November 2020

03Nov

Australian pension fund settles landmark climate lawsuit

One of Australia’s largest pension funds on Monday agreed to settle a landmark climate risk litigation filed by a 25-year-old member who alleged it was failing to protect his retirement savings against climate change. REST acknowledged in a statement that climate change would lead to catastrophic economic and social consequences and that the phenomenon was a “material, direct and current financial risk” to the superannuation fund. The closely watched case could influence how global funds manage such risks in...

November 3, 2020
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02Nov

US pension funds failing in climate change challenge

Fewer than one-in-five pension funds in North America have committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions across their portfolios by 2050 according to a study that underlines the need to accelerate the fight against climate change in the world’s largest pensions market. Read also Australian pension fund settles landmark climate lawsuit Just 17 per cent of North American pensions funds aim to reach net zero by the middle of the century while a further 8 per cent expect to reach...

November 2, 2020
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02Nov

Switzerland: The road to digital pensions

Martin Eling, director of the Institute of Insurance Economics and professor in insurance management at the University of St Gallen, receives a letter from his pension fund every year. The document describes his situation at retirement age. “The fact that I receive a letter by regular mail once a year is not what I expect in terms of digitisation in 2020,” he says. “There is still little digitisation in the Swiss pension fund sector compared to other sectors”....

November 2, 2020
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02Nov

The savings and domestic investment paradox in Namibia

Namibia has been praised for having one of the largest savings pools in Africa, but the question of where such funds are invested and how they are benefiting Namibians still lingers. An analysis by The Namibian shows that since 2013, the asset base of non-banking institutions has been growing by an average of N$18 billion per year. Non-banking institutions are typically your pension funds, insurance companies, medical aid funds and friendly societies. In Namibia, they are regulated by Namibia Financial...

November 2, 2020
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October 2020

30Oct

How are Japanese corporate funds adapting to global economic challenges

Since 2016, a Japanese publication for institutional investors, AL-IN, has periodical surveyed Japanese corporate pension funds to determine what products best serve them as they confront structural and market changes. The 2018 edition of the survey found pension funds preparing for a domestic economic downturn. Income gains were already slack and pension funds sought bond-related and low-liquidity assets to cover the shortfall. Since then, investment and financial markets have been defined by the U.S. Federal Reserve’s shift in monetary...

October 30, 2020
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30Oct

Equity returns fuel Q3 Canadian pension fund returns

Strong global equity markets continue to augment pension plan returns with Canadian defined benefit plans returning 3.2 percent for the third quarter, according to the Northern Trust Canada Universe. The Northern Trust Canada Universe tracks the performance of Canadian institutional investment plans that subscribe to performance measurement services as part of Northern Trust’s asset service offerings. Overall, equity markets navigated pockets of volatility, closing the quarter in positive territory, while financial markets appeared to shrug off fears perpetuated by...

October 30, 2020
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30Oct

COVID-19 and the Future of Aging: A Public Health Forecast

Milken Institute Center for the Future of Aging: What has the COVID-19 pandemic shown us about the importance of investment in public health — are there opportunities for improvement that can be made in time to help? Dr. Linda Fried: COVID-19 has unmasked so many areas where the United States has not invested adequately to protect its people. A key example is our public health system. It should be responsible for creating seventy percent of the health of our...

October 30, 2020
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29Oct

UK. Pensions Dashboards delayed until 2023

The long-awaited roll-out of Pensions Dashboards has been pushed back to 2023 – four years after the initial deadline for the scheme. Pensions Dashboards will allow savers to view all their various pension pots in one place – including the government pension, workplace pensions and any private pensions. Read also UK pension funds to boost renewables, survey finds Currently savers have to look at these pots separately, which can make it difficult to keep track. Read also UK. DWP launches ‘Stronger Nudge’ plans...

October 29, 2020
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29Oct

Pension fund of S.Africa’s Eskom to invest $170 mln in U.S. projects

The pension fund of South Africa's indebted power utility Eskom plans to invest $170 million in private equity, infrastructure and real estate projects in the United States, the U.S. embassy in South Africa said on Wednesday. Eskom Pension and Provident Fund (EPPF) will invest $100 million in private equity managed by AlpInvest and $30 million in real estate managed by Metropolitan. The two companies are owned by U.S. private equity firm Carlyle Group. The remaining $40 million infrastructure investment will be...

October 29, 2020
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29Oct

US. Most Workers Believe COVID-19 Will Affect Their Retirement Planning

Market volatility driven by the COVID-19 pandemic and a contentious U.S. presidential election have struck fear in pre-retirees about their ability to save for the future, according to new survey results.  Principal Financial Group’s quarterly Retirement Security Pulse Survey, which looks at consumer concerns surrounding their retirement savings, finds that nearly two-thirds of workers anticipate the pandemic will impact their path to retirement.  While most retirees feel they can live comfortably over the coming months, that confidence wanes when they think longer...

October 29, 2020
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