December 2021

Fintech Regulation in Mexico Updated: March 31, 2021

By Catalyst Fund. BFA Global The CCAF and BFA Global have produced this deck to support fintech startups working in Mexico and those seeking to enter the Mexican fintech market. This deck provides an overview of Mexico’s regulatory regime as it relates to the fintech verticals of: ❏ Banking ❏ Credit ❏ Insurance ❏ Payments ❏ Investment The deck also offers recommendations on how startups can best engage with regulators and tools to help them do so. Get the book here 1,024 views  

UK. Demands to delay rises in the state pension age

Plans to raise the state pension age from 66 should be shelved because we are not living as long as previously expected, a new report has suggested. Current plans would see the age at which people are eligible for the state pension go up to 67 by 2028, and then eventually to 68. Consultant LCP says life expectancy has stalled and no changes should be made for 30 years. The government has just launched its latest review of the state pension age. At...

EU. EIOPA highlights key risks for the insurance and pension sectors

The European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) published today its December 2021 Financial Stability Report. The analysis underpinning the report examined key macroeconomic developments and the prevalence of risks that are key for the insurance and pension sectors. On the macroeconomic side, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to pose a challenge to European economies. Uncertainties relating to the path of the pandemic and supply chain disruptions weigh on the growth outlook. Despite the recent pick-up in long-term yields, markets still operate...

UK. Thousands of savers no longer able to participate in workplace pensions

UK. Thousands of savers no longer able to participate in workplace pensions

The pandemic has impacted people's ability to save, with 300,000 savers no longer able to participate in a workplace pension, according to research. The repercussions of lockdown, particularly domestic work and homeschooling, have caused women to suffer the largest financial strain, with them being 50 per cent more likely to enter their retirement without a private pension than men. ‘Pandemics and pension inequality’, a Now Pensions report in collaboration with the Pensions Policy Institute, highlighted a rise in what it called...

EU Pension Taxation: Removing Another Brick in the Wall?

By Hans van Meerten & Philip Bennett On 11 November 2021, the Court of Justice (Third Chamber) decided the case of MH and ILA (Pension rights in case of bankruptcy)(C-168/20). There was no Opinion by the Advocate-General. Although usually a sign thatthe case was not that important,there are exceptions.This seems one o them. This stems from a reference from the High Court of Justice of England and Wales (‘the High Court’) to the Court of Justice. The referred question related to...

UK. Trustees warn lack of member appetite for ESG investing is hindering progress

More than half (53 per cent) of professional defined benefit (DB) pension trustees have cited the lack of member appetite for environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing as a factor hindering the growth of sustainable investing. The study, conducted by Charles Stanley Fiduciary Management, found that 35 per cent felt a lack of understanding about the options available as a hindrance, while the suspicion that ESG investing was just a fad, fears that it could harm returns, and underwhelming investment...

UK. New FCA rules require firms to give ‘stronger nudge’ towards pension guidance

From 1st June 2022 pension providers will have to give customers a stronger nudge to Pension Wise when they decide to access their savings. Read also UK government floats plan to relax fee limit on pension fund investments Providers will be required to refer customers to Pension Wise guidance, explain the nature and purpose of the guidance and offer to book a Pension Wise guidance appointment in most cases. Read also UK. Trustees warn lack of member appetite for ESG investing is...

UK pensions regulator signs off on first ‘superfund’

UK pension regulators have given a green light to the first “super fund”, a new and controversial integrated vehicle designed to take over the operation of traditional pension schemes. Clara Pentions, which is dominated by reinsurance firm Wilton Li and investment firm Six Street, will be the first superfund to get regulatory approval on Tuesday.Regulators in the name of Clara list The number of superfunds that are considered to have good governance, good and good management, and good capital. Approval of...

November 2021

UK government floats plan to relax fee limit on pension fund investments

A fee limit protecting UK retirement savers from high charges is poised to be loosened further under proposals aimed at prompting pension funds to put billions of pounds into unlisted investments like private equity. On Tuesday the government will announce plans to allow “well-designed” performance fees, typically levied by private equity and venture capital managers, to be excluded from a workplace pension fee cap, according to details of the proposal seen by the Financial Times. These fees are currently included in...

US. The Importance of Good Data for DB Plan PRT Activities

It’s important for plan sponsors to have clean data on defined benefit (DB) plan participants to help them identify and validate deaths, locate participants and beneficiaries, and manage uncashed checks, according to speakers at a webinar, “The Data Dilemma: The Impact Bad Data Has on a Pension Plan,” presented by Pension Benefit Information (PBI) Research Services and DIETRICH. Mike Irey, director of operations at PBI Research, told webinar attendees that plans can have inaccurate or missing personal identifiable information (PII)...