Investments

We believe that abiding by Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) guidelines gives the potential to add value when integrated into the investment process for long-term investors and specifically, we believe it helps control risk.

Following a review of the funds available to Members, the Trustee implemented a change to ensure that the Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM) Lifestyle strategy have a much improved ESG score. In addition to the Lifestyle strategy, all other funds including the Target Date Funds and self-selected range have been fully assessed for ESG considerations and the Trustee continue to work with the Investment Managers to ensure they are suitable for Members’ retirement savings.

The Trustee maintains a close relationship with the Investment Managers to ensure its instructions are being accurately reflected and frequently request updates to see how the position has improved over time.

The Trustee continues to improve the ESG rating of funds with a focus on exploring a wholly ESG centred fund available to Members as a self-select option.

Read the Climate-related financial disclosures report here.

Crystal’s Lifestyle strategy has been chosen as a best-fit default for your Members due to its outstanding performance in the Master Trust market. Our remaining carefully selected investment options are available for your Members to self-select from and are all closely monitored by the Trustee and Investment Manager.

Should you wish to discuss alternative arrangements please contact us.

Crystal offers 5 first-class decumulation options for your employees when they reach retirement age with a low-cost default for those who are not ready to begin drawing their retirement savings.

Each strategy is monitored by the Trustee, Investment Committee, and Investment Consultant, who ensure the funds are managed effectively and perform in line with the Trustee’s expectations.

All funds benefit from:

• Pre-retirement communication, planning and guidance,
• No rushed decision,
• Continued ‘ownership’ of the Fund post retirement,
• No long-term ties,
• Access to evoLink for individuals to view fund value, make updates, and view payment history where applicable,
• Ability to pass on benefits on death to a Directed Beneficiary in the form of an extended drawdown or a lump sum payment to the Estate (subject to tax).

Crystal offers its Lifestyle strategy as a default fund and 7 first-class investment strategies as self-select funds. All investment funds are monitored by the Trustee, Investment Committee, and the Investment Consultant.

Whichever investment funds you choose for your Retirement Savings, it will expose your savings to investment risk. This means that there is a risk that you may get back less than you invested. This could be a result of the market going down or because investments do not perform as well as expected.

If you decide to select your own investment funds, you should review your funds regularly to make sure that your choices remain suitable. The value of your Retirement Savings will fluctuate, it is important to keep an eye on how they are performing and remember that this is a long-term investment.

You cannot eliminate risk completely, but you can manage it. We recommend that you speak to a financial adviser before deciding about your investments.

It is important to remember that:

• Exchange rate fluctuations may have an adverse effect on the value of non-UK shares,
• In extreme market cycles income may not increase in line with inflation and the spending power of income will reduce,
• The investments and/or investment services referred to may not be suitable for all investors. If individuals are unsure of the suitability of any retirement investment, they should contact an Independent Financial Adviser for further information,
• The investment funds provided by Crystal are held on the Mobius Life platform and with Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM). All assets are owned by either Mobius Life or LGIM as the policy holders and not Evolve Pensions Limited, or The Crystal Trust,
• AllianceBernstein funds and LGIM funds are offered under a pooled custody arrangement. The Trustee access the service by entering into a discretionary investment management arrangement with both AllianceBernstein and LGIM. Each account in the series is comprised of a combination of underlying funds managed by AllianceBernstein and LGIM, along with other fund managers and direct investments,
• All funds are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).

Scammers are targeting pension pots of all sizes – help to make sure your savers know how to spot the signs.

Pension scams can be hard to spot. Scammers can be articulate with credible websites, testimonials and materials that are hard to distinguish from the real thing.

Their impact can be devastating. Last year, victims of pension scams lost on average £91,000 each.

The FCA and TPR are urging Trustees and pension providers to get to know their responsibilities and take steps to help protect savers from losing their pension savings to scammers.

The regulators recommend four simple steps that schemes can share with their savers to protect them.

1. Reject unexpected pension offers whether made online, on social media or over the phone.
2. Check who you’re dealing with before changing your pension arrangements. Check the ScamSmart website or call 0800 111 6768 to see if the firm you are dealing with is authorised by the FCA to give advice on pension transfers.
3. Don’t be rushed or pressured into making any decision about your pension.
4. Consider getting impartial information and advice – in some cases it may be a requirement to do so.

For more information, download and share The Pensions Regulator and Financial Conduct Authority’s joint leaflet on how to spot and protect your Employees.

The pensions industry plays a vital role in the fight against scams. You can help stop suspicious transfers and alert regulators and law enforcement agencies to fraudulent activity, so we can take action. 

If a saver asks for a scheme transfer, use TPR’s checklist to find out more about the receiving schemes and how the Member came to make a request.

Help your savers be ScamSmart with their pension.

To get to know your responsibilities and to find out more, visit The Pensions Regulator.