September 2022
19Sep

US. Delivering on Sustainability in the Institutional Markets

Clear intentions and transparent actions support ESG alignment with institutional clients To ensure durability and sustainability in the institutional markets, all participants — from clients to asset managers, financial professionals and solution providers — should adopt both financial and environmental, social and governance (ESG) objectives with a long-term view. With many institutional investors using an ESG lens when they select and work with asset management and financial firms, they are interested both in how their asset managers incorporate ESG investing...

September 19, 2022
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19Sep

Protesters in Austria demand high salaries and bigger pensions

Across several Austrian cities people took to the streets to protest the high cost of living. According to workers unions organizing the event, more than 32,000 demonstrators participated on Saturday. "It's really hard for me to afford my apartment with the high gas and electricity prices," university student Alexandra Schwarz told CGTN at Vienna's Schweizergarten. "I can't afford groceries," another young woman added. Among higher salaries and bigger pensions, Austria's unions are demanding solidarity between their employers and the government. Many signs...

September 19, 2022
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15Sep

US. State treasurers, NYC react to ESG backlash

An open letter signed by 13 state treasurers and New York City's comptroller Wednesday takes aim at what they call the "political backlash" against ESG investing by public pension and related funds. "Several states in our country have started blacklisting financial firms that don't agree with their political views," said the letter signed by state treasurers from California, Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin, and New York City Comptroller Brad Lander,...

September 15, 2022
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15Sep

Three Ways to Fix Latin America’s Public Finances

A former finance minister of Paraguay argues that feasible reforms can yield important results. Governments in Latin America and the Caribbean are facing a perfect storm of economic and social conditions as they seek to accelerate their post-pandemic recovery. Vulnerable communities need more help in the face of rising inequality and poverty. Health, education and other services need more resources. Governments must find a way to grow equitably and sustainably amid rising inflation, weaker world demand and high debt levels. The...

September 15, 2022
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15Sep

UK. CDC and ESG: A truly long-term game

This summer’s introduction of collective defined contribution pension schemes was a watershed moment for the industry. With the rules now laid out and the first scheme — Royal Mail — expected to be launched imminently, attention is turning to scheme design, and in particular investment portfolios. With environmental, social and governance factors now firmly at the centre of pension fund investment, many proponents of CDC believe that it is perfectly positioned to progress the responsible and sustainable investment cause to the...

September 15, 2022
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14Sep

Hispanic Americans deserve retirement security

By Maria French Originating in 1968 and enacted into law in 1988, National Hispanic Heritage Month is an opportunity to celebrate Hispanic Americans’ history and contributions and the influence they have had on American culture and society and to consider the future of the Latino community. Throughout modern history, Hispanic labor leaders like Cesar Chavez and Santiago Iglesias Pantin have contributed vastly to the labor movement by organizing workers and advocating for better pay and working conditions. Today, Americans with ancestry...

September 14, 2022
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14Sep

Florida pension fund report shows support for ESG proposals, including at Exxon

Pension fund supported more than 40% of social-related proposals amid anti-ESG resolution Florida State Board of Administration, Tallahassee, voted in favor of more than 40% of social-related shareholder resolutions and nearly 30% of environmental-related shareholder resolutions during the fiscal year ended June 30, according to a report included with materials for the board's investment advisory council on Tuesday. The board, which oversees $228 billion in assets including the $180 billion Florida Retirement System, supported 50.1% of shareholder-proposed ballot resolutions at Russell...

September 14, 2022
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14Sep

Prudential and MetLife entrusted to fulfill $16B in pension obligations for 100,000 IBM retirement plan participants and beneficiaries

Prudential has been selected to participate in a $16 billion pension risk transfer transaction with International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), the second-largest pension risk transfer ever in the U.S. market. Under the terms of the agreement, The Prudential Insurance Company of America, a subsidiary of Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), and Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (MLIC), a subsidiary of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET), will each insure 50% of the pension benefit payments for each of the approximately 100,000 IBM...

September 14, 2022
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14Sep

India. NPS: Insurance regulator eases rules for pensioners

Insurance regulator Irdai on Tuesday said it has done away with the requirement of submitting a separate form to buy annuity from NPS proceeds at the time of retirement. Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai) said it is aimed at providing ease of doing business in insurance industry and for protection of interests of policyholders. “In this direction, to bring ease of living for senior citizens, Irdai has relaxed the requirement of submitting separate proposal form for taking the...

September 14, 2022
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14Sep

UK. Communications around pensions branded ‘as dull as dishwater’

Business magnate Deborah Meaden urges companies to up their game Poor communications that fail to engage people with their pension savings are hampering both the uptake of greener pension options and companies’ willingness to promote them, says Deborah Meaden. Speaking at a Make My Money Matter (MMMM) event yesterday (12 September) the entrepreneur and businesswoman said companies "need to open about their definition of sustainability". Meaden appeared alongside MMMM co-founder and film producer Richard Curtis where she discussed her long-standing commitment to...

September 14, 2022
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