editor, Author at Pension Policy International

22NovNovember 22, 2023

Average U.S. 401(k) balance down slightly in Q3 2023, up over long term: report

The average U.S. 401(k) balance decreased to $107,700 in the third quarter of 2023, down four per cent from Q2, but up by 11 per cent from a year ago, according to a new report by Fidelity Investments. Reflecting a combination of employee and employer 401(k) contributions, the total savings rate for the third quarter was 13.9 per cent, up slightly from a year ago. The average 403(b) account balance decreased to $97,200, down five per cent from last quarter,...

November 22, 2023

NewsAdequacy, savings, US

22NovNovember 22, 2023

UK. Opportunity for buyers as DB pension surplus growth continues

The aggregate funding position of FTSE 350 companies’ defined benefit (DB) has undergone a "complete reversal" over the past 18 months, Mercer's latest Pensions Risk Survey data has found. The tracker showed that the aggregate funding of FTSE 350 companies' DB schemes stood at £68bn at October 2023, recovering from roughly the same level of deficit (£69bn) at the end of Q1 2022. Mercer also suggested that changes in DB schemes’ funding position could be set to play a more positive role...

November 22, 2023

NewsDefined Benefit, Funding, UK

22NovNovember 22, 2023

Iran Lawmakers Pass Bill Raising Retirement Age for Men

Iranian lawmakers have approved legislation raising the retirement age for men to 62 and increasing the years of employment required to qualify for a full pension, state media reported. The bill, which requires approval by the Guardian Council, a conservative-dominated vetting body, aims "to reduce pension fund shortfalls," according to the official IRNA news agency. In Sunday's vote in the 290-seat parliament, 127 lawmakers voted in favor, 78 against and eight abstained, with the remainder absent. The speaker of parliament, Mohammad Baqer...

November 22, 2023

NewsIran, Regulation, Retirement Age

22NovNovember 22, 2023

EIOPA chair pushes for action on pension dashboard, auto-enrolment, PEPP

The chair of the European pensions supervisory authority has called for “bravery” to make a pensions dashboard at European level a reality. In late 2021, EIOPA delivered its advice to the European Commission on developing pension tracking services and a dashboard to strengthen the monitoring of pension developments in EU Member States. Speaking at EIOPA’s annual conference today, Petra Hielkema said the advice was “sitting there, in Brussels”. “It’s difficult, because if you really want a full dashboard you need the labour and social...

November 22, 2023

NewsCoverage, EU, Regulation

21NovNovember 21, 2023

What do we know about China’s new financial watchdog?

China's Central Financial Commission (CFC), a new regulator with Premier Li Qiang as its head, held a meeting on Monday (Nov 20) and urged stronger supervision of risks in the financial sector as Beijing accelerates efforts to become a "major financial power". The setting up of the CFC underscores how the ruling Chinese Communist Party is tightening grip on the country's $61 trillion financial sector amid a destabilising property and local government debt crisis that has weighed on the economic...

November 21, 2023

News2023, China, Pension Management, Regulation

21NovNovember 21, 2023

México. Connacionales en EU sufren para recuperar su ahorro para el retiro

Los paisanos que hicieron su vida en Estados Unidos , pero en algún momento trabajaron de manera formal en México , enfrentaron un calvario para recuperar su ahorro para el retiro o llevar a cabo aportaciones voluntarias con el fin de obtener una pensión. Con residencia en Nueva York , Reyna Martínez se encuentra en esa situación y desconoce qué hacer con las más de 400 semanas cotizadas que tiene en el IMSS. Cuando acudió al consulado de México en Nueva York, asegura que no le ofrecieron...

November 21, 2023

NoticiasCobertura, Mexico, Pago de Pensiones

21NovNovember 21, 2023

Recortar las pensiones y desmantelar la Protección Social, entre las propuestas del presidente electo de Argentina

Argentina ha elegido este domingo al ultraderechista Javier Milei presidente y se adentra en una etapa de profunda incertidumbre. El economista, que asumirá el cargo el 10 de diciembre, deberá gestionar una grave crisis, con altos niveles de pobreza, reservas en mínimos y pagos pendientes al Fondo Monetario Internacional (FMI). Milei propone reducir el Estado al mínimo y confía en que el mercado por sí solo resolverá los problemas gracias al desarrollo del comercio y las exportaciones. Propone además...

November 21, 2023

NoticiasColombia, Reforma de Pensiones

21NovNovember 21, 2023

Elma Saiz afrontará la evaluación de la reforma de pensiones y el traspaso de la Seguridad Social al País Vasco

No estaba en ni una sola quiniela. Es la única nueva adquisición entre los grandes ministerios económicos, que salvo por ella continuarán dirigidos por los mismos ministros de la legislatura anterior. Pero ser la recién llegada y no tener experiencia en pensiones no eximirá a Elma Saiz de tener que defender la reforma de las pensiones diseñada por Escrivá, ni tampoco de efectuar el traspaso de su gestión al País Vasco, y posiblemente también a otras autonomías. Durante esta, la XV legislatura...

November 21, 2023

NoticiasEspaña, Reforma de Pensiones

21NovNovember 21, 2023

US. State pension plans’ funded status improves

The median state pension plan funded status improved last year to 82.6% from 68.5%, according to data provided by Fitch Ratings. The rating agency's adjusted funded measure, which caps the assumed investment return at 6%, was 73.5% vs. 60.2% in 2021. States dropped their assumed rate of return in 2022, continuing a trend going back at least several years. Last year, the average fell to 6.88% compared with 7.6% in 2015. The number of states making at least 100% contributions compared...

November 21, 2023

NewsFunding, State Pensions, US

21NovNovember 21, 2023

Britain to launch growth funds to attract pension pot cash

The British Business Bank (BBB) will set up a new fund for pension schemes and asset managers to invest in growth companies, part of wider reforms to unlock savers' cash to boost the economy, the UK finance ministry said on Tuesday. Britain wants to encourage pension schemes to switch from a heavy focus on bonds and global blue chips to putting a portion of their cash in UK growth companies, a step it says would help improve returns for investors. The...

November 21, 2023

NewsInvestment, Regulation, UK

November 2023