Exactly a year has passed since the UK government began auto-enrolling millions of people into pension schemes. As well as handing over their savings, these new savers are also handing the industry something perhaps even more useful — data. And the industry is beginning to use it.

Auto-enrolment itself is based on behavioural finance - in particular, the popular "nudge" theory, that people are more likely to stick with something that's good for them, like pension saving, if you sign them up for it without asking them first. Few will take the active step of withdrawing.