September 2025

Germany. Demographics hit pension systems with full force

Bolstering the still underdeveloped second and third pillars of retirement provision is unavoidable. Expanding occupational and private pensions via pension funds and insurers would not only help shrink – or even close – the private savings gap, but also ease the strain on public budgets by stabilising or even reducing transfers to the state pension system. And not least, it would mobilise additional capital for investment through contribution funds channelled into capital markets. Lack of ambition The new CDU/CSU/SPD coalition government,...

Australia. Why retirees are turning to the gig economy

Ms Symons retired from financial planning about three years ago and was relying on the age pension for an income. But as a renting divorcée with four children and 11 grandchildren, it was hard to make ends meet. The maximum pension payment the 73-year-old could get amounted to about $675 a week. "When you take your rent out of that, the noodles are looking good [but] I don't want to eat noodles," she said. Being a driver paid per job...

Humanoid Robots Will Cater to China’s Aging Population

Robots will play a growing role in caring for China's elderly, industry insiders say, as robotics firms move to tap into the country's expanding "silver economy." Why It Matters China, like the rest of East Asia, is grappling with a flagging birth rate coupled with a fast-aging workforce. People aged 65 and older already make up about 15 percent of its 1.4 billion citizens, according to United Nations data. Demographers expect China to join Japan and South Korea as a "super-aged" society, where more...

Swiss pension funds warned on equity, bond concentration risks

Swiss pension funds are facing rising concentration risks in domestic and global equities, bonds, and regional exposures, particularly the US, according to the Pensionskassen-Jahrbuch 2025 report published by consultancy PPCmetrics. The study shows that around two-thirds (67.5%) of total pension assets of CHF859bn (€921bn) are invested in bonds and equities. The remaining 32.5% is allocated to real estate, alternatives and infrastructure. Within fixed income, an average 24.2% of total assets are invested in bonds denominated in Swiss francs, and just under 12% in...

México. Afores prefieren invertir en EU

Las administradoras de fondos para el retiro (afores) mantienen a Estados Unidos como el principal destino de inversión del ahorro de los trabajadores mexicanos. De los 1.1 billones de pesos que invirtieron las afores fuera del país, 55.3 por ciento se dirigió al país vecino del norte al cierre del primer semestre del año, de acuerdo con datos de la Comisión Nacional del Sistema de Ahorro para el Retiro (Consar) “Hoy hay trabajadores que, sin saberlo, están invirtiendo en empresas como Nvidia, Meta o Facebook, lo que les da la posibilidad...

Chile. Avanza proyecto que prohíbe pensiones a autores de femicidio, homicidio y violencia intrafamiliar

La Comisión de Mujeres y Equidad de Género de la Cámara de Diputadas y Diputados aprobó y despachó a Sala el proyecto que busca evitar que personas condenadas por delitos graves, como femicidio, homicidio y lesiones en contexto de violencia intrafamiliar, puedan recibir pensiones de sobrevivencia de sus víctimas (boletín 17.724). La iniciativa establece que no podrá ser beneficiario de este tipo de pensión quien tenga una sentencia ejecutoriada como autor, cómplice o encubridor de dichos delitos en perjuicio del causante. Asimismo, el proyecto incorpora...

Mexico’s Politics Of Pensions

Like many countries with an aging population, Mexico is facing a pension crisis. In just the last five years, the universal pension for older adults quadrupled its budget. Coupled with low growth, the ever-rising cash transfers and subsidies have become a major drag on the country’s economy. Welfare payments to individuals—such as the universal pension for older adults, disability pensions, and student stipends—have grown at a pace that outstripped investment in infrastructure, education, and security. These programs are politically attractive:...

US. Investors bet on gold’s glitter as US jobs data falters

Gold surged to a record high near US$3,600 per ounce on Friday, as speculation mounted that the US Federal Reserve could deliver a significant interest rate cut at its next meeting, following weaker-than-expected US job growth in August, according to Reuters. Investors responded to the jobs data by doubling down on bets that the Fed might cut rates by as much as 50 basis points, a move that sent Treasury yields tumbling and the US dollar lower, while boosting gold’s appeal. Nonfarm...

UK. Home Responsibilities Protection: Could you be owed thousands in backdated State Pension?

One Morning Live viewer has discovered she was owed more than £35,000 in unpaid State Pension after finding out that years she spent at home caring for her child had not been properly recorded. Her case highlights a wider problem linked to Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP), a scheme that ran between April 1978 and April 2010. HRP was designed to protect parents and carers who were unable to build up full National Insurance contributions because they were looking after children...

Chile. Superintendencia de Pensiones multa a las siete AFP por incumplimientos que afectaron al seguro de invalidez

En el marco de un proceso de fiscalización que comenzó a fines de 2023 sobre la gestión de las administradoras de fondos de pensiones (AFP) por el incumplimiento en el pago oportuno de las prestaciones realizadas por profesionales y entidades del Registro Nacional de Interconsultores, proceso que se canaliza a través de la Fundación de Administración de Comisiones Médicas (FACM), la Superintendencia de Pensiones (SP) resolvió sancionar por un total de UF 13.136 (unos $517,9 millones) a las siete...