February 2025

UK. Pensions industry could save members ‘millions’ in private market fees, report finds

The UK workplace pension industry could have the opportunity to save "hundreds of millions of pounds" for savers when it comes to investing in private markets, a report from The People’s Pension has suggested. The paper found that while there are nearly £1bn in potential fee savings available, no master trust currently has the scale to fully take advantage, which aligns with the government's own recent calculations, which suggested that investing in private markets delivers little additional value at current...

Philippines. Funding your future: The road to retirement income

"SOCIAL security will cover most of my retirement expenses and I can fully rely on my company's retirement plan to further support me. Additionally, I can live comfortably on a smaller budget in retirement." While these thoughts are common when people think about retirement income, it is important to consider whether they might be too optimistic, as they could lead to complacency and hinder adequate preparation for retirement. The Mercer CFA Institute Global Pension Index (GPI), launched in 2009, is...

January 2025

México. Dinero ahorrado en Afores enfrentará volatilidad ante políticas de Trump: Amafore

En conferencia de prensa, el presidente de Amafore, Guillermo Zamarripa, recordó que el año pasado fue histórico para las Afore, las cuales registraron plusvalías por más de 556 mil millones de pesos. El dinero ahorrado en las Administradoras de Fondos para el Retiro (Afore), podrían enfrentar volatilidad ante las políticas que aplique Donald Trump en Estados Unidos, consideró el presidente de la Asociación Mexicana de Afores (Amafore), Guillermo Zamarripa. Parte de lo que esperamos en 2025 es un año, en que,...

Chile. Todos los fondos de pensiones comienzan el 2025 con alzas

Todos los fondos de pensiones iniciaron el año con desempeño positivo, en medio de una subida de la renta variable y la baja de tasas, según datos entregados por la consultora Ciedess. Con valores cuota al 27 de enero, los fondos A y B suben 2,09% y 1,54% respectivamente en lo que va del mes. El fondo C avanza un 1,04%, mientras que el D y E repuntaron un 0,5 y 0,13% cada uno. En el caso de los fondos...

México. Año nuevo, metas nuevas: el ahorro para el retiro como prioridad

El nuevo año nos permite reconfigurar nuestro comportamiento y convertirnos en un “yo” más responsable, que priorice el ahorro para el largo plazo. “Lo que no se define, no se puede medir, y lo que no se mide, no se puede mejorar”. Esta frase, atribuida al físico y matemático británico, Lord Kelvin, refleja un principio esencial de nuestra naturaleza: buscamos no solo entender el mundo que nos rodea, sino optimizarlo para nuestro beneficio, motivados por el instinto de supervivencia. Este...

¿Tu fondo de retiro debería incluir criptomonedas?

¿Te animarías a utilizar criptomonedas en tu fondo de retiro? En algunos países como Estados Unidos o Australia esta ya es una realidad. Desde sus inicios en 2009, las criptomonedas han dado de qué hablar por factores como el sistema, regulación, precios, volatilidad, fraudes y, ahora, su uso para incrementar el ahorro en un fondo de retiro. Aunque por el momento se ha descartado este tipo de aplicación en el mercado mexicano, hay otros países como Estados Unidos que están...

US. DOL Issues New Guidance Streamlining the Voluntary Fiduciary Correction Program

Seyfarth Synopsis: The Department of Labor (DOL) has issued a much awaited amendment to its Voluntary Fiduciary Correction Program (VFC Program). Notably, the amendment adds a self-correction feature for the delinquent transmittal of participant contributions and loan repayments under certain circumstances. This self-correction program allows plan fiduciaries, including plan sponsors, to correct these types of transactions without the additional hassle and expense of formally submitting an application with the DOL’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) for approval and relief. Background The...

South Africans face the prospect of retiring at 80

Based on data from over 300 000 Sanlam Umbrella Fund members. While 65 remains the official retirement age, most South Africans will need to work until 80 before they can afford to retire comfortably. This is according to data from Sanlam Corporate, based on insights into its over 300 000 Sanlam Umbrella Fund members. The company’s research highlights a growing retirement funding crisis, with estimates that only one in four South Africans will be able to retire at 65. Sanlam Corporate CEO Kanyisa...

Iran’s Aging Population: A Looming Crisis

On January 28, the state-run website Eco Iran published a report titled “Iran’s Population Is Getting Older,” highlighting the significant demographic shifts in Iranian urban households over the past decade (2014–2024). The report reveals a troubling trend: the decline of the young population and the rapid aging of society, posing serious economic and social challenges. Demographic Shifts: A Declining Young Population A review of official statistics underscores a clear decline in the birth rate. The share of children under one year...

US. More than 4 in 5 retirement plans have at least one regulatory ‘red flag’ violation

More than 4 in 5 workplace retirement plans in the U.S. (84%) have at least one regulatory “red flag” violation that could put them at risk of fines, legal penalties or fiduciary failure, according to consultant Abernathy Daley 401k Consultants. Of the nearly 765,000 defined contribution plans analyzed, 43% had at least one “regulatory infraction red flag” or RIRF, the most severe type of violation that could result in civil legal penalties, discovery leading to trial, or both, Abernathy said. RIRF...