September 2025
25Sep

Namibia. The technicalities of financing housing through pensions

The Namibian government has recently approved a reduction in the interest rate pension funds must apply when they provide housing loans to members. This decision has sparked national discussion, as it directly impacts the interests of members of both public and private pension funds who may want to utilise their retirement savings to secure a home. Pension-backed housing loans are not a new phenomenon. The Pension Funds Act No. 24 of 1956, as amended, has long made provision for such...

September 25, 2025
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19Sep

Kenya: Fraud scandal robs millions of healthcare, pensions

For decades, Kenya’s public pension and health insurance systems have promised workers security in retirement and protection during illness. But for many citizens, these promises have now turned into frustration and betrayal as the money they faithfully contributed has ended up in the pockets of fraudsters within the system. In 2024, a report by Auditor General Nancy Gathungu revealed more than 260 000 cases of fraudulent activities targeting pension schemes in Kenya. Between 2013 and 2020, over 67 billion Kenyan shillings ($515...

September 19, 2025
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18Sep

US. Rethinking Retirement A Four-Pillar Framework for Security and Sustainability

America’s retirement system needs an overhaul. Many retirees face inadequate income and persistent uncertainty. On the bright side, however, most Americans do have more money than ever before to finance their retirement. Thus, reforming our retirement system will not require significant government resources. But it will require a fundamentally new approach that considers all potential sources of retirement income. One key feature of our retirement system, the 401(k), was designed to generate wealth that supplements income from Social Security and...

September 18, 2025
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17Sep

US. IRS finalizes Roth catch-up contribution rules, clarifies SECURE 2.0 provisions

The Internal Revenue Service has finalized regulations implementing key provisions of the SECURE 2.0 Act, including new requirements for catch-up contributions in workplace retirement plans. The rules, announced Monday, set out how plan sponsors and administrators must handle after-tax Roth catch-up contributions for higher-earning participants, as well as increased contribution limits for certain age groups. "The final regulations provide guidance for plan administrators to implement and comply with the new Roth catch-up rule and reflect comments received in response to the...

September 17, 2025
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12Sep

The world’s largest pension funds – 2025

The global top 300 pension funds is an annual study conducted by the Thinking Ahead Institute, in conjunction with Pensions and Investments. The research highlights high-level trends in the pension fund industry and provides information on how the characteristics of these top funds have changed. The world’s top 300 pensions funds now stand at a record US$ 24.4 trillion This surpasses the previous record set in 2021, completing a three year recovery Yet asset growth slowed in 2024, increasing by 7.8% from...

September 12, 2025
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12Sep

2025 Read on Retirement survey

By BlackRock Workplace savers are feeling more confident about retirement—but plan sponsors aren’t on the same page. As the gap in outlook widens, advisors have a critical role to play. Uncover the insights shaping this divide. Navigating uncertainty and a growing divide Saver confidence is up but fragile. This year’s dip underscores how closely confidence tracks with market volatility. And while savers feel increasingly sure, only 38% of employers believe the majority of their employees are truly on track—a record low. The...

September 12, 2025
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12Sep

US. Worker Optimism About Retirement Rises, Actual Savings Contributions Fall

Nearly two-thirds (64%) of workers feel on track with their retirement savings, but there is a record gap between their confidence level and that of their employers, according to BlackRock’s 2025 Read on Retirement survey, published Monday. Only 38% of employers surveyed reported they believe at least 60% of their employees are on track with their retirement savings, a record low since BlackRock began its survey in 2016. Meanwhile, savers’ confidence is up 23% over the same period. “A decade of...

September 12, 2025
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09Sep

Germany. Demographics hit pension systems with full force

Bolstering the still underdeveloped second and third pillars of retirement provision is unavoidable. Expanding occupational and private pensions via pension funds and insurers would not only help shrink – or even close – the private savings gap, but also ease the strain on public budgets by stabilising or even reducing transfers to the state pension system. And not least, it would mobilise additional capital for investment through contribution funds channelled into capital markets. Lack of ambition The new CDU/CSU/SPD coalition government,...

September 9, 2025
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05Sep

US. The milestone ages that matter most for retirement planning

Retirement is a journey marked by important milestones—ages at which decisions can have lasting impacts on financial security, health coverage and overall well-being. Because many federal employees have been facing major decisions this year about their retirement from federal service, understanding these ages is essential. Last week, we looked at the important ages that affect Social Security and Medicare. This week, let’s focus on Thrift Savings Plan deadlines and an important age for the FERS Basic Retirement Benefit. Age 50: The...

September 5, 2025
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03Sep

UK. Employees risk retirement shortfall as saving priorities shift too late

Employees could face a significant retirement funding gap as many delay prioritising their pension until their 40s and 50s, highlighting the need for better engagement strategies, according to research from Fidelity International. The study, based on the views of more than 3,000 of Fidelity’s workplace pension members, revealed the financial “balancing act” employees face when trying to manage multiple goals, with retirement saving often losing out to more immediate pressures such as property and everyday expenses. For younger workers aged 18-34,...

September 3, 2025
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