StepStone Group Partners with Aviva to Broaden Access to Private Markets for UK Pension Savers
MWN-AI** Summary
StepStone Group has partnered with Aviva to expand access to private markets for UK pension savers through Aviva's new My Future Vision default strategy. This innovative approach allocates 20-25% of funds to private markets, addressing the UK government's call for increased investment in these areas by defined contribution (DC) funds. StepStone, a global private markets investment firm managing approximately $723 billion in total capital, will leverage its extensive network and investment expertise to provide UK retirement savers with institutional-grade opportunities in private markets.
The My Future Vision strategy is designed to adapt to the varying stages of retirement savings, balancing growth in the early years with a focus on stability and income as savers near retirement. This aligns with initiatives such as the UK Mansion House Compact and Accord, which aim to channel more long-term capital into unlisted equities and private markets, thus improving retirement outcomes and enhancing portfolio diversification.
Jason Ment, President and Co-Chief Operating Officer of StepStone Group, expressed confidence that this partnership will improve long-term results for UK retirement savers. Nick Gardner, Managing Director of UK Distribution at StepStone, emphasized the significance of this collaboration in making private market investments accessible in a transparent and scalable manner for advisors, trustees, and employers.
As StepStone builds on its momentum in the private wealth sector, this partnership with Aviva showcases the increasing recognition of private markets' importance in the UK pensions landscape. The collaboration not only supports ongoing demand for innovative investment solutions but also reinforces StepStone's commitment to developing customized portfolios that meet clients' specific investment objectives across various asset classes.
MWN-AI** Analysis
The recent partnership between StepStone Group and Aviva marks a pivotal moment for UK pension savers, particularly those invested in defined contribution (DC) schemes. This collaboration develops Aviva's My Future Vision strategy, which allocates 20-25% to private markets, fulfilling the UK government's encouragement to enhance investment in unlisted equities.
For financial advisors and pension trustees, this innovation presents a compelling investment avenue. StepStone’s vast experience, managing approximately $723 billion, provides a unique perspective on global private markets that could significantly enhance the long-term returns for UK retirement savers.
The phased approach to asset allocation offered by My Future Vision is noteworthy. It deftly balances growth in early career stages with a shift towards stability and income as retirement age approaches. This lifecycle investment strategy is particularly beneficial, as it reduces risk exposure during the crucial pre-retirement transition, an area where many traditional fallback plans often fall short.
Advisors should emphasize to clients the advantages of this collaborative effort, particularly in diversifying their portfolios with institutional-grade access to high-quality private market opportunities. Such access not only enhances potential returns but also aligns investments with the growing demand for long-term capital in a recovering post-pandemic economy.
Moreover, with StepStone’s capabilities and deep market insights, retail investors can access sophisticated management practices typically reserved for institutional investors. This democratization of private markets could help improve overall retirement outcomes, making it a central talking point for pension fund managers striving to optimize returns.
In conclusion, advisors should consider recommending Aviva's My Future Vision strategy as a strategic enhancement to current DC portfolios, particularly for clients focused on long-term growth and stability. This initiative could redefine the retirement saving landscape in the UK, ensuring that savers are well-equipped for the future.
**MWN-AI Summary and Analysis is based on asking OpenAI to summarize and analyze this news release.
- My Future Vision’s strategy will allocate 20–25% to private markets, supporting the government’s call for DC funds to boost UK private market investment
- This collaborative approach will allow UK retirement savers to benefit from the combination of Aviva's DC capabilities and StepStone's $723 billion global platform, ensuring differentiated access to attractive private markets opportunities globally
StepStone Group (Nasdaq: STEP), a global private markets investment firm, announced today it is partnering with Aviva to offer its UK trust-based pension schemes, institutional-grade access to global private markets through Aviva’s newly launched My Future Vision default strategy.
As one of five specialist managers selected by Aviva to help deliver this innovative new solution, StepStone will bring its panoramic view of private markets deal flow, differentiated access to high-quality managers, and long-standing investment expertise to millions of UK retirement savers.
My Future Vision represents a major step forward in defined contribution (“DC”) investing. By tailoring allocations to savers’ stage of life, the strategy aims to balance growth in early years with stability and income closer to retirement. The strategy also supports the UK Mansion House Compact and Accord, helping to channel more long-term capital into unlisted equities and private markets with the aim of diversifying and improving retirement outcomes.
“We founded StepStone Private Wealth Solutions to provide private markets access to different profiles of investors and a broader range of pension savers. Partnering with Aviva allows us to extend that mission and we're confident this has the potential to enhance long-term outcomes for UK retirement savers,” said Jason Ment, President and Co-Chief Operating Officer, StepStone Group.
“Aviva’s new My Future Vision solution demonstrates the growing importance of private markets in the UK pensions landscape. We’re proud to partner on this initiative and to bring StepStone’s scale, insights, and global relationships to UK retirement savers. For advisors, trustees and employers, this marks a significant step forward in how private markets can be accessed in a transparent and scalable way,” said Nick Gardner, Managing Director, UK Distribution, StepStone Group.
StepStone continues to build on its momentum following the rapid growth of its private wealth business, driven by demand for evergreen funds and new solutions globally.
About StepStone Group
StepStone Group Inc. (Nasdaq: STEP) is a global private markets investment firm focused on providing customized investment solutions and advisory and data services to its clients. As of June 30, 2025, StepStone was responsible for approximately $723 billion of total capital, including $199 billion of assets under management. StepStone’s clients include some of the world’s largest public and private defined benefit and defined contribution pension funds, sovereign wealth funds and insurance companies, as well as prominent endowments, foundations, family offices and private wealth clients, which include high-net-worth and mass affluent individuals. StepStone partners with its clients to develop and build private markets portfolios designed to meet their specific objectives across the private equity, infrastructure, private debt and real estate asset classes.
For more information, visit StepStone Group
About Aviva
- We are the UK's leading diversified insurer and we operate in the UK, Ireland and Canada. We also have international investments in India and China.
- We help over 25 million customers (including Direct Line) make the most out of life, plan for the future, and have the confidence that if things go wrong we’ll be there to put it right.
- We have been taking care of people for more than 325 years, in line with our purpose of being ‘with you today, for a better tomorrow’. In 2024, we paid £29.3 billion in claims and benefits to our customers.
- For more details on what we do, our business and how we help our customers, visit www.aviva.com/about-us .
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251001782738/en/
Shareholder Relations:
Seth Weiss
shareholders@stepstonegroup.com
1-212-351-6106
Global media:
Oliver Middleton / Julia Wright, Edelman
StepStoneWealth@EdelmanSmithfield.com
+44 (0) 7974 030610
FAQ**
How does StepStone Group Inc. (Nasdaq: STEP) plan to achieve differentiated access to private market opportunities for UK retirement savers through its partnership with Aviva?
In what ways does StepStone Group Inc. (STEP) intend to enhance long-term outcomes for UK retirement savers while balancing growth and stability in Aviva's My Future Vision strategy?
Can you explain how StepStone Group Inc. (STEP) will utilize its expertise in private markets to optimize the investment strategy for different life stages of retirement savers within the My Future Vision initiative?
What measures will StepStone Group Inc. (STEP) and Aviva implement to ensure transparency and scalability in the access to private markets for UK pension schemes under the new partnership?
**MWN-AI FAQ is based on asking OpenAI questions about StepStone Group Inc. (NASDAQ: STEP).
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