January 2020

Mongolia to write off loans of all pensioners

The National Security Council of Mongolia led by the country's president has decided to write off the loans of all pensioners in the country. President Khaltmaa Battulga announced the decision on Tuesday night while extending New Year greetings to his people via media. "I am happy to announce that the National Security Council of Mongolia has decided to pay off the loans of all pensioners ... with the aim to help them get out of debt," he said. It...

Japan’s GPIF is right — short selling is downright irresponsible

When the Japanese Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF) announced it was going to stop stock lending, the decision was met with a mixed response from commentators. Among them was a damning conclusion from the Financial Times’ Lex column, which suggested this was another example of Japan Inc “scoring an own goal”. I could not disagree more. The GPIF is one of very few major financial institutions not only to have thought through its own broader responsibilities but also to have put...

US. Estate Planning: What Does the SECURE Act Mean for You and Your Retirement?

The SECURE Act signed into law in December is the most important retirement legislation in over a decade. The overall goal of the SECURE Act was to make saving for retirement easier and more affordable. Read also Japan’s GPIF is right — short selling is downright irresponsible What’s New? One major change is that the age that individuals must start taking their minimum distributions from retirement accounts has been raised from 70 ½ to 72. This is important because it...

PPI Year in pensions 2019

Download our yearly report on pensions news, research and events of the year. This publication includes: -Review of the year by Ernesto Brodersohn-Recap of events covered by PPI in Africa and Latin America in 2019-Infographics of research on pensions in our media outlet-Compilation of our weekly newsletters Get Year in Pensions 2019 here

December 2019

Chile. Gerente de Asociación de AFP: “No pidamos que sean los garantes del sistema de seguridad social”

El gerente general de la Asociación de Administradora de Fondos de Pensiones (AFP), Fernando Larraín, comentó el rol de las AFP y advirtió que no se les puede pedir que sean las garantes de la seguridad social. En el programa Estado Nacional, de TVN, se le preguntó si a las AFP les ha faltado la vocación de ser un sistema de protección social, a lo que él respondió que “como actores, yo creo que sí (…) Pero no le...

The Collapse of the Models. Re-shaping Social Protection in Europe and Latin America

The 2010-decade was a challenging period for the world. Latin America’s economy was doing relatively well at the beginning of the decade. However, the region’s economy is stagnated. Read also Colombia’s Pension Reform Hampered By Political Tension The European Union has been struggling too. Besides economic stagnation, right-wing populist candidates have been on the rise. The populists’ slogans on preserving national identity and tackling uncontrolled immigration have gained traction. Read also Greek government planning pension rises for 450,000 recipients Further, the...

UK. Bank of England Governor warns of climate change threat to pension funds

Bank of England governor Mark Carney has warned pension schemes are at risk due to climate change unless they cut their investments in fossil fuels. The outgoing BoE chief made the comments in a pre-recorded BBC Radio 4 interview broadcast today (30 December). Read also UK. 20 key changes to tax, pensions, benefits, rail fares and more coming in 2020 He warned unless firms woke up to the 'climate crisis' certain assets would become worthless. Mr Carney said:...

México. Hay 19 millones de trabajadores que no saben que tienen afore

Al cierre de noviembre del 2019, las administradoras de fondos para el retiro (afores) registraron 19 millones 3,073 cuentas asignadas, es decir, cuentas de trabajadores que no saben que tienen una afore, pero que cada mes se les descuenta de su salario una parte para destinarlo a su ahorro para el retiro. Dicho número de cuentas representa 29% del universo total que registran las 10 afores que conforman el mercado y que suman más de 65.4 millones de cuentas,...

France. Macron forced to step in to defuse crisis over pension changes

Emmanuel Macron will be forced to speak out on France’s ongoing pensions strike in his televised new year address on Tuesday as transport stoppages look likely to continue into a fifth week, causing major disruption over the holiday period and into January. Read also On Day 29, French rail strike makes history The centrist French president, who made overhauling the country’s pensions system a key election pledge, has until now refrained from intervening personally, leaving his prime minister, Edouard Philippe,...

UK. 20 key changes to tax, pensions, benefits, rail fares and more coming in 2020

A huge number of changes are planned for 2020 that will affect many aspects of your life - including changes to benefits, pensions and transport fares. Some of the moves will be good news for your finances - others will hit you in the pocket. Benefits are rising, while tax breaks are taken from landlords - and while the state pension is up, free TV licences are being taken away. There are also new rights coming affecting bank accounts...