April 2019

02Apr

U.S. pension fund managers pledge investments in Kenya’s infrastructure

More than 30 representatives of U.S. pension and assets management funds said on Monday they plan to channel capital towards development of critical infrastructure in Kenya. The senior executives who manage assets worth about 100 trillion Kenyan shillings (about 1 trillion U.S. dollars) said they are keen to invest in roads, water, sanitation and housing projects to help realize socio-economic transformation in Kenya. "By moving from traditional investments in stocks and bonds to new opportunities in Kenyan roads, power...

April 2, 2019
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02Apr

EU. Launch of EIOPA’s 2019 Occupational Pensions Stress Test Exercise

Crucial biennial exercise to assess the resilience and potential vulnerabilities of the European Defined Benefit and Defined Contribution pension sector Tailored to the specificities of the diverse European pension sector and its potential impact on financial stability Adverse market scenario mirrors the current risk outlook on financial markets For the first time, a European stress test includes an assessment of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) exposures Today, the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) launched...

April 2, 2019
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02Apr

Ghana. FinTechs look to regulator to make Digital Pensions Market more attractive

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of IT Consortium Limited, Mr. Romeo Bugyei, has called for closer collaboration between government, regulatory bodies and FinTechs in Ghana to push informal pensions to citizens. He indicated that in order to achieve successful financial inclusion in the county, FinTechs must be supported to enable them efficiently deliver Digital Financial Services (DFS) to Ghanaians. He made this call at a stakeholder forum co-hosted by the Ghana Technology Chamber and the Ghana Chamber...

April 2, 2019
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02Apr

Older Workers: Countries’ Experiences with Phased Retirement

“Phased retirement” lets you work less than full-time before you fully retire. This can help keep skilled people working longer while easing pressure on national pensions (e.g. Social Security). The U.S. workforce is aging, but there are few formal phased retirement programs here. We looked at 4 other countries to potentially inform a U.S. strategy. We found program designs that could work under the unique institutional conditions here. For example, many of the programs were designed to work with...

April 2, 2019
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02Apr

Pakistan Introduces Crypto Regulation

The Pakistani government will now regulate local cryptocurrency firms under new legislation. Local news outlet The Express Tribune reported that the government of Pakistan will introduce Electronic Money Institutions (EMI) regulations based on the recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). The FATF is an intergovernmental organization based in France that creates policies for combating money laundering and other threats to the integrity of the global financial system. It has reportedly been working on international regulations for cryptocurrencies....

April 2, 2019
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01Apr

UK. Accountant jailed after regulator uncovers pension scheme fraud

An accountant who fraudulently took over £290,000 from a pension scheme has been jailed for more than three years. Roger Bessent was trustee and administrator for the Focusplay Retirement Benefit Scheme – the pension scheme for the accountancy business he was a director of. Savers’ money was transferred into new business ventures that he, his family and a client attempted to run. Bessent also used the money to buy himself and his wife a house to rent out as...

April 1, 2019
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01Apr

Kenyan, U.S. pension fund managers mull infrastructure investment

Kenyan and U.S. pension fund managers are in Nairobi evaluating the investment potential and opportunities in infrastructure in the East African nation. The World Bank said the three-day meeting, which kicked off on Monday, will see the Kenya Pension Fund Investment Consortium (KEPFIC) host 30 representatives of major U.S. pension and asset management funds to discuss investment opportunities with KEPFIC and its membership of 12 Kenyan fund managers, which currently manage 200 billion shillings (2 billion U.S. dollars) in...

April 1, 2019
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01Apr

Protecting The Aging And Infirm From Financial Abuse: Practical Steps To Take Now

People are aging and the incidence of elder financial abuse, and the permutations it can take are growing as well. There is lots of talk of these issues but what you need to do, for yourself if applicable or for loved ones that might be affected, is take action. There are a number of specific steps that might prove helpful and protective. First, let's look at some of the many forms this exploitation can take. A recent article in...

April 1, 2019
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March 2019

29Mar

Nigeria. PenCom launches Micro Pension Plan and invests N6.5tr in securities as Buhari promises retirees better deal

•Contributory scheme hits N8.74 trillion in January Acting Director General of the National Pension Commission (PenCom), Aisha Dahir-Umar, has said N6.51 trillion, representing 73 per cent of the agency’s total assets, has been invested in Federal Government securities issued to finance various projects.Of the sum, N95.3 billion went for infrastructure while N7.19 billion was committed to the N10.67 billion Green Bond of the government. Speaking at the launch of the Micro Pension Plan (MPP) yesterday in Abuja, she...

March 29, 2019
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