February 2019

13Feb

US. Bosses, Beware! You’re Legally at Risk Over High 401(k) Plan Fees

Yes, CEOs have a fiduciary responsibility to their employees, and if they fail to fulfill it, the employees can sue. And win. A good 401(k) plan can be an amazing tool for helping to build your retirement nest egg. Most companies offer at least some level of employer match, and the tax deferral is a great perk. But if your 401(k) options come larded with excessive fees, it's a whole different story. In this segment from the Motley Fool...

February 13, 2019
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13Feb

Australia. Pensioners set for income threshold boost

Draft laws allowing pensioners to earn $300 a fortnight - up from $250 - without it hurting their welfare payments passed the first green light of parliament. Pensioners will soon be able to earn $300 a fortnight without it hurting their welfare payments under draft laws which passed the first hurdle of parliament. The proposal cleared the lower house alongside two other measures - means testing pooled-retirement-income products and allowing more older Australians to access the pension loan scheme...

February 13, 2019
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12Feb

In Nicaragua, steep pension cuts, tax increases could plunge country into recession

Last April, news of these measures led to protests and a government crackdown that led to hundreds of deaths and over fifty thousand leaving the country. Nicaraguans revolted last April when the government announced it was raising payroll taxes and cutting retirement benefits to bolster a social security program hemorrhaging money. The unrest led authorities to quickly withdraw the measure, but as the protests boiled for months and broadened into demands that President Daniel Ortega leave office, security forces...

February 12, 2019
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12Feb

Are businesses matching green efforts with climate-safe staff pensions?

Only a small number of FTSE 100 firms' pension schemes have shifted their investment approach to take account of climate-related risks, ShareAction research finds The retirement savings of hundreds of thousands of workers could be "highly exposed" to climate-related risks, with some of the UK's biggest company pension schemes sticking with investment strategies that fail to address exposure to carbon intensive assets. That is the key conclusion from research by ShareAction published today which warns companies are failing to...

February 12, 2019
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12Feb

First U.S. Pension Funds Take the Plunge on Crypto Investing

Morgan Creek Digital has scored what it says is probably the first investment in the crypto asset universe from a U.S. pension fund. Two pension plans in Fairfax County, Virginia are anchor investors in a new $40 million venture-capital fund, according to a statement from the company. Other investors include an insurance company, a university endowment and a private foundation, said Morgan Creek Digital founder Anthony Pompliano, who declined to provide further details. Many institutional investors, which crypto enthusiasts...

February 12, 2019
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12Feb

United Kingdom: PS pension study postponed

A decision by the UK Government to delay part of its work on the valuation of Public Service pensions has sparked an angry response from unions. Critics of the move say it is simply a stalling measure to deny improvements to members’ benefits. Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Liz Truss (pictured) told Parliament that a December judgement from the Court of Appeal on “transactional protection” offered to some scheme members could have a £4 billion (A$7.1 billion) a year...

February 12, 2019
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11Feb

UK. Seven years in jail for bosses who recklessly risk pensions

Devil-may-care directors who recklessly put workers’ pensions at risk will face up to 7 years in prison or unlimited fines. A new criminal offence of ‘wilful or reckless behaviour’ in relation to pensions will be introduced under the proposals to crack down on abuse of final or average salary schemes. Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Amber Rudd, said: The vast majority of bosses take their responsibilities seriously and look after their workers’ retirement funds. However, for too...

February 11, 2019
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11Feb

South Africa. DA to fight ANC’s attempt to nationalise private pensions

Cape Town - The Democratic Alliance (DA) on Sunday accused the African National Congress (ANC) government of resorting to exactly the same "desperate tactics" used by the apartheid regime when they could not raise capital in the international markets. "Reports indicate that the African National Congress is still intent on gunning for South Africans’ hard-earned pensions and retirement funds by imposing prescribed assets," DA spokesman Alf Lees said. ANC treasurer general Paul Mashatile was quoted on Sunday as having...

February 11, 2019
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08Feb

Work in Europe If You Want Your Pension to Grow While Doing Good

The continent has some $12 trillion committed to sustainable investing, more than anywhere else. These days, European asset managers’ websites all seem to have a section devoted to ESG, providing their take on a range of environmental, social, and governance topics including green energy and women on boards. Every mutual fund company has an ESG product, and every investment bank is rolling out ESG research. Europe is the place to be if you want to do good while becoming...

February 8, 2019
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08Feb

Cyprus to set up a single insurance and pensions supervisory authority

Cyprus will set up a new single independent insurance and pensions fund supervisory authority joining the separate authorities currently supervising the sectors, Finance Minister Harris Georgiades announced on Thursday. The announcement was made during a joint press conference with the President of European Insurance and Occupational Pensions (EIOPA) Authority Gabriel Bernardino, who backed the government’s proposal. “I am really encouraged of the announcement the Minister made today, I strongly supported it,” Bernandino said, adding that the proposal is clearly...

February 8, 2019
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