January 2026
12Jan

Nigeria. Driving growth with recapitalisation

With macroeconomic headwinds still blowing, regulatory shakeups underway, and citizens demanding more value for their trust, Omobola Tolu-Kusimo writes on whether 2026 could be the year these industries either break new ground or stay stuck in the cycle of unrealized potential. The year 2025 ended with increased premiums, improved regulatory oversight, and renewed investor interest following NAICOM’s enforcement of the Nigerian Insurance Industry Reform Act, 2025 (NIIRA 2025).reforms and recapitalisation efforts. However, insurance penetration remains below 1per cent, a stubborn reminder...

January 12, 2026
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12Jan

US. For 2026, these 401(k) details ‘matter more than ever,’ advisor says. What you need to know

As more older Americans near retirement, many are eager to boost 401(k) savings to combat the rising cost of health care and other day-to-day expenses. And for 2026, there are key 401(k) changes that investors need to know, financial experts say. This year, “small 401(k) details matter more than ever,” said certified financial planner Joon Um with Secure Tax and Accounting in Hayward, California. For 2026, you can defer up to $24,500 into your 401(k) plan, up from $23,500 in 2025. The full plan limit, which includes employer matches, profit sharing and...

January 12, 2026
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12Jan

Ghana. Retirement Research Centre backs 10% pension hike

The African Centre for Retirement Research (ACRR) has welcomed the 10 per cent pension increase for 2026, describing it as a policy decision that aligns with global best practices while safeguarding the long-term sustainability of Ghana’s pension system. Speaking on the adjustment, Executive Director of the Centre, Mashud Abdallah, said the structure of the increase reflects a careful balance between improving benefits for retirees and maintaining the financial health of the scheme. For 2026, pensions have been adjusted using a hybrid...

January 12, 2026
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09Jan

UK. DWP told to introduce state pension ‘means test’ to ‘guarantee its survival’

The Department for Work and Pensions has been told to "means test" the state pension to "guarantee" its survival. Craig Mackinlay, writing in the Telegraph, called on the Labour Party government and the DWP to make changes. Mackinlay of Richborough is a member of the House of Lords. He was previously the MP for South Thanet and served on the DWP and Public Accounts Select Committees. He is also a chartered accountant and tax adviser. He explained: "My solution was a...

January 9, 2026
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09Jan

Chile. Senate Advances Bill to Prevent Convicted Individuals from Receiving Survivor Pensions for Femicide and Domestic Violence

The Senate’s Commission on Women and Gender Equity has unanimously approved a project that amends Article 5 bis of Decree Law No. 3,500 of 1980. This change aims to ensure that individuals convicted of crimes such as femicide and domestic violence do not benefit from the survivor pension of their victims. This initiative, currently in its second legislative process, seeks to establish a legal framework for the correct application and full functionality of the law, according to the Senate’s bulletin. The...

January 9, 2026
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09Jan

National pension and basic pension rise 2.1% in South Korea

Starting in January this year, National Pension and basic pension recipients will receive benefits raised by 2.1% from the previous level. The Ministry of Health and Welfare said on the 9th that it convened the National Pension Review Committee at the National Pension Service Gangnam office and approved the change. First, it decided to raise the National Pension basic pension amount and the dependent family pension amount by 2.1%, reflecting last year's consumer price inflation. With this increase, an old...

January 9, 2026
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08Jan

Divorced UK women face 61% pension gap

Female divorcees have been found to typically have £53,160 less in pensions savings than divorced men in the UK, according to research by Now:Pensions and the Pension Policy Institute. Divorced women hold just 39% of the pension wealth of divorced men, with the median pension wealth for divorced men standing at £85,800, compared to £32,640 for divorced women. Among married individuals, men hold 61% more with £111,540, versus £43,656 for women. Divorced women’s annual pension income of £13,893 stands at just...

January 8, 2026
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08Jan

UK. Scale, support and sustainability to define DC pensions market in 2026

LCP expects 2026 to be a pivotal year for the defined contribution (DC) pensions market, driven by new regulation taking shape, tax reform and evolving member expectations. LCP is urging employers and trustees to act early to stay ahead of the curve. LCP’s five key areas of focus for employers and trustees are: 1. Pension Schemes Bill Royal Assent for the Pension Schemes Bill this year will introduce value-for-money (VfM) requirements, small-pot consolidation and post-retirement defaults. LCP is advising trustees to start benchmarking...

January 8, 2026
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08Jan

Refining longevity risks for China’s ageing population

Just like every dark cloud has a silver lining, insurers are proficient at managing risks and turning them into opportunities. As an ageing population has become a pressing issue around the globe, the booming demand for insurance and annuities presents considerable potential. China, one of the fastest-ageing countries, is expected to see its personal insurance market expand from four trillion Chinese yuan (US$553 billion) in 2021 to between 6.6 and 12.6 trillion Chinese yuan by 2035, according to the Boston...

January 8, 2026
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08Jan

US. What Retirement Savings Look Like for People Under 35

How Many People Under 35 Have Any Retirement Savings If you're in your 20s or early 30s, you may not be thinking much about retirement. Only about half of U.S. households with a reference person under age 35 had any money in retirement accounts in 2022, according to the latest available data from the Federal Reserve’s Survey of Consumer Finances. That makes young adults the working-age group that's the least likely to have dedicated retirement savings.1 This makes sense, of...

January 8, 2026
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