June 2023

Ghana. Pensioners Bondholders begin third round of picketing

Members of the Pensioners Bondholders Forum have begun a third round of picketing at the Ministry of Finance to demand payments on due coupons, principals, and interest on bonds. The picketing is set to be carried out on Thursdays and Fridays of every week until government honours its obligation to bondholders. Speaking in an interview on the first day of picketing, Dr Adu Anane Antwi, the convener of the Forum, said that although the Government said it has directed the Controller...

The U.S. Population Is Older Than It Has Ever Been

While many 38-year-old millennials may still feel young, that age is an unusually high median for the country. The new data adds to the evidence that, like many European and Asian nations, the United States is graying, posing challenges for the work force, the economy and social programs. Low birthrates are the main driver of the nation’s rising median age, experts said. “It’s simple arithmetic,” said Andrew A. Beveridge, president of Social Explorer, a demographic data firm. “Fewer kids are being born.” Birthrates...

Over 80% of South Africans plan to work past retirement due to insufficient savings: Survey

About 89% of those who participated in the FNB Retirement Insight Survey plan to continue working past retirement age due to a lack of sufficient retirement savings. The survey, which focused on pre-retirement and post-retirement periods, also revealed that the majority of low-income earners are not confident that the retirement plans they have will deliver results due to financial constraints and age. It has also been discovered that about 39% of respondents who don’t currently have a retirement plan in place...

UK. Pension policy risks being ‘stuck in a previous era’

  Pension policy risks being 'stuck in a previous era' rather than reflecting the realities of scheme funding levels today, according to LCP partner Steve Webb. Giving evidence to the Work and Pensions Select Committee, Webb pointed out that back in 2014. the combined deficit of DB pension schemes stood at nearly £400bn. This is in stark contrast to the latest figures which show a surplus of over £400bn. "For many of our clients, the issues we are now discussing are about managing...

ESG resolution round-up: US pension giants split on climate proposal at Japanese bank

Big US public pension funds are divided on the merits of a climate proposal filed at Mizuho Financial Group which calls on the Japanese “mega-bank” to issue and disclose a transition plan to align its lending and investments with the Paris Agreement.     Californian giants CalPERS and CalSTRS have pre-disclosed that they will vote against the resolution on Friday, despite supporting a similar request at the bank in 2020. But The Office of the New York City Comptroller, which oversees...

Jamaica. Increases in NIS pensions

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security is reporting that the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) pensioners started receiving their increases in June. Addressing Wednesday’s post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, Portfolio Minister, Pearnel Charles Jr, said the pension rate increases range from 23 to 76 per cent under the National Insurance Scheme. “We are very pleased to report that our NIS pensioners began receiving their increases on June 15. It is very important for us to make sure that our pensioners...

How can you know how much to save for retirement when the goalposts keep moving? Here’s a guide.

When it comes to preparing financially for retirement, Jessica Howard is wise beyond her years. “I absolutely am planning,” said Howard, 27, a Los Angeles-based care manager who schedules medical appointments and home health care for older adults.”“I have a drive to save for retirement because…I see 12 hours a day what can happen when people don’t properly save vs. when they’re fiscally smart.” If only all Americans had the drive and wherewithal to set themselves on a solid path toward...

Thousands march in Colombia’s streets against Petro’s reform plans

Thousands of Colombians have protested in the capital Bogota and other cities against reforms by the country's first-ever leftist President Gustavo Petro, which many say go too far. Called by the right-wing opposition under the banner "march of the majority," protesters gathered on Tuesday in cities including Bogota, Medellin, Cali and Barranquilla. Many waved Colombia's yellow, blue and red flag, and held up posters with such messages as: "No to ending up like Cuba or Venezuela." The mobilisation seemed particularly large in...

US. 8 Best Retirement Destinations for LGBTQ Seniors

Choosing the best place to retire can be a difficult decision. Not only do you have to consider cost of living, accessibility to health care, proximity to family and more, but if you hope to settle into a community of like-minded retirees – say the LGBTQ senior community – it can be even more difficult to find a place that checks all your boxes. As an LGBTQ senior, inclusivity and community amenities are equally important as factors like cost, so...

Finnish pension giant invests €500m in newly launched Europe climate-action ETF

Finnish pension giant Ilmarinen Mutual Pension Insurance has invested more than €500m in Amundi’s new MSCI Europe Climate Action Ucits ETF. The fund tracks an index designed to identify European companies assessed as the top 50% sector leaders in terms of their positioning and actions relative to the climate transition. Notably, the ETF gives investors an alternative to ESG and Climate ETFs linked to the Paris-aligned benchmark (PAB) and EU Climate Transition benchmark. The index methodology tracks metrics including carbon intensity, science-based...