April 2026

US. Retirees are facing a $345,000 bill they never saw coming — and most aren’t prepared

Advances in medicine have extended the “golden years” for many retirees—also increasing the number of years retirement savings must support everyday living expenses. Those added years can carry a significant price tag in the form of rising healthcare costs. Recent studies suggest healthcare can become a six-figure retirement expense, even for people who do “everything right.” Yet planning lags. A recent D.A. Davidson survey of U.S. adults found that while 8 in 10 are concerned about healthcare costs in retirement,...

Major Australian pension fund mulls crypto offerings amid growing demand

Hostplus, Australia's third-largest pension fund by member count, is reportedly considering offering cryptocurrencies as an investment option, citing interest from its members in the asset class. “There’s certainly a demand from some of our members who write in and say, ‘Why can’t I have access to cryptocurrency?’” Sam Sicilia, the fund's chief investment officer, told Bloomberg on Monday. Investment offerings in crypto could be available as soon as next financial year, he said, with Bitcoin and other digital assets offered through its...

Plugging the Retirement Planning Gap for the Middle Wealthy

As retirement inches closer — when it's, say, five to 10 years away — it's likely you'll have mixed feelings of nervousness and excitement. You've saved diligently, your 401(k) has grown and you may even be ahead of schedule. But you may still be wondering, "What's next?" The truth is, the closer you get to retirement, the more complicated the answers can become. At this stage, retirement planning is no longer just about investment performance and building up your savings. Rather, it shifts...

UK. Longevity risk climbs agenda as DB schemes assess run-on strategies

Tackling longevity risk is becoming an increasing priority for UK defined benefit (DB) pension schemes, as more schemes reassess their endgame strategies amid a growing focus on run-on, according to Aon. The firm explained that improved funding levels in recent years have created both new opportunities and challenges for schemes, prompting trustees and sponsors to revisit their risk management approaches. This includes considering whether to run-on for a period before buyout, or to adopt a long-term run-on strategy, with longevity risk...

Pension Eras: From ‘Deterioration’ to Funding Surplus

The times they are a changin’. Corporate pensions were king; however, additional means to save for retirement were developed and grew at the expense of their preeminence. But pension plans’ vitality is rebounding in some ways, and an expert panel recently discussed their pullback from the brink to being flush with cash. Aon figures Matt Maloney, Senior Partner, U.S. Wealth Solutions Innovation Leader; Mark Tavares, Partner, Corporate Defined Benefit Solutions Leader; and Megan Nichols, Partner, Head of Pension Settlement Solutions,...

Ghana: NPRA to Launch Digital Platform to Boost Informal Sector Pension Enrolment

THE National Pensions Regulatory Authority (NPRA) has announced plans to roll out a comprehensive pension digital platform aimed at significantly increasing pension coverage among informal sector workers across the country. The initiative forms part of a broader policy direction by the Authority to introduce targeted incentives that will encourage workers in the informal economy to enrol onto personal pension schemes and secure their retirement income. Speaking at a media engagement in Accra, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the NPRA, Mr...

Europe’s biggest pension investor eyes private markets boost

 Europe's biggest pension investor, APG, will increase its allocation to private markets to ​just over 30% and sees current credit market flux as a potential buying opportunity, its chief investment ‌officer for private investments told Reuters. APG invests around 600 billion euros ($702.00 billion) for clients including ABP, the Netherlands' biggest pension fund. Around 26% of its assets are currently in private markets but it would add more after ongoing changes to investment rules in the Netherlands, Patrick ​Kanters said. The...

Older people forced to ‘unretire’ amid financial pressure concerns

Many older people are being compelled to "unretire" as the financial realities of their post-work lives fall significantly short of expectations, new research has revealed. A survey conducted for Standard Life found that one in six (16 per cent) retirees have either already re-entered employment (8 per cent) or are considering doing so (8 per cent). While social reasons, such as feeling disconnected, play a part, financial pressures are also a trigger for many seeking work again. Three in 10 (30 per cent) retirees report...

Lufthansa Pilots To Go On Strike From Monday Over Salary And Pensions Dispute – All You Need To Know

The pilots union for Lufthansa-Europe's biggest aviation group-on Saturday called for a two day strike in Germany, starting Monday.   The latest strike-called by the Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) union over a salary and pensions dispute-marks the fifth strike Lufthansa has been hit by this year. "The Cockpit union feels compelled to take this step after the employers' side showed no real willingness to reach a solution in several collective bargaining disputes," VC President Andreas Pinheiro was quoted as saying by Reuters. Also Read |...

Vietnam taps silver economy to drive growth amid rapid aging

The silver economy offers a new perspective on population ageing: instead of treating it as a burden, it is seen as a major economic opportunity. In the global development landscape, the “silver economy” is no longer an unfamiliar concept but an inevitable trend. For Vietnam, building an economic ecosystem that adapts to rapid population ageing is not only a social welfare solution but also a gateway to a new, sustainable and humane growth model. The silver economy offers a new perspective...