December 2025

Nigeria. 92.4% of Personal Pension accounts unfunded despite push

Industry data indicate that the majority of the Retirement Savings Accounts under the rebranded Personal Pension Plan were largely unfunded, marking a glaring disparity between registration and actual contribution within the micro-pension scheme. This is against the backdrop of Nigeria’s pension industry recording a 5.93 per cent increase in its Total Net Asset Value to N26.09tn as of the end of the third quarter from N24.63tn in June 2025, driven by strong investment returns in equities and government securities. The PPP...

US. 3 Big Changes for Retirement Planning in 2026

Provisions in Secure 2.0, OBBBA affect retirement savers and retirees. For retirement savers and retirees, the ringing in of the new year will bring more than the usual inflation adjustments to retirement contributions. The retirement legislation known as Secure 2.0 will also continue to phase in, bringing implications for retirement savers. In addition, the budget law known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act has impacts for retirement savers and retirees. Here’s a roundup of three key retirement-related changes to watch...

Major Changes To U.S. Pensions Being Considered By Congress

Congress is considering major changes to U.S. pensions after a new bill was introduced this week. The proposal, put forward by Democratic Representative Eugene Vindman of Virginia, seeks to make it easier for Americans to build emergency savings without sacrificing their retirement security. Why It Matters Vindman’s Congressional bill would modify eligibility rules and raise contribution limits for pension-linked emergency savings accounts—programs that allow workers to set aside funds for unexpected expenses alongside their retirement savings. If enacted, it could reshape how millions of employees prepare for financial shocks, offering a safety...

US. What Young People Need to Know About Workplace Retirement Savings

Workplace retirement savings plans are an excellent way to invest in your future, and the earlier you start, the more opportunity your savings have to grow. Typically automated through payroll deductions, contributions to a plan like a 401(k) or 403(b) are tax-advantaged and easy to make. Recent research by Edward Jones and Morning Consult shows that three in five Americans who have access to a workplace retirement plan contribute, however 59% of all Americans’ employers do not offer one, leaving...

November 2025

UK Budget 2025: limitations on pensions salary sacrifice will lead to ‘cut-backs’

Plans by the UK government to charge employer and employee national insurance contributions (NICs) on salary sacrificed in exchange for employer pension contributions above £2,000 from 2029 will leave future pensioners facing lower funds, according to an expert. Pensions salary sacrifice describes an arrangement where, instead of paying contributions directly to their pension, an employee contractually agrees with their employer to give up part of their salary or bonus in return for the employer paying an equivalent amount into their...

A ‘tale of two retirements’ shows only the rich are saving more — while most Americans are putting away much less

There’s a stark divide among Americans when it comes to retirement savings. Most U.S. workers struggle to save and invest for their older years, putting themselves at risk of running out of money before they die. Only a small minority with high salaries is able to increase their retirement savings and see their investments grow. Since 2022, retirement-plan participation rates, total contributions and overall savings rates have decreased for those making less than $150,000 a year, according to a new...

ICEA survey finds most Kenyan retirees struggle to survive on pensions

A recent nationwide survey by ICEA Lion has revealed that most retirees in Kenya are unable to rely solely on their pensions to meet everyday expenses. The findings, based on responses from 1,200 working and retired Kenyans, highlight the fragile financial state of the ageing population in a country where savings culture is weak and social security coverage remains limited. The "ICEA Retirement Preparedness Survey" shows that just about half of retirees feel their pension is enough to sustain them in...

Why private pensions can’t fix the ageing problem

Across Europe, politicians increasingly tout private pensions as a cure-all for reviving stagnant stock exchanges, fostering entrepreneurship and curbing ballooning public spending as populations age. But any governments that bet on this solution may be disappointed. A proliferation of individual piggybanks will not solve the deeper challenges that flow from having purchasing power ever-more concentrated in older hands. According to the United Nations, Europe’s population aged 20 to 64 will shrink by 31% between now and 2100, while longer lifespans...

IRS Releases Updated Retirement Plan Annual Limits and Includes Unexpected Increase

The IRS released the cost-of-living adjustments for qualified defined contribution plans for the 2026 tax year (IRS Notice 2025-67). The following chart summarizes the key increases applicable to defined contribution plans for 2026: 2026 2025 Defined contribution plan limit $72,000 $70,000 Elective deferral limit (401(k), 403(b), and 457(b)) $24,500 $23,500 Catch-up contributions (Age 50+) $8,000 $7,500 Super catch contributions (age 60-63) $11,250 $11,250 Roth catch-up wage threshold for 2025 $150,000 Annual compensation limit $360,000 $350,000 Unexpected by many employers, the IRS changed the Roth catch-up contribution FICA wage threshold for 2025 (used to determine the limited status for 2026) from...

Nigeria. Pension fund soars to N26tn

Nigeria’s pension fund assets recorded 22.03 per cent growth as of the end of the third quarter, as they rose by more than N4.71tn, with Pension Fund Administrators deepening their allocation to Federal Government securities, according to the latest monthly data released by the National Pension Commission. The figures, contained in PenCom’s latest Monthly Industry Report, indicated that total pension assets increased from N21.38tn in September 2024 to N26.09tn in September 2025, marking a robust year-on-year expansion of the Contributory...