September 2024

State pension programs feel the strain of aging populations

In a nutshell Aging populations mean more retirees, pressuring state budgets State-funded pensions are likely to expand into basic-income schemes A rise in productivity is the only cure; but it remains elusive Politicians do not pay much attention to demography. Given their electoral horizons, this is hardly surprising. The so-called demographic crisis and its consequences unfold over decades, while in most countries elections of some sort take place at least every two years. Little heed is paid to whether, in...

UK. FCA data reveals surge in pension access without advice

The latest FCA retirement income data for 2023/24 reveals a significant shift in pension access and withdrawals, reflecting ongoing economic pressures and evolving strategies within retirement planning. The total number of pension plans accessed for the first time surged by 19.7%, reaching 885,455 compared to 739,652 in 2022/23. This substantial increase indicates that more individuals are turning to their pensions to manage their financial needs, likely influenced by the cost-of-living crisis forcing people to dip into their pension pots to...

Only 26% of Nigerian workers have pension plan and health insurance- NBS Report

The Nigeria Labour Force Survey published by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reports that only 26.3% of Nigerian workers have a pension plan and health insurance in 2023. The report noted that Zamfara state in the Northwest recorded the highest number of employees with health insurance and pension at 65% while Abia had the lowest number of wage employees with health insurance and pension plan at just 3.9%. The report states, “The percentage of employees entitled to either pension or health...

EEUU. Los negocios de latinos están en auge, pero pocos ahorran para la jubilación

Tener un restaurante alimenta las finanzas de la familia Manzano, pero manejar las complejidades de dirigir Tacos Manzano no es tarea fácil. Trabajar largas horas, llevar un registro de los gastos generales, trabajar con proveedores, administrar la nómina y responder a crisis inesperadas como la pandemia de COVID requiere tiempo y esfuerzo. ¿Quién tiene energía para planificar la jubilación? Antes de ser dueña del pequeño negocio que abrió en el 2002 en North Hollywood, California, Socorro Manzano, de 65 años,...

Colombia. Reforma pensional: así serían las nuevas AFP que entrarán a operar en 2025

El pasado 16 de julio, el presidente Gustavo Petro sancionó la ley que cambiará el funcionamiento de las pensiones en Colombia: la reforma pensional. Una iniciativa que, a grandes rasgos, creará un sistema de pilares que entrará en vigor el 1 de julio de 2025. Todos los afiliados al sistema cotizarán en Colpensiones hasta por 2,3 salarios mínimos ($2.990.000 en 2024) y de ahí en adelante en alguna de las administradoras de fondos de pensiones (AFP). Entonces, si usted gana...

US. 49% of workers think they can meet their retirement goals — 35% say they will need over $1 million to retire comfortably

By some measures, retirement savers, overall, are doing well. As of the second quarter of 2024, 401(k) and individual retirement account balances notched the third-highest averages on record, helped by better savings behaviors and positive market conditions, according to the latest data from Fidelity Investments, the nation’s largest provider of 401(k) savings plans. The number of 401(k) millionaires also hit a new all-time high. The average 401(k) contribution rate, including employer and employee contributions, now stands at 14.2%, just below Fidelity’s suggested savings rate of 15%. Yet there is still...

UK. Industry weighs in on government’s pension investment review

Industry experts have stressed the need to put member security at the forefront of any changes to the pension market, cautioning the government against potential mandating or legislating for particular investment allocations. The government recently launched a call for evidence to help inform the first phase of its pension investment review, which will aim to boost investment, increase pension pots and tackle waste in the pensions system. In its response to the consutlation, the Society of Pension Professionals (SPP) agreed that scale can deliver...

Swiss social democrats, unions lay out vision to change second pillar pension system

The Swiss social democratic party (SP) and several workers’ unions are laying out their views to change the second pillar pension system following the recent vote against a proposed reform. “What is needed now is progress in terms of women’s pensions, automatic inflation compensation and an end to rip-offs by banks and insurance companies,” the party said in a statement released soon after the results. The social democrats demand measures to close pension gaps, especially for women. “The introduction of education and care...

Insurance, pensions see 6.2% rise amidst market gains

In 2023, global financial assets rose by 7.6%, reaching $267.68t (EUR239t), recovering from the previous year's decline. Amongst asset classes, insurance and pensions saw a notable increase of 6.2%, driven by rising interest rates and stock market gains, according to Allianz’s 15th edition of its "Global Wealth Report." Households globally shifted away from bank deposits, which saw minimal growth of 4.6%, one of the lowest increases in two decades. Instead, insurance and pensions proved more resilient in attracting savings, with a...

México ocupa el último lugar de la OCDE en ahorro obligatorio para el retiro

México es el último lugar en la Organización para la Cooperación y el Desarrollo Económicos (OCDE) en ahorro para el retiro y además tiene un sistema de pensiones que deja desatendida a toda la población que labora en la informalidad y que, de continuar en esa condición cuando se jubile, únicamente tendrá acceso a la Pensión Universal de los Adultos Mayores, que es de 3,000 pesos al mes. Durante la XIX Cumbre Mundial de Premios Nobel de la Paz, el...