September 2025
10Sep

How Crypto and Private Equity Are Rewriting Risks of US Retirement Savings

America’s nest eggs are taking a risky turn. For the first time, ordinary Americans’ 401(k) plans—the backbone of retirement security for more than 60 million people—are being open to bitcoin and private equity. Introduction 401k plans are one of the most popular ways working Americans save for retirement, giving them option to invest some of their salaries in publicly traded securities tax-free. Since May 2025, US retirement plans are opening the door to private markets and cryptocurrency investments, with some 401(k)...

September 10, 2025
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05Sep

Integrating Risk Management into Personal Financial Decisions

By Navin Kumar Effective personal financial planning demands navigating a landscape of uncertainty. This chapter explores how integrating risk management practices into personal finance decisions empowers individuals to achieve their financial goals. We begin by outlining the contemporary challenges individuals face and the importance of proactive planning. The chapter then delves into the concept of risk in personal finance, categorizing potential threats and their impact on financial stability. We highlight the benefits of a risk management approach, emphasizing its role...

September 5, 2025
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04Sep

Pension risk transfer: The U.S. and the U.K. compared

Growth in the pension risk transfer (PRT) industry is accelerating, with new research forecasting insurance companies will secure more than $335 billion of liabilities across the U.K. and the U.S. markets over the next three years. But with many insurers now looking at opportunities in both countries, it is vital to recognize the differences between the U.K. and the U.S., particularly when it comes to deferred lives. PRT transactions — often described as bulk purchase annuity deals in the U.K. —...

September 4, 2025
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02Sep

As Asia’s over-65 population nearly doubles by 2050, insurers face new financial risks: Swiss Re

As Asia’s population ages rapidly, insurers must adjust their strategies to meet the changing needs of older adults, according to Ping Ji, Matt Singleton, and Torben Swart of Swiss Re Group, a global reinsurance company that provides research and risk management support to life and health insurers. In 2000, only 6% of the region’s population was aged 65 or older; by 2025, this is projected to reach 10%, and by 2050 nearly one in five people will be in this...

September 2, 2025
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August 2025
27Aug

UK. 94% of pension transfers raise scam warning in July

Some 94 per cent of cases reviewed by the XPS Scam Protection Service raised at least one scam warning flag in July 2025, data has revealed. XPS Group’s Scam Flag Index found there was a “sharp” increase in the amount of pension transfers that raised a scam warning flag, with 6 per cent more cases than June. July’s finding represented the second time the index has surpassed 90 per cent over the past 12 months. XPS Group senior consultant, Helen Cavanagh, said: “The increase...

August 27, 2025
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19Aug

US. Working longer to afford retirement is a risky plan, economists say — but some employees are counting on it

As Americans live longer and worry about outlasting their money in retirement, a growing number are counting on one strategy for their future financial security: working longer. Roughly 70% of U.S. workers who haven’t retired yet have considered pushing back their retirement date, according to a recent survey from F&G, an insurance company. Nearly half of the 2,000 adults surveyed said they’re afraid they won’t have enough money to retire. Some people have gone beyond considering the strategy. “Two in 10 workers adjusted their target retirement age...

August 19, 2025
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08Aug

Optimization Algorithms for Pension Asset Allocation Under Market Volatility

By Akshay Sharma & Satish Kabade Pension fund organizations function as essential financial entities that protect employee retirement funds to provide complete and punctual pension distributions. Pension fund effectiveness through asset distribution determines how well a fund meets its future obligations. Traditional methods of portfolio optimization align with the Modern Portfolio Theory through the Markowitz model to help determine asset allocation by defining the relationship between return and risk. These static modeling approaches fail to fulfill their purpose in real...

August 8, 2025
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08Aug

What private assets in 401(k) plans mean for investors

Investors may soon have greater access to private assets — that is, investments that are not publicly traded — in their 401(k) or other workplace retirement plans. Financial advisors say that for many workers, the risks may outweigh the rewards. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday to increase the availability of alternative assets in 401(k) plans. The order instructs the Department of Labor to reexamine its guidance to employers and plan administrators on incorporating such assets into...

August 8, 2025
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July 2025
30Jul

How pension funds are handling US equity concentration risk

With more of the US market’s fate tied up in a handful of enormous technology stocks, investment teams are having to reconsider their exposure, as Jon Yarker reports. In recent years, the size of the so-called “Magnificent Seven” technology stocks has soared, absorbing an increasing amount of the US equity market. According to Hymans Robertson, the weight of the 10 largest market-cap stocks in the MSCI World sits at 23%, well above the historical norms of 10–15%. The septet of tech...

July 30, 2025
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29Jul

Kenya. Why caution is need as pension funds step into PPP space

Infrastructure is increasingly being positioned as a strategic investment class for long-term institutional investors across the world. For pension funds, the allure is understandable as well-structured projects like roads, ports, and energy grids promise stable, long-term cash flows that align well with the long-term liabilities of the fund. However, while the promise of infrastructure is compelling, the reality, especially in emerging markets like Kenya, demands a cautious and informed approach. The Kenya National Highways Authority recently announced that it had received...

July 29, 2025
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