March 2023

UK abolishes tax threshold on pension allowance to encourage people to work longer

British finance minister Jeremy Hunt on Wednesday said he would abolish the tax thresholds high earners face when they invest in pensions, in a bid to encourage them to keep working and reduce the number of people taking early retirement. Hunt said in his annual budget that he would scrap the so-called lifetime allowance, which had meant that people faced a 25% levy if they saved around 1.1 million pounds ($1.33 million)in their pension pots. The capped amount of money that...

US. Ohio public employee pension funds lose more than $30 million in bank collapse

Ohio's public pension systems collectively lost tens of millions of dollars invested in Silicon Valley Bank of California and Signature Bank of New York, two of the largest banks to fail in U.S. history Ohio's State Teachers Retirement System took the biggest hit. Last week, it had SVB shares worth $27.2 million, which represents 0.03% of the fund's total portfolio. It did not own shares of Signature. Last week, Ohio Public Employees Retirement System held shares in SVB worth $3.2 million...

Zimbabwe. NSSA expedites informal sector programme as it decries paltry 24% population coverage

The National Social Security Authority (NSSA) has decried the fact that just a paltry 24% of the working population is entitled to the scheme’s coverage amid plans to expedite a pensions program for the informal sector. Millions of Zimbabweans are currently failing to qualify for pension subscriptions with NSSA because of rising informal companies which are easily evading subscription with the social authority. Speaking to media practitioners during the launch of the 2023 Insurance and Pensions Journalists Mentorship Program, NSSA acting...

Spain’s unions back government public pension reform

Spain's left-wing government won the backing of unions to reform the nation's public pension system on Wednesday, in stark contrast with neighboring France, where plans to raise the retirement age have led to waves of strikes and mass protests. The leaders of Spain’s two main labor unions, UGT and CC.OO., appeared alongside Minister of Social Security José Luis Escrivá in Madrid to christen the plan the union heads both deemed “historic.” CC.OO. secretary general Unai Sordo said that the reform would...

Czech president: will sign bill allowing slower rise in pensions

Czech President Petr Pavel said on Wednesday he would sign a bill slowing down an inflation-linked pension hike, a bill the ruling coalition pushed through to relieve pressure on budget at the time of soaring inflation. The centre-right government of Prime Minister Petr Fiala has said the bill would save around 20 billion crowns ($879 million) worth of spending in the central budget, currently planned with a 295 billion-crown deficit this year. The change has to be implemented by late March...

What the SVB Collapse Teaches Us About Retirement Planning

The startling and swift collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, along with crypto-friendly Silvergate Capital and Signature Bank, shocked industries and investors on a national and global scale. Even as the U.S. Treasury steps in to suppress economic turmoil, its unknown what lies ahead with the U.S. banking system or whether we’ll see additional bank failures in the short-term. In its aftermath, the bank runs and subsequent crashes, along with lingering talks of a recession, touch on the significance behind adequate...

UK. Budget: Pensions to get boost as tax-free limit to rise

The total amount that workers can accumulate in their pension savings before paying extra tax is expected to be increased in Wednesday's Budget. The final figure has not been confirmed, but people are expected to be able to save up to £1.8m over a lifetime, up from £1.07m currently. The policy aims to stop people - particularly doctors - from reducing hours or retiring early owing to tax. Critics say the move will only benefit a small fraction of the workforce. UK economic...

Ghana. ‘We don’t have time to go to court, we’ll picket MoF some more’ – Pension bondholders threaten

Pensioners who bought government bonds and have not been paid their coupons have threatened to picket the Ministry of Finance some more if they are not paid in 48 hours. "We have our options, plenty of them, including the picketing, so, when it comes that we have to repeat, we'll repeat", the group's convener, Dr. Adu Anane Antwi, told Valentina Ofori-Afriyie on Class91.3FM's mid-day news programme 12 Live. Asked if the options included going to court, Dr. Anane Antwi said: "No,...

Why So Many Experts Consider Annuities a Win for Retirees

Do you know what type of retirement product saw sales soar 44% in 2022 — and received praise and positive publicity in the finance field as consumers saw their other retirement investments lose value? It’s not cryptocurrency! It’s not some hedge fund. Or junk bonds. It’s easily understood and won’t be seen as a fad in future years. I’ve described it as a product that “doesn’t make your retirement; it makes your retirement better.” Its technical term is single premium immediate annuity,...

Sweden’s New $90 Billion Pension Plan: Non-ESG Funds Not Welcome

Sweden has announced a plan to promote Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) oriented companies through the targeted investment of its pension fund. One trillion Krona (90 billion USD) of pension savings will be allocated for investment into firms that abide by ESG standards. This plan is the most recent of a series of initiatives put in place by the Swedish pension system to contribute towards the fight against climate change, human rights and other pressing issues. The wave of societal contributions...