December 2024

Strong action is needed to make retirement systems more inclusive, resilient and innovative

The design and governance of asset-backed pensions should be enhanced to foster more inclusive and resilient systems, secure better outcomes for individuals and contribute to sustainable economic growth and innovation, according to new analysis from the OECD. Pension assets in OECD countries grew by 10% in 2023, reaching over USD 56 trillion, more than triple the level seen two decades ago. Total assets hit USD 63 trillion after adding pension reserve funds held by governments. The 2023 total is 5%...

UK. DWP exact amount pensioners can have in savings before losing benefits

Some Department for Work and Pension benefits come with a list of eligibility criteria they have to meet, sometimes including having less than a certain amount in savings. This includes Universal Credit, Tax Credits, Council Tax Support, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support and Housing Benefit. These are dubbed means-tested benefits and their savings requirements extend past the state pension age for Pension Credit, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support. Each of these benefits have their...

November 2024

Megatrends and the Future of Social Protection

By Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Ageing populations, changing labour markets, and climate change are affecting economies and societies across OECD countries. What challenges do these “megatrends” pose for social protection systems? What are the implications of these trends for the coverage, the effectiveness, and – critically – the funding of social protection today and tomorrow? With an eye towards informing future reforms, this report presents a broad stocktaking of population ageing, changing patterns of labour supply, new and emerging...

New York City Pension Investments with MWBE Asset Managers Reach Record of $23.1 Billion for Fiscal Year 2024; Grew Nearly 40% During Comptroller Lander’s Tenure

New York City Comptroller Brad Lander released a report announcing that investments by the City’s five pension funds with minority- and women-owned asset management firms grew to $23.1 billion in Fiscal Year (FY) 2024, an increase of $6.3 billion, or 37.5% since Lander took office. Assets under management by MWBE firms grew from $16.8 billion in FY22 (11.6% of actively-managed US assets), to $19.5 billion in (12.7%) in FY23, to $23.1 billion (13.3%) in FY24. Investment firms owned by people of color and...

UK. Pension scheme panned for reportedly taking Bitcoin position

An unnamed UK pension scheme has sparked controversy after investing 3% of its assets in Bitcoin, becoming the first in the country to do so, according to Sky News. The move has been criticised and called "deeply irresponsible" with the warning that it risks retirees' futures by speculating in volatile assets. The pension scheme's advisor, Cartwright, argued that Bitcoin offers diversification and could yield high returns with minimal downside risk. However, critics, including actuary Daniel Wiltshire, caution that pension funds should prioritize long-term stability...

Largest asset owners reach record $26.3trn; pension funds see smallest growth

The world's largest 100 asset owners now hold a record $26.3trn in total assets, although pension funds saw the smallest growth rate, with assets held rising by 8.9 per cent from the previous year, analysis from Thinking Ahead Institute (TIA) has revealed. The research showed that the assets of the top 100 asset owners globally saw a return to growth in 2023 after a fall of 8.7 per cent in 2022, with the 12.3 per cent year-on-year increase helping to...

Global Investor Insights Survey: Pension funds results

By Schroders The Schroders Global Investor Insights Survey analyses the investment perspectives of global financial professionals on a range of topics including macro themes, sustainability and public and private markets. The respondents represent a spectrum of institutions, including pension funds which are the focus of this report.​ The field work was carried out by CoreData Research via an extensive global survey during June–July 2024. The 420 pension fund respondents were split as follows: 28% Corporate DB, 14% Corporate DC, 13% Corporate Hybrid...

CPPIB Leads Global Pension Funds With $144B Allocated to Private Equity

The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board made the largest allocation to private equity of any pension fund during the first 10 months of the year, with $143.86 billion—which made up 24.6% of its portfolio—allocated to the asset class, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence data. The 20 pension funds with the largest allocations have committed a combined $707.6 billion to private equity, through the end of October The California Public Employees’ Retirement System was a distant second with $83.5 billion—16% of...

US. Strategic insights from pension funds – Global Investor Insights Survey

The Schroders Global Investor Insights Survey highlights pivotal shifts in pension fund investment strategies across US$13 trillion in assets. Nearly all respondents (94%) are either invested in or moving into private markets especially in areas like private debt, private equity, and renewable infrastructure – as pension funds seek long-term opportunities aligned with the energy transition and technological innovation. Indeed, the energy transition is a top priority for pension funds worldwide, with 93% of respondents already investing or planning to soon. The demand for...

Ghana blocks pension funds from offshore investment on currency concerns, sources say

Ghana is clamping down on private pension fund managers who want to invest in offshore assets on concerns it could worsen pressure on its cedi currency, three industry sources told Reuters. After pension reforms in 2010, workers' retirement contributions in the world's number two cocoa producer enjoyed strong growth, buoyed by a tiered scheme that allow private firms to manage some contributions. Assets under management by the pension fund industry were 78.2 billion Ghanaian cedis ($4.93 billion) in June, of which...