News Archives - Page 55 of 964 - Pension Policy International

28JanJanuary 28, 2026

US. When Texas messes with pensions, firefighters, teachers and cops get burned

Twenty years ago, I entered the service feeling like most rookie firemen: invincible. The furthest thing from any new recruit’s mind is retirement, but before long, the high stress, heavy lifting, hazardous conditions and 24-hour shifts begin to catch up with even the strongest among us. For all our emergency preparedness training, the fire academy does not teach financial management, leaving most firefighters ill-equipped to plan for retirement. And with the average firefighter retiring in their fifties — significantly before the average...

January 28, 2026

NewsRetirement Planning, US

28JanJanuary 28, 2026

UK. Calls for free pension health checks to prevent ‘retirement under-savings crisis’

Pension savers should be offered free retirement funds “health checks” to help avert a potential retirement under-savings crisis, a think tank is urging. The Social Market Foundation (SMF), along with savings and investment firm M&G, is calling for health checks to be integrated directly into pensions dashboards, so that on viewing their pension information, savers would be offered the option of a free, personalised guidance session. Plans are already in place for pensions dashboards, which will allow people to see all...

January 28, 2026

NewsRegulation, UK

28JanJanuary 28, 2026

Canadian pensions diverging in climate approach: report

An advocacy group says there’s an increasing divergence on how big public pensions in Canada are approaching climate action. The group, called Shift: Action for Pension Wealth and Planet Health, says in its annual ranking that La Caisse is showing the best results yet while CPPIB is falling behind. Shift says it lowered CPPIB’s ranking because the pension giant removed its stated net-zero goal, has a lack of clarity on a climate strategy and continues to invest in fossil fuels. CPPIB, which...

January 28, 2026

NewsCanada, Climate crisis, Investment

27JanJanuary 27, 2026

Why Latin America funds are on a hot streak

Brazil’s stock market index, the Ibovespa, rose by 8.5% last week, taking its month-to-date gain to 11% and extending the momentum built up over the course of last year. After a difficult 2024, when it fell by 10%, the Brazilian market recovered strongly in 2025. Global interest rates had started to ease and investors were turning back towards emerging markets in search of higher returns. The index ended the year up 34%. Overseas investors would have seen even larger gains as Brazil’s...

January 27, 2026

NewsInvestment, Latin America

27JanJanuary 27, 2026

UK. Pension contributions influence retention but fall short of employee expectations: Penfold

Almost nine in ten UK employees say their workplace pension influences whether they stay with their current employer, but employers treated pensions as a compliance exercise rather than as a strategic element of employee wellbeing, according to new research from workplace pension provider Penfold. The data is drawn from Penfold’s Retirement Reality Check report, based on surveys of 2,000 UK employees and 500 small and medium-sized businesses. The findings underline the growing importance of pensions in recruitment and retention at...

January 27, 2026

NewsOccupational Pensions, UK

27JanJanuary 27, 2026

US. Congress Interest on Use of 401(k) Remains

Congressional interest in the rumored 401(k)-housing proposal remains, even though President Trump has backed away from it. Freshman Rep. John McGuire (R-Va.) on Jan. 21 introduced the Home Savings Act (H.R. 7185) to remove penalties (and taxes) for withdrawing from a 401(k) account when the money is used for closing costs and down payments associated with purchasing a home. “Too many Americans are becoming lifelong renters,” Rep. McGuire said in a release. “This bill will pave the way for removing financial barriers to home...

January 27, 2026

Newssavings, US

27JanJanuary 27, 2026

UK. Pensions and financial inclusion: Time to join forces

Towards the end of last year, the government published its Financial Inclusion Strategy. This rightly focuses on building resilience through a range of measures, including banking access, savings, insurance, credit and debt support. These are bolstered by proposals for compulsory financial education in primary schools. However, pensions are noticeably absent from the core framework. This is despite the fact that pensions form the cornerstone of long-term financial security. On the one hand, this separation makes sense, as the revived Pensions Commission and...

January 27, 2026

NewsFinancial Inclusion, Informal Sector, UK

26JanJanuary 26, 2026

Colombian Pension Manager Plans Bitcoin Exposure Fund

AFP Protección, a private pension and severance fund manager in Colombia, is preparing to launch a fund with exposure to bitcoin. The plan was confirmed by company president Juan David Correa in an interview. How access will work Participation will be offered through a personalized advisory process. That process will assess an investor’s risk profile. Only clients who meet the criteria will be able to allocate a percentage of their portfolio to bitcoin. A second major pension firm to add bitcoin Protección’s move follows a similar...

January 26, 2026

NewsColombia, Cryptocurrencies, Investment

26JanJanuary 26, 2026

US. Congress Could Raise Social Security’s $184,500 Tax Cap Without Cutting Benefits

When discussions about Social Security's future arise, many assume the only options involve cutting benefits or raising taxes. But Congress has multiple ways to adjust how benefits are calculated that can strengthen the program's finances without reducing monthly checks current or future retirees receive. Understanding these mechanisms helps clarify what legislative changes might mean for your retirement income. The Benefit Formula That Determines Your Monthly Check Social Security doesn't simply pay everyone the same amount in retirement. Instead, the program uses...

January 26, 2026

NewsRegulation, US

26JanJanuary 26, 2026

UK. Men end up with four times more in their pension pots than women by 60 – this is why it happens

Men end up with almost four times as much in their pension pots by the age of 60, according to official figures. But the gulf between men and women's pensions boils down to 'entrenched systemic barriers' rather than a lack of financial confidence, a new report claims. Men hold a median total of £75,000 in defined contribution pension pots just ahead of reaching 60, compared to £19,000 for women, figures from the Department for Work and Pensions published last July showed. Its...

January 26, 2026

NewsGender Gap, UK

January 2026