclosure requirements of the Provision of Services Regulations 2009, the firm's professional indemnity insurer is Arch Insurance (UK) Limited, Plantation Place South, 60 Great Tower Street, London EC3R 5AZ. The territorial coverage is worldwide.

HPW Digital Products

Digital Tools for Trustees and Members

Pension Portal

Empowering members with secure, real-time access to their pension information

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Pension Portal

Empowering members with secure, real-time access to their pension information

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Pension Portal

Empowering members with secure, real-time access to their pension information

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SchemeNavigator

Confidently navigate investments, contributions, and funding strategies

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SchemeNavigator

Confidently navigate investments, contributions, and funding strategies

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SchemeNavigator

Confidently navigate investments, contributions, and funding strategies

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Funding Helper

Smarter, faster scheme funding decisions

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Funding Helper

Smarter, faster scheme funding decisions

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Funding Helper

Smarter, faster scheme funding decisions

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News/Insights

Keeping You Informed

Our News & Insights page is where we share the latest updates, trends, and expert perspectives from the pensions industry. Whether it’s changes in legislation, developments in actuarial science, or practical guidance for scheme trustees and members, this is your go-to source for clear, reliable information.

Business

It’s Pension Awareness Week!

Taking control of your retirement starts with being informed. Our video shares 5 essential pension tips to help you plan with confidence.

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Business

It’s Pension Awareness Week!

Taking control of your retirement starts with being informed. Our video shares 5 essential pension tips to help you plan with confidence.

Read Article

Business

It’s Pension Awareness Week!

Taking control of your retirement starts with being informed. Our video shares 5 essential pension tips to help you plan with confidence.

Read Article

Pensions

Pensions Dashboards – Key Updates from TPR and PDP

The Pensions Dashboards Programme is moving into Phase 2 of its nudge communications, helping schemes either maintain post-connection compliance or take urgent action if they’ve missed their connection deadline.

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Pensions

Pensions Dashboards – Key Updates from TPR and PDP

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Pensions

Pensions Dashboards – Key Updates from TPR and PDP

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Unwavering commitment to long-term goals

Unwavering commitment to long-term goals

Dedicated Investment Support

Dedicated Investment Support

Investment Services

Investment Strategies and Solutions