Associate
What we do
In a nutshell – we are here to help pension schemes perform better, and deliver better outcomes for members
Our service capabilities for DC schemes include governance, adviser selection, programme management and outsourced pensions management solutions. We also partner with DC schemes and trustees on:
Master trust selection
We’ve helped a significant number of own trust DC schemes move to master trusts. We enjoy strong, trusted relationships with all master trust providers – this, combined with our deep master trust expertise and clearly defined selection process, has resulted in a history of helping clients find the right partner reflecting their unique needs.
Post retirement options
We partner with own trust DC schemes to review and assess their post-retirement options and help guide the right decisions for the benefit of members.
Benchmarking
We bring extensive knowledge and access to the DC market to help drive benchmarking exercises for own trust DC schemes so they can compare what they provide against what is available across similar schemes and master trusts. We also do this for schemes that have moved to master trust and wish to review the current arrangement.
Review of current DC advisers
Our independence means we enjoy strong relationships with DC advisers and have access to their propositions teams in a wide range of consulting areas.
What sets us apart
Our team experience: unusually, our team not only have extensive consulting experience – several members have also worked inside master trusts, running or supporting them. This means they bring strong practical experience in this area when it comes to guiding DC schemes in assessing and moving to a master trust arrangement.
We have a strong cultural ethos of building collaborative partnerships: we are people-focused and love working with others, which creates a strong cultural alignment with the clients we work with. We complement this with our wider team of experts that have practiced experience in pensions.
Lack of client conflicts: as a director-owned business, we always place client interests first, providing unbiased advice and complete objectivity that’s focused on meeting their needs. We’re completely independent of all the master trust solutions, having no advisory relationships to “muddy the waters”.
Client centric approach: a key part of our consulting process is taking the time early on to understand client business drivers and stakeholder requirements – all to often rushed in our experience. This extends to giving providers bidding for client appointments the time to talk to the client before working on tenders; essential in ensuring that responses are adapted to the needs of that business
Musings | 17 Sept 2025
Implementing post DC retirement solutions
The Pension Schemes Bill 2025 is expected to place new duties on trustees to provide “default pension benefit solutions” for DC members. Paul Armitage looks at the current landscape and what might be expected going forwards, including considerations for trustees.
Musings | 18 Mar 2025
Value for money: Where next?
Paul Armitage, DC Lead for Muse, looks at the proposed new value for money (VFM) framework that is likely to apply to all workplace pension schemes, touching on proposals for public disclosure of scheme performance, market reaction and how VFM fits into the wider political landscape.
Musings | 12 Dec 2024
Delivering better member outcomes
Ian McQuade covers some of the developments we’ve seen this year in pensions – and there have been many. One notable achievement was the launch of the Royal Mail Collective Pension Plan, which bridges the gap between DB and DC. The governance regime remains another important topic of discussion, where trustee boards provide important checks and balances. Is this being eroded by the corporate sole trustee? Read Ian’s insights here.
Meet senior members of the team supporting DC
Master trust expertise
Our team is highly experienced in the Master Trust space, with Paul Armitage, who leads our DC work, having previously led the XPS Master Trust (the National Pension Trust) before it was sold to SEI.
Paul McBride established L&G’s Master Trust and subsequently HSBC’s Master Trust;
Katherine Milton and Tony Brown supported the governance of the Fidelity Master Trust before joining Muse.
Pamjit Virdi is involved in our supplier research programme and is also a member of the Pension Regulator’s (TPR) Industry-led Diversity and Inclusion Working Group
Helping Trustees and Companies to better govern their pension schemes
Get in touch today to find out how we can help.
