August 2026

The political economy of pension management in Ghana

Decisions about who contributes, who receives benefits, where pension funds are invested and how institutions are governed are influenced by government policy, economic conditions, organised labour, financial markets and competing national interests. The political economy of pension management, therefore, concerns the interaction between political power and economic decision-making within the pension system. In Ghana, this interaction has become increasingly important because pension funds represent both the retirement savings of workers and a substantial pool of long-term national capital. Ghana’s pension system...

US pensions are better funded on average but high exposure to AI a concern

The Equable Institute’s 2026 survey of the 253 US state and local pension plans shows that their funded ratio has reached 85%, the best since hitting bottom during the 2008 global financial crisis.Their average return on investment was 9.4%, higher than the average target of 6.9%. Set against this strong performance, however, is the US$1.37 trillion in outstanding liabilities, higher than the institute’s $1.27 trillion prediction in January. The figure is “just $210 billion better than 2009’s $1.34 trillion gap...

Evidence reveals how African pension and sovereign wealth funds are increasingly allocating to alternative assets like private equity

Ghana is increasingly positioning itself as one of Africa’s most credible examples of how domestic pension savings can be channeled into private equity, venture capital and SME growth financing with industry initiatives focused on shifting domestic African capital pools towards local real economy investments, including the Ghana Venture Capital and Private Equity Association GVCA 5% Pension and Insurance Industry Compact launched in April 2025 and the $70m Fund of Funds Ci Gaba managed by Savannah Impact Advisory. At a recent...

July 2026

U.S. pension risk transfer costs decrease slightly in June: report

U.S. pension plan sponsors’ derisking costs decreased from 99.7 per cent to 99.6 per cent of accounting liabilities in June, according to a new report by Milliman Inc. It found the average annuity purchase cost across all insurers increased from 102.5 per cent to 102.6 per cent during the month. As of June 30, the competitive bidding process was estimated to save plan sponsors about three per cent on pension risk transfer buyout costs. “Competitive buyout costs remained below 100 per...

Africa’s Largest Fund Manager Is Under Investigation. Who Is Protecting Public Servants’ Pensions?

The Public Investment Corporation (PIC) manages the retirement savings of more than a million public servants in South  Africa, making any question over its governance a matter of public concern. Development Diaries reports that the country’s Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) has opened a formal investigation into the PIC, which is  Africa’s largest asset manager, following the suspension of its chief executive. According to Daily Maverick, the regulator’s intervention has deepened a governance crisis already facing the institution, while TimesLIVE reported that the developments have also fuelled tensions...

2026 Read on Retirement: A new era of retirement

By Black Rock When we look at confidence, we see savers who feel better about retirement than they have in years. But beneath that optimism, retirement income expectations and savings behavior tell a different story. And that gap is not experienced equally. Retirement challenges increasingly vary by generation and gender— revealing a retirement system that is becoming more individualized. Workplace savers increasingly know what they need to do, but competing financial priorities are making it harder to act. The challenge is less...

2026 Annual Report

By PSP Investments PSP Investments closed fiscal 2026 with $320.6 billion in net assets under management, delivering a 6.5% one-year net return, and an 8.8% net annualized return over 10 years. Over the past decade, our diversified portfolio has generated $14.5 billion in cumulative net investment gains above the Reference Portfolio, a sustained track record that continues to strengthen the long-term funding position of the pension plans we support. In a year marked by heightened volatility and uncertainty, our portfolio...

WTW launches mortality model bringing enhanced predictive capabilities to U.S. pension risk transfer market

WTW (NASDAQ: WTW) today announced the launch of a new version of its Geospatial Mortality Model (GMM) intended for the U.S. pension risk transfer (PRT) market that will enable insurers and reinsurers to more accurately price and manage longevity risk. The model – already used by U.S. pension plan sponsors to set longevity assumptions – is now available to insurers to enhance PRT pricing, strengthen asset-liability management, and improve visibility into longevity risk. WTW’s GMM produces smarter, more flexible mortality assumptions...

Nigeria pension assets jump 51% to $22.8 billion, regulator says

Nigeria's pension assets rose ​51% in two years to ‌31.48 trillion naira ($22.80 billion), while membership of the country's contributory pension scheme ​grew by nearly 1 ​million workers to 11.32 million, the ⁠National Pension Commission (PenCom) said on Tuesday. PenCom ​chief Omolola Oloworaran told reporters ​that assets under management increased from 20.79 trillion naira in July 2024, a rise ​attributed to stronger confidence in ​the pension system. A 758 billion naira bond ‌helped ⁠clear obligations dating back to 2007, benefiting 957,045...

Canadá. La Caisse tops the Global SWF rankings, recognized for its leadership in sustainability

For the fourth year running, La Caisse ranks at the top of the pension funds included in the Global SWF’s GSR Scoreboard published, consolidating its leading position among global investors. This recognition reflects the excellence of our sustainable investing practices and our efforts to make progress on sustainability matters in Québec and abroad. “This ranking places La Caisse among a select group of global leaders in governance, sustainability and resilience. It is a testament to the rigor of our practices and...