January 2025
29Jan

Retirement is a risky business for most people

Firstlinks published an article by Bruce Bennett on 8 January 2025 that highlighted some of the problems with the Commonwealth Super Scheme (CSS): This article drew comparisons between account-based pensions available from industry super funds and SMSFs. I think those comparisons are misplaced. A more interesting exercise would be to compare the CSS with the age pension because both are income streams that are paid for life and indexed to inflation. In both cases, the provider is the Commonwealth Government and benefits are...

January 29, 2025
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28Jan

UK. Pension industry backs Reeves’ £160bn corporate pension release

The pensions industry has said it is willing to back the Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ plans to unlock up to £160bn in corporate surpluses if retirees are given “appropriate protection” by the government. Reeves and the Prime Minister Keir Starmer are set to meet with business leaders in the City of London today to outline pension reforms aimed at driving economic growth. Under the changes, trapped surplus funds in so-called final salary pension schemes will be freed up for investment, while trustees will be given more...

January 28, 2025
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28Jan

Dutch Pension Fund Seeks Divestment from BlackRock

A Dutch pension fund is considering cutting ties with BlackRock because of the manager’s departure from the Net-Zero Asset Managers Initiative. PME Pensioenfonds, a pension fund for the metals and technology industry which has more than 620,000 participants, said it was reconsidering the future of its 5 billion euros invested with the manager, according to a memo seen by CIO. The pension fund is among the largest in the Netherlands, with more than 280 billion euros ($294.17 billion) in assets under...

January 28, 2025
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28Jan

Trump’s DEI pushback targets universities, foundations and other institutional investors

The Trump administration’s pushback against diversity, equity and inclusion is now targeting universities, foundations and public companies — a new development in the movement to dismantle DEI. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Jan. 21 in which he calls for “Encouraging the Private Sector to End Illegal DEI Discrimination and Preferences.” That order mandates federal agencies determine which universities, foundations and corporations should be investigated for their DEI policies, among other things. Specifically, the order directs each agency to identify up...

January 28, 2025
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28Jan

Russia Announces Major Pension Indexation Updates

Russian President Vladimir Putin recently announced significant updates to the pension indexation system, which will take effect from January 2025. These changes aim to adjust pension payments based on actual inflation rates, enhancing the financial support available to millions of retirees across the country. Starting January, the insurance pensions for both working and non-working pensioners were initially indexed by 7.3%. Recognizing the necessity for more substantial support amid rising inflation, Putin proposed to retroactively increase the indexation to 9.5% effective...

January 28, 2025
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27Jan

UK. Reeves set to announce plans for DB pension surplus rule changes

Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, is expected to reveal a range of initiatives to promote economic growth later this week, including plans to make it easier for sponsors of defined benefit (DB) pension schemes to access surplus funds, Sky News has reported. According to the reports, Reeves is set to announce that she wants to change DB surplus rules to boost investment in the UK economy, with government sources suggesting that this could unlock more than £60bn of pension surpluses held in DB schemes. At...

January 27, 2025
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27Jan

2025 Pension Updates And Tax Changes Impact Mexican Retirees

Pension payments now subject to taxes after surpassing new UMA thresholds starting this year. Every year at the start of January, the value of the Unidad de Medida y Actualización (UMA) increases, leading to adjustments in the exempt amounts for pension payments. Recently, it was announced once again the increment of this measure, which is pivotal for various obligations and taxes levied by both the federal government and the states. The UMA not only plays a role in determining tax...

January 27, 2025
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27Jan

Finland. Main labour federations greenlight pension reform

Three major labour-market groups have approved a pension reform plan negotiated with employers’ groups and backed by the government of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP). The boards of the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK), the Finnish Confederation of Professionals (STTK), and the Confederation of Unions for Professional and Managerial Staff in Finland (Akava) all gave their blessing to the plan on Monday. Labour market organisations reached a compromise deal on pension system reforms last Monday. The Orpo cabinet’s economic policy committee decided...

January 27, 2025
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27Jan

Iran Protests: Nationwide Demonstrations Highlight Economic Injustice and Suppression

Today, January 27, 2025, protests erupted across multiple cities in Iran today, as retirees, farmers, workers, and defrauded citizens rallied against the regime’s economic mismanagement, systemic corruption, and oppressive tactics. Demonstrations highlighted a variety of grievances, from pensions and wages to access to water rights and freedom from arbitrary arrests. In Zanjan, northwest Iran, retirees from the Telecommunication Company of Iran (TCI) resumed their protests, calling for higher pensions and an end to mismanagement. Similar protests were held in Ahvaz, southwest Iran,...

January 27, 2025
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24Jan

US Pension Plan Managers Split on Primary Benefit of Private Assets

As an increasing share of pension funds increase their allocations to private markets, plan managers are split on the benefit these assets have in their portfolio. Most pension fund executives also expect distributions from private equity, which have been lower in recent years, will increase over the next three years. According to a survey from Ortec Finance B.V., which interviewed pension fund executives in the U.S. about their expectations for the next three years, approximately 74% said they expect higher...

January 24, 2025
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