Aon unveils tool to simplify pension scheme closures
Aon has launched a new service aimed at helping defined benefit (DB) pension schemes in the UK handle their endgame strategies more efficiently.
The solution, called Future DB, targets well-funded schemes looking to finalize their pension obligations. According to Aon’s Global Pensions Risk Survey 2025, 63% of UK DB schemes have either already reached their target funding levels or expect to do so within the next five years.
Streamlining pension scheme endgames
The service consolidates administration, actuarial, covenant, investment, and governance advice into a single framework. Aon said this approach removes common barriers faced by trustees and sponsors when implementing their endgame plans.
Ben Roe, Aon’s senior partner and head of UK retirement, said the changed funding setting for UK schemes required “fresh thinking and new methods.” He described Future DB as a way to provide trustees and sponsors with “a wider range of options, with more certainty and smoother execution.”
Each scheme using the service will have one main point of contact, intended to reduce management time and costs. Roe added that the solution prepares scheme data, benefits, funding, and investment strategy upfront, making schemes “endgame-ready” from the start.
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Maria Johannessen, Aon’s senior partner and UK head of investment, said the ability to align investment strategy with endgame scenarios automatically could improve outcomes for schemes and their members.
What the service offers
Future DB is built around an endgame-focused onboarding process. Aon said it maximizes the effectiveness of its core services by integrating them into a single framework. The goal is to help schemes either continue running independently or transition into a transaction more efficiently.
The timing aligns with a broader shift in the UK pension setting. Many schemes are now better funded than they have been in years, reducing the urgency of short-term fixes and allowing more focus on long-term planning. Still, the process of winding down a DB scheme remains complex, involving legal, financial, and administrative hurdles that can delay progress.
If the service gains traction, it could set a template for how consultancies approach pension scheme endgames. Other firms may follow with similar offerings, particularly as more schemes reach their funding targets. For now, though, the success of Future DB will depend on whether trustees and sponsors see enough value in the streamlined approach to adopt it over traditional methods.
Aon did not disclose pricing or specific clients using the service, but said it had been designed with input from existing scheme partners.
