November 2022

Kenya. Employers want new NSSF rates spread over five years

Employers want the proposed increase in the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) contributions spread over  five-years, even as they call for more consultation. The Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE) says this will enable employers and employees adjust to accommodate the new rates, further adding that it should be effected based on “statutory minimums.” This comes as the government continues to push for an increase on the monthly contributions through the NSSF Act.  It seeks to raise this from the Sh200 flat...

Portuguese seniors’ life expectancy decreased again, provisional results show. It determines pension age for 2024

Statistic Portugal published on November 29 the provisional value of life expectancy at age 65 for the three-year period 2020-2022. Every year this estimates has an influence on pensions in Portugal. Life expectancy at age 65 in Portugal is estimated at 19.30 years for the triennium 2020-2022. Different from life expectancy at birth, this means Portuguese at age 65 between 2020 and 2022 could expect to live until 84 years and 110 days on average. It decreased 0.05 year compared...

Canada. Are longevity fund solutions going to change the retirement income game?

Over the past few years, Canada’s investment fund industry has sought to revolutionize Canada’s retirement-planning landscape with the introduction of innovative products. In 2021, Purpose Investments launched the Longevity Pension Fund, while Guardian Capital introduced its own GuardPath Longevity Solutions earlier this year. While they don’t offer estate-planning guarantees, both go beyond the scope of traditional mutual funds by tapping into mortality credits, an idea that was first explored through the use of tontines in the 16th century. As the fund...

UK. FCA reveals £49m redress scheme for British Steel pensions

Financial advisers to pay about £45,000 a worker to 1,000 staff who received unsuitable advice More than 1,000 former members of the British Steel pension scheme who received unsuitable advice from financial advisers accused of “enriching” themselves will receive an average payout of £45,000 in compensation. The City watchdog on Monday launched plans for a scheme that seeks to compensate those who had not yet received redress after being given poor pension transfer advice when British Steel fell into financial hardship. The...

US. Blackboxes Within Blackboxes: Cryptocurrency In Your State Pension

The recent collapse of the global cryptocurrency markets has exposed many previously hidden dangers related to these blackbox investments. Growing secrecy at our nation’s public pensions has turned these retirement plans into blackboxes themselves. Public pension officials have agreed to be kept in the dark about how much they’re poised to lose in cryptocurrency investments and aren’t eager to acknowledge the losses resulting from their gambling in crypto. No one knows for certain just how much blackbox cryptocurrency blackbox...

Fintual entra en el negocio del ahorro para el retiro en México de manera digital

La fintech chilena, Fintual, está entrando al negocio del ahorro para elretiro en México de manera digital. La startup tecnológica busca llegar a las personas que no tienen acceso al sistema de pensiones. El plan personal de retiro de Fintual no obligará a los usuarios a pagar montos mínimos ni primas, asegura la compañía que llegó a México en 2021. Fintual estima que existen cerca de 25 millones de mexicanos que hoy se encuentran fuera del sistema de pensión tradicional...

The countries with the oldest populations

Declining birth rates, rising divorce rates and increasing life expectancy are among the many factors changing demographics around the world. In fact, many countries are experiencing an overall aging population. According to a 2019 World Bank study, the following countries have the oldest populations. Bulgaria Just over 21% of Bulgarians are aged 65 and over, which contributes both to the general aging of the population and to one of the fastest depopulation in all of Europe. As a result of the...

El Salvador. Ley para pagar pensiones con dinero de ahorrantes actuales será eliminada, adelanta ministro

El Fideicomiso de Obligaciones Previsionales (FOP), creado en 2006 por el expresidente Antonio Saca y que permitió al gobierno echar mano de los ahorros de los trabajadores, será eliminado como parte de las reformas previsionales que el gobierno ha presentado a la Asamblea Legislativa, según dijo este lunes el ministro de Hacienda, Alejandro Zelaya. El FOP fue creado por Saca en 2006 cuando el gobierno ya no tenía fuentes de financiamiento para pagar pensiones de los jubilados del sistema de...

70% of Hong Kong banking customers not satisfied with their online experience

Consumer confidence in digital banking has risen strongly in past two years – but large majority would trust 'Big Tech' with their finances at least as much as a bank. Hong Kong consumer confidence in digital banking is rising but trust is no longer a bank monopoly, according to a new Asia-Pacific focused Bank of the Future survey from Capco, the global technology and management consultancy. Capco surveyed 707 Hong Kong consumers to gauge their attitudes to banking services at a...

Innovation in ESG Investing

There has never been a better time to invest based on environmental, social and governance principles. Institutional asset owners are benefiting from a menu of ESG strategies, products and capabilities that is bigger than ever before. Innovation by asset managers and increased regulatory pressure is driving ESG investing forward. Most asset owners, 85%, believe that ESG factors are material to investment policy, while 70% say ESG factors have become more material in the last five years, according to the Voice...