July 2022

UK. MPs back tax return solution for self-employed retirement savings

The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Financial Resilience has thrown its weight behind using the tax system to help the self-employed save for retirement. In a report analysing general financial resilience during the coronavirus pandemic, launched on July 18, the group called for the government to “co-ordinate an approach to improving pension saving in under-pensioned groups”. “This should involve an equivalent of automatically enrolling the self-employed into saving through the tax system,” it said. The APPG also called for an increase in take-up...

Swiss corporates post over 20% drop in pension liabilities so far this year

Liabilities at Swiss companies’ pension schemes have continued to fall in the second quarter of 2022, leading to an overall decrease of over 20% since the beginning of the year, according to the latest quarterly Swiss Pension Finance Watch published by WTW. Pension liabilities on companies’ balance sheets have reached their lowest level in nine years in the second quarter of this year, WTW added. In Q1 liabilities dropped by over 12%. The decrease in the two quarters was caused by...

US. Managers still looking for opportunities with rising inflation, market fluctuations

Money managers are largely in agreement that inflation, volatility and further market drops are all likely to be in the cards for investors the rest of the year. But that doesn't mean there are not investment opportunities to be found. Equity markets could take a further hit, giving investors the opportunity to find some bargains, but bond strategies could be due for a reversal. Christopher C. Newman, head of Americas division for T. Rowe Price Group, said in an interview that...

Nigeria. Pension fund investment in equities up 7.4% to N1.1trn due to stock market boom

The rising fortunes of investors in the nation’s stock market, as reflected in the 22.4 per cent year-to-date growth in total value of equities on the Nigerian Exchange Limited, NGX, has triggered a 7.4 per cent increase in the value of pension funds investment in equities to N1.1 trillion. This is in sharp contrast to 0.4 per cent growth in pension funds investment in federal government bonds recorded during the same period, which is the preferred and less risky investment...

UK. Pair of ‘advisers’ jailed over £20mn pension fraud

Two “advisers” who convinced hundreds of pension holders to transfer their pots into self-invested personal pensions, and then unknowingly put them into risky investments as part of a £20mn fraud, have been jailed. Mark Kelly and Rikki Nicholls were each sentenced to six years’ imprisonment for conspiracy to defraud and money laundering at Southwark Crown Court on July 15. According to the Crown Prosecution Service, both men devised a plan to persuade pension holders, predominantly Equitable Life customers, to transfer their...

The market meltdown threatening pensions for millions in the U.S.

American public pension funds are facing serious challenges that threaten the retirement plans for millions of US state and local government employees. Pension plans remained severely underfunded during the 11-year bull market that followed the Great Recession. The plunge toward insolvency and high-return markets led fund managers to take on risky bets in hope of staying afloat. Now, the recent selloff has left funds struggling to keep up with their future obligations. The 100 largest public pension funds in the United...

UK. Minister calls on pension schemes to get “data ready” for dashboards

The calls come as the government publishes its response to a consultation which gathered feedback from industry, potential providers, consumer groups and future users on what data should be included and how this should be displayed to people. Bringing pensions into the digital age, dashboards will allow savers to see what they have in their various pensions – including their State Pension – in a single place online, at any time they choose. Ten years since the introduction of Automatic Enrolment...

Rising life expectancy in Africa triggers urgent need for pension penetration

Governor John Rwangombwa of the Central Bank has said that the improved life expectancy in Africa is a positive factor on its own but it rings an urgent call to increase pension penetration on the continent. He was speaking during the 3rd Africa Pension Supervisor Forum that started on Thursday July 14. Started in 2019, the forum offers a platform where pension regulators share ideas, information, and reform issues that are challenging the sector across Africa. Discussions include performance of the pension...

US. Private equity allocation helps public pension plans

U.S. public pension plans had 11% of their assets invested in private equity, and 89% had some amount allocated to the asset class, according to the American Investment Council's 2022 Public Pension Study. Public equity and fixed income, combining for 68%, had the largest share. The median 10-year annualized private equity return among public pension funds that the AIC examined was 15.1%. This return was better than other major asset classes, such as public equities' 11.8%. However, recent performance has slipped....

UK. Cost of living puts pension freedoms gains in jeopardy

Inflation worries and the fear of running out of money are putting the gains from pension freedoms at risk. A report from independent actuaries AKG found that while advisers believe there has been an evolution in how people save for retirement since pension freedoms came into force in 2015, the current crisis is putting progress in this area under strain. Published in partnership with Abrdn and Scottish Widows, the report included a survey of 2,000 consumers and 100 advisers, along with...