July 2025

Study shows only one in four Kenyans save for retirement

A paltry 20 per cent of Kenyans save for retirement, a new study has revealed. The research by pension fund experts at Zamara Group reveals that over 60 per cent of retirees deplete their retirement savings within the first five years after leaving formal employment. Zamara Group chief executive Sundeep Raichura said most Kenyans are not saving enough to maintain their living standards in retirement. "In Kenya, the pension schemes are paid in lump-sum and people who are used to getting regular...

US. Trump could open up your 401(k) to private equity. Why market experts say it’s a bad idea.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday that Trump is expected to sign an executive order in the coming days allowing 401(k) plans to invest their assets in private equity. It's a proposal that's raising red flags among some investment experts, who say a 401(k) should typically be a simple and relatively low-risk investment vehicle. Private equity investments, meanwhile, are often concentrated in a small number of portfolio companies, illiquid, and carry valuations that can be difficult to measure day-to-day....

UK. New idea to tax inherited pensions worth £90k-plus floated – instead of imposing inheritance tax

The Government is being urged to slap income tax on inherited pensions worth £90,000-plus instead of making them liable for inheritance tax. Another option is to impose a tax charge at death on unspent pensions worth £150,000, £200,000 or £250,000, according to a finance industry group calling for a radical rethink of inheritance tax changes due in two years' time. Just levying income tax or charges on inherited pensions direct would reduce the burden on grieving families yet still rake in...

Pakistan approves 15 pct increase in EOBI pensions

Pakistan's federal cabinet has approved a 15 percent increase in pensions for beneficiaries of the Employees' Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI), according to an official statement issued on Wednesday. The decision was made during a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The increase, effective from Jan. 1, 2025, will be financed through EOBI's own resources, the statement said. The cabinet also approved the formation of a committee to propose institutional reforms within EOBI and explore options to extend pension coverage...

Vietnam updates insurance law with guidance on lump-sum payouts

It also clarifies the entitlement to retirement and survivorship benefits. Vietnam's Government has issued a decree to provide detailed guidance on several provisions of the Law on Social Insurance related to voluntary social insurance. The new decree, Decree 159/2025/ND-CP, took effect on 1 July, replacing Decree 134/2015/ND-CP. Key areas covered include contribution rules, benefit entitlements, and transitional provisions. Specifically, the decree outlines regulations for individuals who do not qualify for pensions or social allowances due to age or contribution conditions; sets...

PRT Market Momentum Expected to Continue

Pension risk transfers will be among the fastest-growing product lines in the life insurance sector, J.P.Morgan Chase & Co. found in its June 27 “North America Equity Research” report. According to the firm, many U.S. private sector employers that froze and/or closed their defined benefit pension plans as a benefit for employees more than a decade ago still have legacy plans, totaling $3.2 trillion in assets. Many firms have shifted their DB liabilities to insurers through PRT transactions. The PRT market...

Government and industry ‘united’ in determination to drive returns and boost UK investment

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has said the government and the industry are "united" when it comes to delivering for savers and the UK economy. During her Mansion House speech yesterday (15 July), Reeves said: "Pension funds and this government are united in our determination to deliver higher returns for savers and more investment for the economy." Last year at Mansion House the government set out an overhaul of the UK pensions system which included proposals for the creation of defined contribution and Local...

Ranked: Countries With the Highest & Lowest Pensions in Europe

Rich Western economies like Iceland, Luxembourg, and Norway can afford annual pensions north of €30,000 per retiree. Poland and Hungary spend a big slice of GDP on pensions, yet smaller tax bases keep payouts below €7,000. The seven-fold gap between Iceland and Hungary proves pension size tracks economic heft, not political will. everal generations are already saying they won’t retire due to financial anxieties. But what about today’s retirees? How are they making ends meet, and what do current-day pensions actually look like? This chart visualizes the latest figures...

Paging Gen Z: It’s not a ‘micro-retirement.’ It’s a vacation

It’s July, and many Midwesterners are flocking to the lake, driving south to go to the beach, or simply sticking around to enjoy the fleeting hot weather at their local pool. Even Pope Leo XIV, arguably one of the busiest and most important people in the world, is taking a summer vacation. (True, his break includes six weeks off, something most of us can only dream of.) That’s why we were intrigued to see a new Gen Z term crop up. A...

Argentina’s Milei told to ‘grow up’ by VP in spat over pensions

Argentine President Javier Milei and his vice-president, Victoria Villarruel, have engaged in a bitter public war of words over plans to increase pensions. Milei shared posts on X in which his running mate had been called "stupid" and described as "a traitor", and in response Villarruel told the president to "grow up". The president's anger was triggered by a heavy defeat in Congress on Thursday, when the Senate approved motions aimed at boosting pensions and increasing disability allowances - which Milei...