September 2025
30Sep

UK. Pension disaster as nearly half of pots overdrawn in ‘real risk’ to retirement savings

Fresh analysis of Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) figures shows pension withdrawals at unsustainable rates have reached record levels. In 2024/25, 45 per cent of all retirement savings pots were accessed at eight per cent or higher. Financial experts generally regard four per cent as a prudent annual drawdown rate, meaning many retirees are drawing down at double the recommended pace. The findings come from consultancy firm Broadstone, which compiled eight years of FCA retirement income market data. The 45 per cent figure is...

September 30, 2025
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29Sep

UK. Gen Z need £3m plus for comfortable retirement

Young people typically now in their 20s, known as Generation Z, are likely to need at least £3 million to retire comfortably due to the erosive impact of inflation, according to new analysis by Rathbones Group, one of the UK’s leading wealth management firms. The calculations, based on the amount needed for a ‘comfortable’ retirement as defined by the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association (PLSA), show that a 25-year-old today would need a pension pot of £3.1 million to retire at age...

September 29, 2025
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26Sep

US. Fewer people counting on a ‘miracle’ to retire comfortably

Americans are feeling more optimistic about their chances of a secure retirement — a lot more. A new study from Natixis Investment Managers shows the number of U.S. investors who believe it will “take a miracle” to achieve retirement security dropped to 21% in 2025, a major change from 39% in 2023 This big swing in attitude is largely attributed to the excellent performance of the stock market lately. The S&P 500 has delivered two back-to-back years of returns over 20%,...

September 26, 2025
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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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