October 2022
26Oct

In the U.S., Income and Wealth are Concentrated at the Top. Where Does This Leave Older Americans?

Disparities in income and wealth among older Americans have widened in recent decades. Higher income and wealth are both associated with better prospects for living a long life. So where does this leave older Americans? Today’s WatchBlog post looks at our new report on these trends with older Americans and retirement, as well as what we can see happening in three other countries with large economies—Canada, Germany, and the United Kingdom. How does the U.S. compare? In some ways, we are similar to...

October 26, 2022
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25Oct

UK. University staff to strike over pay and pensions

University lecturers, librarians and admin staff across the UK will strike over pay and pensions, the University and College Union (UCU) has announced. A total of 70,000 UCU members at 150 universities were asked to vote in two separate ballots - one on pay and working conditions, and another on pensions. Strike dates are yet to be decided. University employers say a pay rise would put jobs at risk in what they say are "very difficult" financial times. Students - some of whom...

October 25, 2022
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13Oct

UK. Pension reforms could add £4k to retirement income, says PLSA

The Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association has called for action and warned that without reform of the pension system, over half of savers will fail to meet the retirement income targets set by the Pensions Commission in 2005. In a report released today (October 12), the PLSA proposed five reforms that it said will help millions of people achieve a better income in retirement. If acted on, a median earner would see their pension income increase from around £15,000 a...

October 13, 2022
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13Oct

Swiss state pensions to rise 2.5% to help offset inflation

The Swiss state pension will rise by 2.5% next year, the government said on Wednesday, to help offset the highest inflation the country has seen in nearly 30 years. The minimum payout of the state scheme will rise to 1,225 francs ($1,230) per month from 1,195 francs, while the maximum payout will increase to 2,450 from 2,390 francs. Minimum contributions for self-employed people will rise to help pay for the increase. The government reviews pensions every two years, with the intention of...

October 13, 2022
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11Oct

Iceland, Netherlands and Denmark have the best pensions in the world in 2022

Today, Mercer and the CFA Institute released its 14th annual Mercer CFA Institute Global Pension Index (MCGPI). Iceland’s retirement income system has once again topped the list, with The Netherlands and Denmark retaining second and third places respectively in the rankings. As more employers have stepped away from defined benefit (DB) plans, the study also investigates the challenges and opportunities with the global shift towards defined contribution (DC) plans where individuals bear increased financial responsibility. The MCGPI is a comprehensive...

October 11, 2022
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07Oct

Disconnected: Reality vs. Perception in Retirement Planning

By Martha Deevy & Steve Vernon This report examines potential interventions and messaging that can help pre-retirees and retirees plan ahead regarding important retirement decisions. The widespread lack of forward-looking planning has vexed retirement planners and researchers for many years. Many problems in later years could have been prevented with planning ahead. Too many people put off making important decisions, only to find themselves later in a serious crisis with limited options. Our research identified interventions and messaging that could be used by...

October 7, 2022
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06Oct

The Effect of Removing Early Retirement on Mortality

By Cristina Bellés-Obrero, Sergi Jimenez-Martin & Han Ye This paper sheds new light on the mortality effect of delaying retirement by investigating the impacts of the 1967 Spanish pension reform. This reform exogenously changed the early retirement age, depending on the date individuals started contributing to the Social Security system. Those contributing before 1 January 1967 maintained the right to voluntarily retire early (at age 60), while individuals who started contributing after that date could not voluntarily claim a pension...

October 6, 2022
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06Oct

US. Retirement Planning: There’s A Wide Gap Between Expectations And Reality

There’s a significant perception/reality gap among most pre-retirees and retirees today. That’s one of the key takeaways from a new study published by the Stanford Center on Longevity (SCL), titled Disconnected: Reality vs. Perception in Retirement Planning. The study shows that most of today’s pre-retirees and retirees lack sufficient savings to fully retire at age 65 and that generally, they’re not financially prepared for retirement. Yet they hold unrealistic financial expectations for their retirement years, and they’re not taking steps...

October 6, 2022
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September 2022
21Sep

Ireland to increase state pension for those who work beyond 66

Ireland will offer anyone over 66 a higher state pension the longer they stay in work, sidestepping a recommendation by a government-appointed commission to gradually increase the retirement age to 68 to help fund the ageing population. Under the proposed flexible model agreed by ministers on Tuesday, people will have the option from 2024 to continue working up until the age of 70 in return for a higher pension for each additional year they work. The state pension currently stands at...

September 21, 2022
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09Sep

Rise of DC poses risks and challenges for future pensioners

Increasing reliance on defined contribution savings means the needs of future pensioners will be markedly different from those of previous generations, placing greater emphasis on the need for support, according to a new report. The report from the Pensions Policy Institute, published on September 8, explained that increasing reliance on DC pots as opposed to older defined benefit schemes results in “more complex” retirement finances that future pensioners will have to manage, and that these will require more active engagement...

September 9, 2022
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