September 2025
01Sep

Crypto finds gateway into Australia’s $2.8t pensions pot

Australia’s A$4.3 trillion ($2.8 trillion) retirement system — long regarded as one of the world’s best-regulated savings pools — is emerging as a new frontier for crypto. Coinbase Global Inc. and OKX, two of the largest digital-asset exchanges, are rolling out products aimed at steering pension money into cryptocurrencies, underscoring how digital assets are edging further into mainstream finance. The initial focus is self-managed superannuation funds, or SMSFs, which already make up about a quarter of Australia’s pension pool. Unlike mainstream...

September 1, 2025
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01Sep

A “major trouble” of €2 trillion! Is the pension reform in the Netherlands about to ignite the European bond market?

The Zhito Finance APP has learned that a transformation nearing €2 trillion (approximately $2.3 trillion) is sweeping across the European bond market, adding further turbulence to the already unpredictable year of 2025—tariff upheavals, concerns over deficits, and a political crisis in France are all unfolding, and now the reform of the Dutch pension system has become the new eye of the storm. As the largest pension market in the European Union, this long-anticipated reform in the Netherlands has driven up...

September 1, 2025
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August 2025
29Aug

Shocks to Income in a Lifecycle Model: An Undervalued Risk

By Sebastian Gomez-Cardona Lifecycle models are increasingly popular in financial planning. However, they often overlook the significant risk posed by income shocks-such as career disruptions, economic downturns, or technological advancements-that can affect financial plans, including retirement. This paper explores the role these shocks have on shaping saving rates, financial capital accumulation, and asset-allocation decisions, with particular attention to the possible relationship between income shocks and equity returns. By integrating industry-specific income risk into asset allocation decisions, this research provides practical...

August 29, 2025
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28Aug

Pensions UK to lobby for changes to mandation rules in Pension Schemes Bill

Pensions UK, the retirement industry trade body, is to step up lobbying against investment mandation when the Pension Schemes Bill returns to parliament next week. The bill is due to be scrutinised by a parliamentary committee at sittings scheduled for next week. Pensions UK’s director of policy and advocacy Zoe Alexander will give evidence to the committee at the first session on 2 September. Pensions UK said it “believes in a pensions sector that puts fiduciary duty to savers at its...

August 28, 2025
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27Aug

Canada. Outdated retirement system could leave many financially struggling, investment management group says

A leading investment industry group is calling for policy changes to update Canada’s retirement income system, warning that without reforms, many Canadians may fall short of what they need in retirement. In a report released Wednesday, the Securities and Investment Management Association (SIMA) said that the current retirement income system hasn’t kept pace with longer lifespans, higher living costs and the decline of workplace pensions. To address these issues, the group recommends policy changes aimed at supporting private savings, including raising...

August 27, 2025
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25Aug

US. Bitcoin 401(k)s thrill crypto investors but carry serious risks

US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Aug. 7, allowing crypto in 401(k) retirement plans. The crypto industry has called the move a win for adoption, but investment professionals warn it comes with significant risk. The order “Democratizing Access to Alternative Assets for 401(k) Investors” directed US financial regulators to expand access to crypto and private companies in 401(k) plans. The 401(k) employee-sponsored investment scheme is one of the most popular retirement plans in the US. As of 2024,...

August 25, 2025
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22Aug

ESG round-up: UK pension fund to poll members on defence investment

Avon Pension Fund is set to poll its beneficiaries on their stance on investment in the defence sector, to inform a decision later this year by its Pension Committee on how to approach the sector. Under UK fiduciary law, a pension fund may take non-financial considerations into account in its investment decisions if, among other things, they have good reason to believe that a majority of scheme members would share their views. The survey will aim to gather views...

August 22, 2025
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22Aug

US. Texas state pension funds face benchmark dilemma over banned investments

The Employee Retirement System of Texas (ERS) is set to switch to a custom benchmark from Bloomberg allowing it to exclude the long list of companies it is banned from investing in from performance comparisons. Texan statewide pension funds are currently prohibited from investing in companies allegedly boycotting fossil fuel or Israeli investments, or that allegedly have operations in Iran. Lists of such firms are determined by the state’s comptroller. The comptroller also directed funds to divest from China late last year. Separate...

August 22, 2025
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20Aug

US Pensions Will Ride Stock Rally to Reach 12% Gains, S&P Says

US public retirement funds will outperform typical investment expectations as they profit from strong stock returns, S&P Global Ratings said in a recent report. Analysts expect pensions to generate returns of 11% to 12% for the fiscal year that ended in June, driven by steep jumps in stock prices. These gains would be in spite of a dip that occurred in April, when the S&P 500 shed more than $5.4 trillion in two trading sessions after investors reacted to President...

August 20, 2025
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14Aug

Global investors find greener pastures beyond US borders

A sharp US$13.6bn moved into global ex-US equity funds in July, the largest monthly inflow since December 2021, as per LSEG Lipper data reported by Reuters. Investors increasingly redirected capital away from the United States, citing economic concerns, high stock valuations, and a weakening dollar. According to S&P Global, July’s US Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 2.7 percent year-on-year, unchanged from June and below market expectations. While this bolstered market conviction for a September interest rate cut—pricing in nearly 100 percent likelihood compared to...

August 14, 2025
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