April 2024

Chile. Un nuevo retiro desde las AFP implicaría sacar más de US$ 16 mil millones y dejaría 4,1 millones de afiliados sin saldo

Según un reporte de Ciedess, con otro retiro del 10% cerca de 4,16 millones de afiliados activos podrían quedarse sin saldo (sumando los 1,37 millones de afiliados que a diciembre de 2023 no poseen saldo y los 2,79 millones que podrían retirar todo), equivalentes al 35,5% del total. A su vez, el monto máximo que podría ser retirado sería del orden de 5,72% del PIB y correspondería al 12% de los fondos acumulados. Un promedio de $1,5 millones por afiliado,...

UK. Single pensioner income inequality widens over past decade

The gap between the poorest and richest single pensioners has increased "considerably" over the past decade, analysis by Broadstone has found. The analysis of the Department for Work and Pensions’ pensioner income series showed that single pensioner incomes in the bottom quintile grew by 2 per cent before housing costs between 2010/11-2011/12 and 2020/21-2021/22. This is an average increase of £208 per year. Those who are in the top quintile saw income growth over the same period of 9 per cent,...

U.S. corporate pension fund surpluses climb higher in March — 3 reports

U.S. corporate pension fund surpluses continued to climb in March, according to three new reports. Wilshire Advisors estimated the aggregate funding ratio of U.S. corporate plans reached 110.1% as of March 31, an increase of a full percentage point above the 109.1% funding ratio estimated as of Feb. 29. "March's increase in funded status was driven by the continued increase in asset value with most asset classes posting positive monthly performances, highlighted by the FT Wilshire 5000 index, which has now...

Fintechs are booming in Mexico but financial inclusion is lagging

Financial technology firms are eyeing Mexico’s vast market of 130 million individuals, an untapped frontier for both domestic companies and international endeavors. Yet despite strides in fintech, financial inclusion metrics lag behind, highlighting a disconnect between industry progress and broader adoption of financial products in this Latin American economy. To be sure, Mexico’s fintech ecosystem is thriving, boasting nearly 1,000 companies, including 217 foreign entities from over 22 nations. Over the past five years, the domestic sector has demonstrated impressive...

China’s Young People Are Giving Up on Saving for Retirement

China wants young people to put money away for retirement. Tao Swift, an unemployed 30-year-old, is not interested in hearing it. “Retire with a pension?” he asked. “I don’t hold much hope that I can definitely get my hands on it.” Mr. Tao, who lives in the southern city of Chengdu, is not alone in thinking this way. On social media forums and among friends, young people are questioning whether to save for old age. Some are opting out, citing the...

UK: FCA to examine asset management fees, pensions

The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority is to launch a market study on asset management to examine charges paid by investors, the regulator said on Tuesday, as it laid out its business plan for the coming year. Other areas of focus include examining whether pension firms are helping consumers make the right choices, following an overhaul announced in 2014 which eased requirements on people to buy annuities as part of their pension. “The business plan is set against the backdrop of the...

Chile. Inconformidad social crece en Chile; sindicatos anuncian paro nacional

De la noche a la mañana, y por distintas razones, el gobierno del presidente chileno Gabriel Boric empieza a sufrir de crecientes movilizaciones sociales, impulsadas incluso por organizaciones sindicales que, teóricamente, debieran ser partidarias del gobierno, según sus propios dirigentes lo señalan. A la compleja situación social en la Región del Biobío, 700 kilómetros al sur de la capital chilena, donde unos 20 mil trabajadores del acero han comenzado a perder sus empleos tras la clausura de la principal usina...

Colombia. Sigue viva la pensional: plenaria del Senado negó las dos ponencias de archivo

Después de que se hundió en la Comisión Séptima la reforma a la salud, la plenaria del Senado avanzó en el segundo debate de la reforma pensional La propuesta del gobierno de Gustavo Petro, que crearía un sistema de cuatro pilares (solidario, semicontributivo, contributivo y voluntario), sobrevivió a la primera legislatura cuando la Comisión Séptima del Senado aprobó en primer debate, a mediados de junio de 2023, sus 94 artículos. Para que el proyecto no se hunda, se debe aprobar...

US. NYC Pensions Reach Deal With RBC to Publish Green-Funding Ratio

New York City retirement plans reached an agreement with Royal Bank of Canada for the lender to disclose how much financing it provides for clean-energy projects relative to fossil fuels. Canada’s largest bank is the third financial giant to agree to begin disclosing the ratio after New York Comptroller Brad Lander and the city’s public-pension boards filed shareholder resolutions with six banks in January. The proposal was set to be voted upon at Toronto-based Royal Bank’s annual meeting next week. “We’re...

UK. The Pensions Regulator unveils fresh 2030 climate targets

UK regulator plans to focus on cutting gas, electricity, business travel, water and waste emissions in short term on course to achieving net zero across its operations and supply chain by 2050 The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has unveiled a suite of fresh climate targets, including a goal to slash its operational greenhouse gas emissions by 90 per cent by the end of the decade compared to 2017/18 levels. The UK regulator, which set out its first climate change strategy three years...