February 2026
17Feb

Kenya. RBA Cracks Down on KSh72bn in Unpaid Pension Contributions with Stricter Penalties

The Retirement Benefits Authority (RBA) has launched a tough new drive to recover more than KSh72 billion in unpaid pension contributions, introducing stricter penalties and enforcement measures aimed at institutions that have deducted retirement deductions from workers’ pay but failed to remit them to pension schemes. The crackdown responds to a sharp increase in unremitted pension contributions, a problem that has eroded confidence in Kenya’s retirement benefits system and left millions of contributors at risk. RBA data show that...

February 17, 2026
News, ,
Read more...
05Feb

UK pension reforms questioned over saver risk and impact on competition

Proposed government powers over pension investment and new restrictions on default schemes have triggered warnings in the House of Lords that risk could be shifted onto lower-income savers, while market consolidation may weaken competition and innovation. The sixth committee-stage debate on the Pension Schemes Bill focused on Clause 40, covering asset allocation and investment risk in defined contribution (DC) pension funds, and Clause 42, which allows regulations restricting the creation of new non-scale default pension arrangements. Clause 40 introduces reserve powers...

February 5, 2026
News,
Read more...

January 2026
28Jan

UK. Calls for free pension health checks to prevent ‘retirement under-savings crisis’

Pension savers should be offered free retirement funds “health checks” to help avert a potential retirement under-savings crisis, a think tank is urging. The Social Market Foundation (SMF), along with savings and investment firm M&G, is calling for health checks to be integrated directly into pensions dashboards, so that on viewing their pension information, savers would be offered the option of a free, personalised guidance session. Plans are already in place for pensions dashboards, which will allow people to see all...

January 28, 2026
News,
Read more...
26Jan

US. Congress Could Raise Social Security’s $184,500 Tax Cap Without Cutting Benefits

When discussions about Social Security's future arise, many assume the only options involve cutting benefits or raising taxes. But Congress has multiple ways to adjust how benefits are calculated that can strengthen the program's finances without reducing monthly checks current or future retirees receive. Understanding these mechanisms helps clarify what legislative changes might mean for your retirement income. The Benefit Formula That Determines Your Monthly Check Social Security doesn't simply pay everyone the same amount in retirement. Instead, the program uses...

January 26, 2026
News,
Read more...
26Jan

US. 3 Retirement Changes to Watch in 2026: Tax Edition

You could be in for surprise taxes if you're planning for retirement in 2026. And we're not talking about common tax pitfalls, like taking required minimum distributions (RMDs) that force withdrawals from your individual retirement accounts (IRAs). (Though those certainly are important). Several new federal policy changes could hike your retiree tax bill this year. For instance, under the 2025 Trump/GOP tax and spending bill, your "senior bonus" deduction may be lower than expected due to income phase-outs, indirectly resulting in an overall...

January 26, 2026
News, ,
Read more...
22Jan

Extinguishing ESG: US House Approves Prohibitive Bill for Pension Funds

A bill which would prohibit ESG factors being considered by pension fund managers and in pension plans has been narrowly approved by the US House of Representatives. The Protecting Prudent Investment of Retirement Savings Act – also referred to as HR 2988 – seeks to amend the 1974 Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) to specify requirements regarding the consideration of pecuniary and non-pecuniary factors. It proposes to add limitations on consideration of non-pecuniary factors by fiduciaries, including ESG factors,...

January 22, 2026
News, ,
Read more...
22Jan

UK. Pension Protection Fund names new chief risk officer

He has taken over risk functions from Dana Grey, the PPF’s chief governance, risk and legal officer. Lee joins the PPF from HSBC where he worked for more than 11 years, latterly as global head of pension and insurance traded risk, based in Hong Kong. He was primarily responsible for overseeing the financial services giant’s global insurance business and its employee pension plans. He also worked for more than a decade for the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries, and previously worked...

January 22, 2026
News,
Read more...
21Jan

The FCA Is Overhauling UK Pensions Advice, But Will Savers Benefit?

New rules will allow pension and investment providers to make “targeted support” recommendations to certain groups of customers. The rules come into effect from April 6 as a solution to the so-called “advice gap”. Some commentators are concerned about the risk to consumers as the government pushes to get more people investing. 2026 will be the year that “once-in-a-generation” regulatory changes transform UK retirement planning and enhance people’s ability to make long-term decisions about their pensions—or so the Financial...

January 21, 2026
News,
Read more...
19Jan

UK. DWP says thousands missing out on extra £80 per week

Recent figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) reveal that almost a million pensioner households may be failing to claim an average of £4,300 a year - or around £80 a week - in benefit income to which they are entitled. As many as 910,000 households eligible for Pension Credit failed to claim the benefit, resulting in approximately £2.5 billion remaining unclaimed. In an effort to help more individuals above State Pension age obtain additional financial assistance in the...

January 19, 2026
News,
Read more...
15Jan

UK. Pensions administration to become ‘core’ governance function by 2030

Pensions administration is set to move from a back-office operation to a core element of scheme governance by the end of the decade, driven by regulatory pressure, technological change, and heightened risk awareness, LCP has predicted. Writing in a blog post, LCP senior consultant, Ella Holloway, said the revised administration guidance from The Pensions Regulator (TPR) had clarified expectations for trustees and signalled a shift in how administration should be viewed, placing it firmly at the centre of effective governance rather than...

January 15, 2026
News, ,
Read more...