May 2023

France pension protest held on outskirts of Cannes Film Festival

Protests over pension reforms have roiled France in recent months, but demonstrations have been kept largely at bay at one of the country’s glitziest events, the Cannes Film Festival. On Sunday, dozens of protesters gathered in Cannes to oppose the raising of the reforms pushed through parliament by President Emmanuel Macron’s government. Those protests, however, were far removed from the central hub of the festival, the Palais des Festivals, or Cannes’ seaside boulevard, the Croisette. Instead, they gathered on the...

China issues guidance for basic elderly care system by 2025

China has issued guidance to all provinces to build a basic elderly care system by 2025, state-run Xinhua news agency said on Sunday, in the latest step to prevent a demographic crisis. Who takes care of the elderly in China, where pensions are tiny, is one of the major headaches policymakers face as they deal with the country's first demographic downturn since Mao Zedong's Cultural Revolution. The ruling Communist Party has mobilised resources to ensure that more vulnerable age groups are...

UK. DC funds adoption of ESG investments accelerates

How defined contribution (DC) schemes invest has been a topic of much debate with various government consultations threatening change and offering opportunity in equal measure. The master trust sector clearly wishes to be seen to be driving forward the debate, aiming to set the investment agenda and also offer more sophisticated investments to members. With the news that there is a 66% chance we will pass the 1.5ºC global warming threshold between now and 2027 it is clear we need...

Africa’s vast potential lures U.S. investors in search of returns, impact

Africa for years has struggled to attract the notice of — and money from — American pension funds. But in the past two years, U.S. pension fund trustees and other billion-dollar asset owners appear more open to investing in some of Africa's 50-plus countries, particularly in infrastructure. Institutional investors are encouraged by a U.S. government-led geopolitical charm offensive in Africa, and are wagering on higher-risk returns amid inflation, Fed rate hikes and uneven portfolio performance at home. And pension funds may one...

How To Minimize Ageism Through The Use Of AI

Artificial intelligence (AI) holds great promise in the fight against ageism, and future technologies powered by AI can be a first step to ensure older adults are fully involved in the processes, systems and, ultimately, services that will affect them throughout the aging journey. Healthcare providers, governments, academia, not-for-profits and businesses can ensure that AI is not only strengthening healthcare for older adults but also empowering them to meet their individual needs. At the same time, there are also significant risks...

UK. British Steel forges $3.4 billion buy-in to fully insure plan

British Steel Pension Scheme, Glasgow, Scotland, insured £2.7 billion ($3.4 billion) in liabilities through a buy-in with Legal & General Assurance Society, securing a buyout, according to a news release. The latest deal, which was the plan's fourth risk transfer deal since November 2021, covered the remaining 40% of liabilities and the benefits of all 67,000 plan participants. In 2017, the British Steel Pension Scheme was restructured after its plan sponsor, Tata Steel U.K., experienced financial difficulty. "Since the new scheme was...

US. Pension Funds Appear Unfazed by Potential US Default

With the X-date looming for when the U.S. government could default on its bonds and welch on paying other obligations due to the standoff over raising the federal debt ceiling, there is scant panic among pension plans. While they have little to say publicly about the prospect of a default, one CIO said, “We have enough liquidity to get through this, and we think [the impasse in Washington] will be resolved quickly.” Typically, plans exude an outward calm. A spokeswoman for...

Hong Kong: Older people are increasingly choosing to work longer

People nearing or past age 65 are increasingly choosing to work longer. Between 2011 and 2021, the share of labour force participants aged 55 to 64 years rose from 49% to 59%, and that of people aged 65 and over more than doubled, from 6.2% to 12.5%, according to a report released by Prudential plc. Financial need is a major motivator in Hong Kong in the decision to prolong one’s working life, as lifespans in Hong Kong grow longer, says...

What’s the State of Sub-Saharan Africa’s Pension Savings?

Less than 10% of the workers in sub-Saharan Africa save for old age, the lowest rate for any region in the world. That implies most of the breadwinners today won’t be able to afford basic items after retirement. A pension plan is meant to commit employers to make regular savings so that employees will continue to earn after retirement. Pension schemes in sub-Saharan African countries are characterised by low contributions due to low earnings, high informality, high financial illiteracy levels and lack...

UK. Pensions industry set for ‘fraud crisis’

Greater accessibility to retirement savings could leave Brits ‘highly vulnerable to a wide-scale wave of scams’ The pensions sector is facing a looming fraud crisis that could see millions of pensioners scammed out of their life savings, according to a report from LexisNexis Risk Solutions The Digital Pension Fraud: a looming crisis awaits report found that industry experts fear greater accessibility to draw down cash from retirement savings as digital pension services come online will leave pension holders highly vulnerable to...