January 2026
14Jan

Swiss regulator flags ‘acute’ systemic risks at multi-employer pension funds

Switzerland’s occupational pension supervisor, the Oberaufsichtskommission Berufliche Vorsorge (OAK BV), is tightening oversight of pension funds exposed to systemic risks that could undermine their financial stability. In a note circulated in December, the authority set out instructions contained in directive W-01/2025, which entered into force on 1 January. The directive requires cantonal and regional supervisory authorities to carry out a comprehensive assessment of financial and non-financial risks for the pension funds under their supervision. OAK BV now expects a “structured assessment...

January 14, 2026
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14Jan

Aging populations are redefining the value of a healthy life year

Efficient, evidence-based resource allocation using quality-adjusted life years (QALY) is essential, especially as global life expectancy rises. A recent study published in Scientific Reports examines how considering age and country-specific demographic factors in QALY estimates can improve healthcare policy decisions and resource allocation. Concerns over increased healthcare costs due to the aging population Advances in medical technology and public health have led to rapidly aging populations worldwide, which contributes to rising healthcare costs and social burdens. By 2040, healthcare spending in Japan is...

January 14, 2026
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13Jan

US. Verizon’s PRT Case Dismissed in New York

A federal judge in New York dismissed a complaint accusing Verizon and its advisers of violating the Employee Retirement Income Security Act through a $5.7 billion pension risk transfer. In a January 8 opinion in Dempsey et al. v. Verizon Communications Inc. et al., U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein ruled that retirees lacked Article III standing to challenge Verizon’s decision to terminate two defined benefit pension plans by purchasing group annuities from Prudential Insurance Co. of America and RGA Reinsurance Co. Hellerstein, a senior U.S....

January 13, 2026
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13Jan

UK. DWP pension error leaves thousands at risk of Universal Credit underpayments

A Department for Work and Pensions administrative error may have left many thousands of Universal Credit recipients out of pocket, with those affected potentially entitled to both increased payments and backdated arrears. The blunder, brought to light by pensions expert Steve Webb, centres on claimants who contribute to pension schemes while receiving Universal Credit.   Multiple benefit recipients came forward after discovering that DWP staff had incorrectly declined to subtract their pension payments from earnings when calculating their Universal Credit entitlement. Under the...

January 13, 2026
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13Jan

Swedish Fund Selection Agency expands use of Clarity AI in sustainability fund procurement

Sweden’s Fund Selection Agency (FTN) and the Swedish Pensions Agency have announced new three-year contracts with two analytics providers – MSCI ESG Research and Clarity AI. According to SFSA, both contracts are aimed at sustainability fund analysis and procurement. Although FTN has not disclosed the details of the specific Clarity AI product in question, a spokesperson for the agency told Net Zero Investor that Clarity AI has been used previously in fund procurement. The new contract reflects a longer, more formal contract the...

January 13, 2026
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12Jan

China’s Private Pensions Draw Massive Interest, But Why Do Contributions Lag?

It has been one year since China fully implemented its private pension system. Data shows that the number of accounts has exceeded 150 million, with strong interest in account openings, but the actual contribution rate remains below 20%. China is expanding its private pension system to ease mounting pressure on its retirement framework as the population ages. While the basic public pension provides broad coverage, rising demographic stress and limited supplementary options have exposed structural gaps. The basic pension remains the system’s backbone,...

January 12, 2026
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12Jan

UK. Waspi chair says pension age fight is not over

Angela Madden was a full-time carer for her mother when she received a letter from the government in March 2012. It informed her she would not be eligible to receive a state pension for seven years, when she had expected to start receiving it in two. She is one of an estimated 3.6 million women born in the 1950s, who campaigners say were not properly informed of the rise in state pension age to bring them in line with men. And Angela,...

January 12, 2026
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12Jan

Nigeria. Driving growth with recapitalisation

With macroeconomic headwinds still blowing, regulatory shakeups underway, and citizens demanding more value for their trust, Omobola Tolu-Kusimo writes on whether 2026 could be the year these industries either break new ground or stay stuck in the cycle of unrealized potential. The year 2025 ended with increased premiums, improved regulatory oversight, and renewed investor interest following NAICOM’s enforcement of the Nigerian Insurance Industry Reform Act, 2025 (NIIRA 2025).reforms and recapitalisation efforts. However, insurance penetration remains below 1per cent, a stubborn reminder...

January 12, 2026
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12Jan

US. For 2026, these 401(k) details ‘matter more than ever,’ advisor says. What you need to know

As more older Americans near retirement, many are eager to boost 401(k) savings to combat the rising cost of health care and other day-to-day expenses. And for 2026, there are key 401(k) changes that investors need to know, financial experts say. This year, “small 401(k) details matter more than ever,” said certified financial planner Joon Um with Secure Tax and Accounting in Hayward, California. For 2026, you can defer up to $24,500 into your 401(k) plan, up from $23,500 in 2025. The full plan limit, which includes employer matches, profit sharing and...

January 12, 2026
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12Jan

Ghana. Retirement Research Centre backs 10% pension hike

The African Centre for Retirement Research (ACRR) has welcomed the 10 per cent pension increase for 2026, describing it as a policy decision that aligns with global best practices while safeguarding the long-term sustainability of Ghana’s pension system. Speaking on the adjustment, Executive Director of the Centre, Mashud Abdallah, said the structure of the increase reflects a careful balance between improving benefits for retirees and maintaining the financial health of the scheme. For 2026, pensions have been adjusted using a hybrid...

January 12, 2026
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