October 2018

03Oct

How can smart buildings help an ageing Asia?

Artificial intelligence, the internet of things and other smart technologies can help to make buildings smarter and more efficient, but can they make cities better places to live for the elderly? The technology of the fourth industrial revolution could make cities smarter than ever. But are smarter cities better for the environment and its residents? This was a central theme at the International Green Building Conference held in Singapore in September, where two panel sessions were dedicated to the topic of...

October 3, 2018
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02Oct

LGBTQ retirees, pre-retirees take bigger retirement risks

When it comes to investing money for retirement, 65 percent of LGBTQ respondents say they’re in growth- rather than preservation-oriented assets . They see the need for caution. But compared to other retirees and pre-retirees, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer Americans actually take bigger investing risks. Read more Benefits Pro

October 2, 2018
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02Oct

US. The next financial crisis will be brought on by inadequate regulation, top economist says

Economists like Johns Hopkins University's Lawrence Ball have expressed alarm over the Trump administration's efforts to roll back Obama-era regulations put in place in the wake of the 2008 crash, namely the Dodd-Frank Act. But many banking professionals believe it’s time to cast off some of Dodd-Frank’s rules, arguing that allowing lenders to provide more credit would boost the economy. Now, with a greater debt burden than in 2008, record low interest rates and highly accommodative monetary easing,...

October 2, 2018
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02Oct

South African state pension fund’s assets grow 8.6 pct

The value of assets managed by South Africa's state-owned pension fund rose by 8.6 percent in the year to March 2018, supported by a diversified investment strategy, the fund said in its latest annual report on Monday The Public Investment Corporation (PIC), which manages pensions of civil servants and is Africa's biggest pension fund, said assets under its custody grew to 2.08 trillion rand ($147 billion) from 1.91 trillion rand the year before. "Through prudent investment decision-making, underpinned by diversification, robust...

October 2, 2018
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02Oct

UK. The longevity dividend: How to make the most of our ageing society

It is well known that the UK is ageing. In 1976, only 14 per cent of the population was aged over 65, today it is 18 per cent, and in 2036 it is estimated to be 25 per cent. Over the same period, the median age is expected to rise from 34 to 43. The economic implications are widely seen as dismal. Fewer workers will lead to falling GDP growth, while rising pensions and medical costs will push government debt ever...

October 2, 2018
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01Oct

Kenyan campaigners urge enhanced protection for elderly persons

Kenya requires a radical policy shift in order to cushion senior citizens from abject poverty, homelessness, illiteracy, diseases and social exclusion, campaigners said on Sunday on the eve of the International Day of Older Persons. The elderly campaigners said that promoting the welfare of the ageing population through robust social safety net programs is key to realize socio-economic progress in Kenya. "Today in Kenya, older activists are campaigning for universal quality healthcare, improved access to social protection, more affordable and accessible...

October 1, 2018
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01Oct

UK. Pension annual allowance penalties leap to £517m

Record 16,590 people paying penalty on 2016-17 pension contributions The tax take from individuals paying a tax penalty for breaching the £40,000 annual allowance hit £517m ($673m, €580m) in the 2016-17 financial year ­– a huge increase from £143m in the previous year. The number of taxpayers reporting this through their tax returns reached 16,590, up from 5,430 in 2015-16. Meanwhile, the yield from those breaking the lifetime allowance (LTA) in 2016-17 reached £102m, involving 2,120 taxpayers, up from £66m and 1,180...

October 1, 2018
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September 2018

28Sep

The Secret Ingredient in BlackRock’s Imitation Pension Fund

Asset managers are upping their REITs llocations in defined contribution funds, as the industry works to improve returns and reduce volatility. Asset managers are working to make target-date funds — the go-to defined contribution vehicle — look more like what preceded them: defined benefit plans. DB plans have historically delivered higher investment returns with less volatility than their pay-as-you-go counterparts, in part due to a broader investable universe. A number of multi-asset firms have looked to one product to help bridge...

September 28, 2018
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28Sep

Malaysia. Khalid: Brace for challenges brought on by ageing society

KUALA Lumpur should brace itself for an ageing population and climate change. Federal Territories Minister Khalid Abdul Samad said proper city planning, development and management was critical as 77% of the country’s population lived in cities. “A large population in our cities will mean urbanisation challenges such as solid waste disposal, traffic congestion, air pollution, limited water resources, inadequate supply of housing and an increase in ageing population. “Malaysia will become an ageing society by 2040 in which almost 20% will be...

September 28, 2018
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28Sep

Kenya. Pension schemes pool resources to fund infrastructure projects

Pension schemes under their newly-formed umbrella body, the Kenya Pension Fund Investment Consortium is eyeing big-ticket investment projects by pooling their resources. Zamara Group Chief Executive Officer Sundeep Raichura says that teaming up of local pensions funds will enable them invest in alternative investment asset classes including affordable housing, private equity, energy and infrastructure projects which would ordinarily be challenging if pension funds were to invest individually. The Kenya Pension Fund Investment Consortium is currently made up of 10 pension funds...

September 28, 2018
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