January 2020

How the Longevity Project Is Reimagining Our Longer Lives

As life expectancies are growing and the 100-year-life is becoming more common, how can Americans, the U.S. government and employers best prepare for the challenges and opportunities of longevity? Meet the Longevity Project, the new initiative designed to come up with some answers. The Longevity Project, developed in collaboration with the Stanford Center on Longevity (its lead content creator), is generating research and engaging in public conversation on the many impacts of longer lives. It just released a poll...

Nigeria to borrow N2tn to fund infrastructure development

Nigeria’s National Economic Council (NEC) says the federal government has resolved to borrow two trillion from the current 10 trillion naira pension funds to finance the development of infrastructure. Niyi Falade, CEO of Crusader Sterling Pensions joins CNBC Africa to discuss this story. Watch de video in @CNBC Africa

US. Public Pensions Reducing Fee Outlays to Improve Efficiency

Public retirement systems are squeezing down their expenses to operate more efficiently, according to an annual study by the National Conference on Public Employee Retirement Systems. Read also 28% of Americans in Their 60s Are Extremely Short on Retirement Savings The 2019 NCPERS Public Retirement Systems Study, based on responses from 155 state and local pension systems, shows that trustees, managers, and administrators are working to ensure funds’ fiscal and operational integrity, according to Hank H. Kim, executive director and...

UK. DWP publishes expat pension guidance ahead of Brexit

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that the UK state pension will be protected by the Withdrawal Agreement in new guidance examining the rights for UK nationals after the UK has left the EU. The guidance confirmed that UK nationals living in an EEA state or Switzerland by 31 December 2020 will be covered by the Withdrawal Agreement. The UK state pension will be uprated every year that an individual continues to live there, regardless of...

Legal blow to French pension reform plans

Country's highest administrative court warns government that it has not had time to study legislation properly and it 'guarantee the legal security' of controversial changes to the pension system President Emmanuel Macron's controversial pension reform plans that have prompted weeks of strikes and protests have been dealt a blow by the country's highest administrative court. The Conseil d'Etat said that the financial forecasts underpinning the bills were questionable and warned that it could not "guarantee the best possible legal...

US. What Are The Solo 401(k) Contributions Limits For 2020?

For those of you who are working as independent contractors or small business owners, you may benefit from contributing to a small business retirement plan. One plan that allows for the largest pre-tax contribution is the Solo 401(k). Tax planning for your business may be the difference between turning a nice profit and barely keeping the doors open. Similarly, making smart tax moves may free up more money to save for a secure retirement. Using a Solo 401(k)...

UK Pension Fund Brunel to Firms, Asset Managers: Tackle Climate or We’ll Drop You

Companies and asset managers must show progress towards climate goals by 2022, Brunel Pension Partnership, one of Britain's biggest pension fund managers, said on Monday, or the fund will withdraw its investment. Policymakers such as outgoing Bank of England Governor Mark Carney are pushing investors to do more to ensure their portfolio choices help to meet the 2015 Paris Agreement to combat climate change, by limiting warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius, preferably to 1.5C. Brunel, which manages...

French Unions Warn Macron Pension Strikes Will Drag On for Months

France's hardleft trade unions on Friday threatened industrial action for months to come, as they searched for a way to force President Emmanuel Macron to ditch the biggest overhaul of the country's pension system since World War Two. The unions have been locked in battle with Macron over the fate of France's generous pension benefits since early December. The former investment banker has made some concessions to the unions but refuses to abandon his reform. The unions on Friday...

Greek public sector workers set to strike over pension reform

Greek civil servants’ union ADEDY has heralded strike action as soon as a bill with the government’s pension reform is tabled in Parliament, ekathimerini.com reports. ADEDY’s executive committee indicated on Thursday that it would proceed with a 24-hour strike on the day the bill goes to the House, in line with a decision adopted during its session last week. The union's key demands are for the revocation of all pension cuts implemented during Greece’s bailout years and a full state guarantee...

UK. FCA fined over pension scheme failures

The Pensions Regulator has fined the FCA £2,000 due to insufficient detail in its 2018 DC governance statement. This is the maximum fine The Pensions Regulator can issue for poor statements. Firms must submit an annual chair's statement which sets out how the scheme meets certain standards and obligations including information on the scheme’s default fund and its governance, the costs and charges applied, and the assessment of value for members. The fine was issued during Q3 2019, however...