Case studies

Kim Gubler Consulting has provided pensions and management advice to many clients and organisations nationwide. We hope you will gain a better understanding of what we do, and our successes, through the following anonymous case studies.

Case study 1

In early 2011 Kim Gubler Consulting facilitated an Invitation to Tender for all Scheme Services to the Trustees of a well known union:

• Actuarial and general consulting
• Investment consulting
• Administration and ancillary services

The defined benefit scheme consists of around 500 members. All firms invited to tender were asked to cost on a full service proposition basis, as well as for each service separately. Once Kim Gubler Consulting received all responses time was spent extracting, analysing and evaluating all the information to determine a recommended shortlist.

Site visits were arranged for shortlisted providers and Kim Gubler Consulting recommended all trustees attended, as they are invaluable to the whole experience. Ultimately this allows the trustees to gain more of a feel for the way organisations operate and how likely they are to gel with the full board.

After the site visits Kim Gubler Consulting supported the trustees in choosing a preferred provider from the shortlisted firms this involved a one hour presentation from all shortlisted firms giving the trustees a final opportunity to scrutinise the candidates. For this client, the shortlisted firms were given a short agenda to briefly cover all important aspects of their full service and individual service demonstrating how they would support the trustees. They were also asked to answer a topical question to be treated as if it had been raised as AOB on a trustee meeting agenda.

After weighing up the pros and cons of full vs. individual services and the associated costs involved the trustees opted for a full service proposition.

The relationship is in its first year and developing well.

Case study 2

In late 2010 Kim Gubler Consulting was approached by the trustees of a well known multinational organisation as part of its pension scheme governance to reduce risk. Kim Gubler Consulting visited its HR department where there appeared to be a breakdown of communications between the department and the scheme’s advisers and the administrators for the defined benefit scheme were replicating a lot of the work that the administrators for the defined contribution scheme were doing.

After spending time with the HR team and both sets of administrators, Kim Gubler Consulting was able to map out all the current Operational Processes and develop recommendations on how to improve both the processes and adviser relations.

Despite there being some areas which required immediate attention to avoid Regulatory breach and unwarranted risk, overall the administrative processes evaluated by Kim Gubler Consulting were acceptable. Once the trustee board had agreed acceptable processes with the company and its service partners, there would be no reason a better fee structure could not be negotiated.

The client is making decent progress in key areas.