April 2020

06Apr

US. Underfunded public plans facing a new round of woes

The coronavirus has increased pressure on underfunded public pension plans that were already facing significant stress before the crisis. Not only have plans' investment portfolios taken double-digit losses as a result of the pandemic, but government plan sponsors will need to increase their contributions at a time when revenues are down and expenditures are up. Read also US. Some companies are cutting 401(k) matches because of the coronavirus "This has put a lot of strain and stress on pension deficits,...

April 6, 2020
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06Apr

PPI Coverage: Coronavirus’s effects on pensions

No Country for Old Men (or Women): The Impact of Migration on Pension Funding Adequacy and Sustainability 10/09/2022 Retirement security is of paramount importance to working people. Adequate retirement income is also a leading concern for private and public pension systems. Changes in Retirement Savings During the COVID Pandemic19/08/2022 This paper documents changes in retirement saving patterns at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 Private Pension Withdrawals and Unemployment Tenures 08/07/2022 This is the first study to evaluate the...

April 6, 2020
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06Apr

UK. Wakefield man who failed to claim pension gets £140k payout

He mistakenly thought he was not allowed to claim a state pension because he had continued to work long after reaching retirement age. He is now set to receive more than a decade's worth of payments in one lump sum. The error only came to light after Wakefield Council made inquiries on the man's behalf. In a report, councillor Michael Graham said: "To help our residents get more money in their pocket, we are using information we hold to...

April 6, 2020
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06Apr

European report suggests blockchain for welfare tracking

Government benefits and assistance might be more important now than ever. But even if you’ve been living under a rock, you know that holding government to account, and ensuring benefits reach their destination with minimal delay is important. A new report published by the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound) highlights how blockchain technology, like Bitcoin SV (BSV), could make that process more efficient. The April 2 report looks into several emerging technologies, like...

April 6, 2020
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06Apr

US. Some companies are cutting 401(k) matches because of the coronavirus

Some companies hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic are suspending or reducing matching contributions to their employee retirement plans. Others are exploring their options. Amtrak said an unprecedented loss of ridership and revenue has led the company to suspend its 401(k) match as a measure to “cut costs to minimize employee and service impacts,” according to Amtrak’s Kimberly Woods. The Marriott International retirement savings plan matching contribution for 2019, initially planned for March 10, has been delayed to September...

April 6, 2020
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03Apr

UK. L&G completes £261mn of pension risk transfer deals in March

UK insurer Legal & General Group plc (L&G) has revealed that its Pension Risk Transfer (PRT) division completed eight transactions over the past month, securing a combined £261 million of pensioners’ benefits during uncertain times. The eight transactions cover UK and U.S. pension schemes and varied in size from as low as £2.2 million to as high as £80 million. L&G notes that on March 27th alone, three separate PRT transactions were signed. Despite the impacts of the ongoing...

April 3, 2020
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03Apr

US. Highlights of Employee Benefits Provisions in the CARES Act

The President recently signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act or “CARES Act.” The CARES Act is primarily a stimulus package that addresses the current coronavirus crisis, and it includes several provisions relating to employee benefit plans. Retirement Plans Penalty-free coronavirus-related distributions — The 10% early withdrawal penalty under Internal Revenue Code (Code) Section 72(t) is waived for “coronavirus-related distributions” of up to $100,000. In addition, the 20% withholding requirement on these distributions does not...

April 3, 2020
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03Apr

Financial tools to learn to invest without leaving home

News, market analysis, games… BBVA’s Center for Financial Education and Capability offers a complete selection of online tools, provided by financial institutions, start-ups and specialized organizations for investors who need information and advice, and users who want to get started in the investment field. Here are some of them: The Financial Diet It is mainly a YouTube channel on personal finances with short, easy to understand, highly educational videos. The playlist contains audiovisual content that covers all types...

April 3, 2020
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02Apr

How the coronavirus threatens Asia-Pacific’s $7tn pensions market

The coronavirus outbreak has piled pressure on Asia-Pacific’s multitrillion-dollar pensions industry, with the pandemic raising fears that retirees could make a panicked dash to withdraw their investments. Read also Dutch pension funds invest in coronavirus bond The sector manages about $7tn in assets, according to research group the Thinking Ahead Institute. But investment funds and policymakers across the region have been forced to reassess how they provide for ageing populations. Read also Kenya’s retirement benefits eroded by coronavirus The challenges come...

April 2, 2020
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02Apr

US. Coronavirus Is Making the Public Pension Crisis Even Worse

For years, the country’s public pension plans have faced a yawning gap between what they owe and what they can pay. From the State of California’s public employees’ retirement plan, with more than 1.6 million participants, to tiny funds for employees of local mosquito-control programs in Illinois, public pensions are the time bomb of government finance. Now the coronavirus pandemic has it ticking faster. Already chronically underfunded, pension programs have taken huge hits to their investment portfolios over the...

April 2, 2020
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