July 2020

16Jul

FLF Africa launches Financial Literacy for Coronavirus Alleviation programme

The Financial Literacy Foundation Africa has launched a Financial Literacy for Coronavirus Alleviation programme (FLICA) which aims to provide education on how to handle economic and financial hardships arising from the Covid-19 pandemic. This continental project will take place in all 46 countries in sub-Saharan Africa and aims to achieve financial independence for eight out of every ten individuals by 2030. “The strategic approach will address attitudinal and behavioral barriers to our goal of financial wellness through public education...

July 16, 2020
News, Slider, , , , ,
Read more...
16Jul

US. DOL Proposes New Rules for Selecting Retirement Plan Investments

If you are a member of the committee for your employer’s pension, 401(k), profit-sharing, or 403(b) plan, you should check out a set of proposed rules for selecting investments. If you have an outside investment advisor, as you probably should, they should be bringing these proposals to your attention. This process of the DOL’s presents a good opportunity to look at your plan’s procedures to assure that you and your advisor are both meeting your fiduciary responsibilities. The Notice...

July 16, 2020
News, Slider, , ,
Read more...
16Jul

Sint Maarten. Government and APS hosting meeting on pension reform

The pension reform legislation has been approved by Parliament, effective July 1, a positive development that will introduce important changes to secure the sustainability of the pension system for the future. The most important changes in the pension reform will be addressed via Zoom video meetings hosted by the General Pension Fund of St. Maarten APS and the government of St. Maarten. There will be two options to attend the virtual meetings and ask questions: Thursday, July 16, 1:00-2:30pm; or...

July 16, 2020
News, Slider, ,
Read more...
16Jul

Climate activists take Swiss finance regulators to task

Environmental group Greenpeace has filed a formal protest against Switzerland’s financial regulators over their perceived failure to impose climate policy rules. The group called on the financial market watchdog body FINMA, the National Bank as well as the Occupational Pension Supervisory Commission to ensure that banks, insurance companies and pension funds stop financing projects worldwide which are harmful to the climate. These institutions contribute to greenhouse gas emissions of the Swiss finance industry and neglect their duty to protect...

July 16, 2020
News, Slider, , ,
Read more...
15Jul

Greece’s supreme court rules for reimbursement of pension cuts

The Council of State, Greece's supreme administrative court, on Tuesday issued five rulings awarding back payments of wrongfully cut pensions to pensioners for the period between June 2015 and May 2016, ANA reports. The court found in favor of pensioners that had appealed against the pension cuts, seeking their backdated return for the above period. All those that had contested the cuts in court will receive backdated payments.Those that have not yet initiated proceedings for the return of the sums...

July 15, 2020
News, Slider, ,
Read more...
15Jul

US. Post-pandemic Retirement: Can We Build More Resilient Systems?

Reforming retirement systems is a more urgent imperative globally as the coronavirus pandemic claims jobs, lowers economic growth and investment returns, and threatens to choke funding for already underfunded pension plans. The pandemic is also hastening the imminent insolvency of the Social Security Trust Fund in the U.S., a recent report by the Penn Wharton Budget Model has found. In two recession scenarios the report laid out, the trust fund would run out of money in 2032 or 2034...

July 15, 2020
News, Slider, , , ,
Read more...
15Jul

Ireland. Ageing population will have ‘substantial’ impact on government debt – IFAC

The Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (IFAC) has warned that Ireland will soon become one of the fastest ageing populations in the EU. In its first Long Term Sustainability Report, the council said the impact on government debt will be "substantial" and "long-lasting". The percentage of the population aged 65 and over, compared to the numbers aged 15-64, will more than double from 22% today to almost 47% in 2050. This means relatively fewer people working to sustain higher spending...

July 15, 2020
News, Slider, ,
Read more...
15Jul

India. National Pension System: Why NPS is an important investment tool for retirement planning

The National Pension System (NPS) is considered one of the best investment tools for retirement planning in India. Investments in NPS are largely focused on generating funds for the retirement of investors as well as giving them a pension. NPS also provides the benefit of tax-saving. This scheme is especially for self-employed professionals, those working in the unorganized sector. You can invest in NPS through two options – auto and active choice. These decide the asset allocation of your...

July 15, 2020
News, Slider, ,
Read more...
14Jul

US. Milliman analysis: Corporate pension funded ratio at 83.7% in June as discount rate hits historic low

Milliman, Inc., a premier global consulting and actuarial firm, today released the results of its latest Pension Funding Index (PFI), which analyzes the 100 largest U.S. corporate pension plans. Despite solid investment returns, June's PFI funded status worsened by $6 billion due to an 11 basis point drop in the monthly discount rate, from 2.76% in May to 2.65% for June. This month's discount rate marks the lowest observed in the 20-year history of the Milliman PFI. The PFI...

July 14, 2020
News, Slider, ,
Read more...
14Jul

China. Beijing raises retirement pensions

Beijing released a scheme to adjust basic pension for retirees, increasing 50 yuan ($7.13) per month for each person, according to the Beijing Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau on Tuesday. The new scheme, which starts on Wednesday is expected to benefit nearly 3.97 million Beijing residents, including retirees of Beijing enterprises, government bodies and institutions. Wu Xiaojun, deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau, said the adjustment of the basic pension will...

July 14, 2020
News, Slider, , ,
Read more...