September 2018

US. Another Hit to Retirement Plan Investors: Financial Transaction Tax

An analysis shows a new bill introduced in the Senate would result in a significant financial hit to retirement plan investors. Modern Markets Initiative is pushing back on a tax provision in the bill. The Inclusive Prosperity Act of 2017 has been introduced in the Senate and includes a financial transaction tax (FTT). According to Modern Markets Initiative (MMI), the FTT would be applied to every stock traded, including a 0.5% rate on equity, a 0.1% rate on debt and a...

Worlds largest public pensions in breach on climate change

A handful of public pension funds, mostly based in Europe, are showing true leadership on climate change, demonstrating robust approaches to aligning their investments with the low-carbon transition. However, over 60 per cent of pension funds have little or no strategy on climate change, according to a new global assessment of the sector ‘Pensions in a changing climate’ is the first in a series of four reports on the pensions sector produced by the Asset Owners Disclosure Project (AODP), which...

México. Afores aumentan su apetito por los fibras

Analistas explicaron que el aumento en la tasa resta atractivo por dichos instrumentos. “Ante las expectativas de nuevas alzas en la tasa, inversionistas institucionales deciden no invertir en fibras e inclinarse por otros instrumentos”, dijo Armando Rodríguez, gerente de Análisis en Signum Research. No obstante, durante los primeros seis meses del año, del total en cartera de las administradoras de fondos para el retiro (afores), se registró un aumento de 95,968 millones de pesos en fibras, desde 61,684 millones de...

Chile. Reforma de pensiones propone retiro parcial de fondos para quienes retrasen su jubilación

El superintendente de pensiones, Osvaldo Macías, entregó detalles de la reforma de pensiones que será ingresada al Congreso en el contexto del Chile Day que se desarrolló en Londres. La iniciativa considera el proyecto de ley de gradualidad para la entrada en vigencia de la cotización de los trabajadores independientes, la que busca subir el ahorro obligatorio de 10% a 14%, consignó El Mercurio. Una de las medidas propuestas que más llamó la atención durante la presentación fue que se les...

150 held over pension protests in Russia

Thousands of supporters of jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny have protested across Russia against planned increases to the pension age, with a rights group saying at least 153 of them had been detained by the police. The protests were a challenge to the authorities who were hoping for a high turnout at regional elections, also being held on Sunday, despite widespread anger over the pension move. "The authorities are not listening to people and that means it's time to take to...

Welfare boost for 4.8 million Australians

Single pensioners will soon receive an extra $8.70 a fortnight and couples will pocket an additional $13.20 following a twice-yearly change to indexation rates. Unemployed Australians will take home about $2 more each week, while parenting payments will also rise by about $3 per week. Rent assistance rates will also increase from September 20, as will a range of income and asset test limits for various payments including the age pension. Welfare rates are raised every six months to help people handle...

Zimbabwe mulls pension reforms

Zimbabwe is proposing pension reforms as it seeks to come up with an efficient pension system, according to a draft document compiled by the Insurance and Pension Commission. This comes amid challenges besetting the industry, including low confidence levels, poor viability of pension funds, low coverage and poor corporate governance. “In view of the above challenges, the Insurance and Pensions Commission has taken an initiative to propose holistic reforms for the country’s pension sector in order to come up with an...

Ireland. Report warns of explosion in public debt caused by ageing population

Longer working lives, minimising increases in public spending and reforms to boost productivity will be necessary over the coming years if an explosion in public debt, caused by an ageing population, is to be avoided, a new report from the Department of Finance has found. The report, released by the department on Sunday, projects huge increases in age-related costs unless significant policy changes are made by future governments. Rising life expectancy, greater numbers of older people and a consequent fall in...

Retirement Savings Policy: Past, Present, and Future

By Michael P. Barry "Mike brings to this work his comprehensive experience and consummate technical talent in a beautifully readable book. A treasure." --Frank Cummings, Former Adjunct Lecturer in Law at UVA Law School, Columbia Law School, NYU Law School, and ALI-ABA Retirement Savings Policy reviews the basic policies that govern retirement savings plans, and their real world application, focusing on the key issues of finance, taxation, fiduciary conduct, and employee choice. The discussion is framed around the three fundamental challenges confronting...

2018 Retirement preparedness survey: A Generational Challenge

By Prudential The U.S. retirement landscape has changed dramatically over the past few decades. Fewer workers today are eligible to receive a pension and instead must save for their own retirements, typically through workplace savings plans. Replacement rates for Social Security are declining due to the increase in the “full retirement age.”1 Income is becoming less predictable, thanks in part to new employment models. Health care costs are increasing, and so is longevity—which means workers today don’t just have more...