April 2021

Morneau Shepell releases the results of its Performance Universe of Pension Managers’ Pooled Funds

Morneau Shepell (TSX: MSI) has released the results of its Performance Universe of Pension Managers’ Pooled Funds for the first quarter of 2021. According to the report, in the first quarter of 2021, diversified pooled fund managers posted a median return of 1.8 per cent before management fees. “The stock market continued to rise in the first quarter and the MSCI World Index delivered a 3.5 per cent return. The Canadian Equity S&P/TSX Composite Index posted a return of 8.1 per...

Redington and Fidelity announce net zero pension plans

Redington has announced it will align all default client advice with the goal of reaching net zero emissions by 2050 at the latest, as outlined in the Paris Agreement. The investment consultant estimated that, as a result of the change most clients will achieve a 50 per cent reduction in their carbon emissions by 2030. The move sits alongside the firm's broader seven-point climate action plan to integrate sustainability considerations across its entire business, including commitments to reduce and offset its...

UK. MSP pension fund under fire for investing almost £1m in fossil fuels

Analysis of the Scottish Parliamentary Pension Scheme by Friends of the Earth Scotland based on a freedom of information request shows that the estimated fossil fuel investment is £923,585 - around £7,160 for each of the 129 MSPs. With Glasgow due to host the Cop26 UN climate conference later this year environmental campaigners are calling on local authorities to divest from fossil fuels. The Scottish Parliament’s pension fund was found to have an estimated £733,000 stake in BHP, a major coal,...

Chile. Piñera anuncia su propio proyecto de retiro del 10%: incluye mecanismo para reintegrar el dinero

En cadena nacional, el presidente Sebastián Piñera anunció que este lunes 26 de abril enviará al Congreso su propio proyecto para un nuevo retiro anticipado del 10% de los ahorros en las AFP. Eso sí, recalcó que incluirá la “recuperación” de esos dineros. “Mañana vamos a enviar al Congreso, y con la máxima urgencia, un proyecto de ley de retiro y recuperación de ahorros previsionales, que va a permitir a los chilenos retirar el 10% de sus ahorros y por...

Perú. Qué pasa si el Ejecutivo observa el retiro de hasta S/17.600 de las AFP

Este lunes 26 de abril vence el plazo para que el Ejecutivo se pronuncie sobre la autógrafa de ley que aprobó, a fines de marzo, el Pleno del Congreso referente al retiro de hasta S/17.600 (4 UIT) de las Administradores de Fondos de Pensiones (AFP). Al respecto, la titular de la Presidencia del Consejo de Ministros, Violeta Bermúdez, dijo que mañana mismo, el Gobierno dará a conocer su postura sobre el tema, luego de culminar su evaluación con los...

Chile’s Pinera counters opposition pensions withdrawal bill with own initiative

Chilean President Sebastian Pinera on Sunday announced the government will launch its own bill to allow citizens to draw more from their private pensions in a last-ditch attempt to kill off a similar move led by the opposition. Pinera said his proposed rival bill would be subject to means-tested taxation and would allow for the withdrawn funds to be gradually repaid through state and employer contributions. The president said his initiative was a better option than the opposition's bill, which the...

Multi-pillar pension systems can help EU address the ageing of European societies

Multi-pillar pension systems can help EU address the ageing of European societies Insurance Europe has today published its response to a consultation conducted by the European Commission on its green paper on ageing. Insurance Europe's contribution focuses specifically on the questions pertaining to pensions and long-term care, given the extensive expertise that insurers have in these areas. On pensions, the industry welcomes the Commission's efforts to boost adequacy in retirement income across Europe, as demographic changes are increasingly putting statutory pension...

UK. Private sector DB disappearing ‘more rapidly than thought’

Private sector defined benefit schemes are closing more rapidly than realised, meaning the incomes of newly retired workers are set to fall at a much more dramatic rate in the coming decades than had previously been thought, according to consultancy LCP. A report from the firm found in the private sector the decline of traditional final salary-type pensions is more rapid than previously assumed, while the rise of new ‘pot-of-money’ workplace pensions will take longer to make a real impact than...

Australia. Women retire with over $30,000 lower balance in super than men

Australians need to prepare for retirement and take control over when and with how much they want to retire, according to chief analyst at Wealth Within, Dale Gillham. He stressed it was also concerning that women retired on average with a balance of $122,848 in super compared to men who, according to the Association of Superannuation Funds Australia (ASFA) figures, retired with an average of $154,453. “When you look at the figures on how much Australians are retiring on, it shines...

ESG, Green Growth and Employee Capitalism: G7 Roadmap for the Fifth Industrial Revolution

By M. Nicolas J. Firzli, David Weeks, Nick Sherry This paper co-authored & edited jointly by M. Nicolas J. Firzli, David Weeks and the Hon. Nicholas Sherry looks at the twin notions of asset ownership and EESG-driven investment in relation to the emerging financial policy agenda of the 47th G7 Summit (Carbis Bay Summit) from the perspective of G7 and Australian pension investors and board members (trustees), which were discussed notably at two recent global conferences organised by the Singapore...