November 2023

UK pension transfer boom continues as deals worth $11 bln struck

Two British insurers on Friday struck deals to take on a combined 8.8 billion pounds ($11 billion) of company pension liabilities, including the largest such UK deal so far, as pension schemes strive to limit their risks in volatile markets. Legal & General (LGEN.L) said it had agreed a so-called full buy-in to the Boots Pension Scheme worth 4.8 billion pounds, in what it said was the largest such deal in Britain by premium size. Pension insurance specialist Rothesay, meanwhile, said it...

Romania Pension Law Could Pose Medium-Term Fiscal Risk

Romania’s new pension law could result in a less favourable sovereign debt trajectory and weaken fiscal credibility over the medium term if implemented as planned and without offsetting measures, Fitch Ratings says. The eventual impact will depend on the broader direction of fiscal policy, including efforts to exit the ongoing Excessive Deficit Procedure. The new law, which received parliamentary approval on 20 November, is intended to remove inconsistencies in how state pensions are calculated as part of efforts to improve...

UK to increase state pension by 8.5%, sticks with ‘triple lock’ commitment

Britain's publicly funded state pension will increase by 8.5% from April 2024, finance minister Jeremy Hunt said on Wednesday. The increase is based on average earnings data published in September and was in line with the government's "triple lock" policy on pension changes. The triple lock is a government promise to raise the value of publicly funded pensions by whichever is highest out of the level of earnings, inflation or 2.5%. Ahead of Hunt's budget update statement, media reports had suggested he...

Technology Modernization Fund announces targeted investment to support America’s workers

The Technology Modernization Fund (TMF) announced a new investment today at the Department of Labor aimed at improving the ability of America’s workers to find lost retirement savings and benefits. “One of the best parts of my job is to leverage the power of technology to make  government interactions better for the American people–​​especially those most in need,” said Clare Martorana, Federal CIO and TMF Board Chair. “Our TMF investment in DOL will change the lives of people searching for unclaimed...

Climate change in an ageing world

The world is turning a blind eye to the need to address the profound link between the rapidly ageing population and climate change – leaving older people invisible in debates about how to address the crisis. With HelpAge’s new report on climate change, we look at what is happening around the world and share recommendations for a more inclusive response to climate change. Intersection between climate change and population ageing The ageing population is triggering one of the most significant social changes...

The 4% Rule for Retirement Withdrawals Might Finally Be Safe to Use Again, Says Morningstar

There's been an ongoing debate about whether retirees should abandon the "4% rule" for withdrawals from retirement accounts, a retirement income rule of thumb for decades. The market volatility of recent years made that rule suspect for many new retirees, but a new study from Morningstar finds that the rule can still apply. What Is the 4% Rule? Created in 1994 by a financial planner named William Bengen, the 4% rule posits that retirees can make a well-structured retirement fund last 30 years...

U.K. retirement industry skeptical of government’s ‘pot for life’ proposal

Proposals by the government to alter retirement plans, including creating a "pot for life" concept and consulting on expanding the U.K. lifeboat fund's remit, were met with mixed reaction by the industry. Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt on Nov. 22 outlined his Autumn Statement — the government's latest tax and spending plans — with a proposal to allow participants to divert their contributions to a retirement plan of their choice. The government is launching a call for evidence for defined...

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,...

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...

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...