February 2026
26Feb

Pension funds moving to scenario-driven and dynamic portfolio construction approach

Pension funds are adapting their portfolio construction approaches as uncertainty becomes more structural, return dispersion widens, and traditional anchors for asset allocation weaken, according to a report from BlackRock. Its 2026 Institutional Investment Direction report, which analysed pension schemes in the UK, US, and Euro area, highlighted a move away from relying on a single base case and towards a more scenario-driven and dynamic approach to portfolio construction. Pension investors were rethinking what they invest in and how portfolios are implemented as outcomes...

February 26, 2026
News,
Read more...
26Feb

EU’s pension gender gap persists as women receive 24.5% less

Women aged 65 or over in the EU received pensions that were 24.5% lower on average than men in 2024. The biggest average pension gaps were recorded in Malta (40.3%), the Netherlands (36.3%) and Austria (35.6), Eurostat informed on Wednesday. The smallest gaps were in Estonia (5.6%), Slovakia (8.4%) and Hungary (9.6%). Alongside averages, the data also compares pensions using the median — the middle value in a range — which is less affected by a small number of very high or...

February 26, 2026
News,
Read more...
26Feb

Forever Chemicals Linked to Faster Aging in Middle-Aged Men, Study Finds

A new study shows that exposure to two specific 'forever chemicals' may accelerate biological aging, especially in middle-aged men. These chemicals – PFNA (perfluorononanoic acid) and PFOSA (perfluorooctanesulfonamide) – are just two of the thousands of 'forever chemicals', or to use the more technical term, PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). Used widely since the 1940s and 1950s, PFAS are found in raincoats, upholstery, non-stick pans, food packaging, firefighting foams, and much more. This vast range of synthetic substances was specifically designed to be durable. They...

February 26, 2026
News,
Read more...
26Feb

Germany’s retirement savings shake-up: What banks need to know

Germany is overhauling its state-subsidised retirement savings framework, and financial institutions have a firm deadline to prepare for. The federal government approved a pension reform law in late 2025, with parliamentary proceedings underway in 2026. If passed — which appears near-certain — the legislation will bring the Altersvorsorgedepot (AVD), or retirement provision depot, into force from 1 January 2027. From that date, no new contracts under the old Riester model will be permitted. fincite, which offers an end-to-end digital asset...

February 26, 2026
News,
Read more...
25Feb

US President announces new retirement plan at State of the Union

President Trump announced during his State of the Union address Tuesday night plans to offer Americans access to a retirement account similar to those available to federal workers. Why it matters: There are roughly 50 million Americans without employer-sponsored retirement plans, like 401(k)s, and there's been growing bipartisan interest in expanding access. What he's saying: Trump said he would offer Americans who don't have 401(k)s or other employer-based retirement accounts "access to the same type of retirement plan offered to every federal worker." "We will match your...

February 25, 2026
News,
Read more...
25Feb

UK. Trustees urged to integrate ESG across DB endgame routes as pricing risks evolve

Defined benefit (DB) pension scheme trustees must take a holistic and proactive approach to environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks as endgame strategies evolve, a guide from Isio has stated. In its Endgame Sustainability Guide, the firm noted that discussions around endgame targets were shifting, with trustees now facing greater optionality between insurance, consolidation, and run-on strategies, rather than pursuing a single objective of full funding on a prudent basis. Isio head of sustainable investment, Cadi Thomas, warned that ESG risks were...

February 25, 2026
News, ,
Read more...
25Feb

CalPERS appeals for ‘strong’ GPs in current political climate

California Public Employees’ Retirement System needs “strong” GPs to endure political opposition to climate and sustainability investments, according to CEO Marcie Frost. “We are getting a little more demanding about the capital, making sure that we have more values alignment,” Frost said during a keynote interview at PEI Group’s NEXUS 2026 in Orlando on Tuesday. “We need our GPs to be strong. We need our GPs to withstand the political pressures that they’re getting in addition to the political pressures that CalPERS continues to...

February 25, 2026
News, ,
Read more...
25Feb

Revolutionary ‘Department of Future Aging’ transformed a German town for its elders

The world is getting older, and it’s getting older quickly. In 2019, there were approximately 700 million people aged 65 and older. The UN predicts that the number will more than double by 2050. In the U.S., the Census Bureau estimates that retirement-age residents will outnumber children for the first time in the nation’s history by the 2030s. Clearly, helping the aging population live their later years with as much comfort and dignity as possible is a growing concern. And one German town is...

February 25, 2026
News,
Read more...
24Feb

U.K. Pension savers increasingly turning to AI when starting retirement planning

Pension savers are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence (AI), rather than financial guidance or advice websites, to begin their retirement planning, according to PensionBee. The pension provider analysed data on Google keyword searches and traffic to free advice websites, and found that AI was increasingly satisfying the typical, early-stage needs of pension holders when they start to consider pension and retirement options. It noted that the rise of ‘AI Overviews’ may be reducing the need to go direct-to-source for important information...

February 24, 2026
News, ,
Read more...
24Feb

US. Retirement Asset Ownership Is Widespread Among Gig-Worker Households

As the gig economy has grown, so too has concern that a workforce increasingly made up of freelancers, independent contractors, and app-based workers is falling through the cracks of the US retirement system. Because gig workers can sometimes lack access to employer-sponsored plans, they are often portrayed as disengaged from long-term savings and at a heightened risk of financial insecurity in retirement. These assumptions have shaped policy debates, media coverage, and calls for reform, often treating gig work itself...

February 24, 2026
News, ,
Read more...