In this paper, the main object of which is to promote a mutually helpful discussion, a deliberate attempt has been made to avoid going into detailed descriptions of methods of administration. These vary, of course, from office to office and it is quite reasonable that the difficulties which presented themselves should have been successfully surmounted in different ways. It is both interesting and informative to learn the various practices which have been adopted, but a close study of them may lead to an oversight of underlying problems and a disproportionate expenditure of time.

It should also be mentioned that the title would be really more suitable for a whole book rather than for a short paper presented for a single evening's discussion. Consequently, two restraints have been imposed, both of which derive from the dynamic growth in size and complexity of group pension business over the last two or three decades.