March 2023

U.S. General Accountability Office probing collapse of St. Clare’s pension fund

The U.S. Government Accountability Office, an investigative arm of Congress, is probing the alleged mismanagement of a depleted pension fund that wiped out retirement plans for more than 1,100 former employees of the now-closed St. Clare's Hospital in Schenectady. State Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara disclosed the federal investigation on Wednesday and said he learned of it this week during a meeting with staff members with the House Committee on Education and Workforce. They had met "to discuss potential federal solutions regarding...

February 2023

Switzerland. Phone scammers targeting pensioners in Zurich stole 6,7 million francs in 2022

Phone scammers targeting residents of Zurich succeeded in stealing 6,7 million Swiss francs in 2022, SRF has reported. The trick involves the scammers posing as police officers and calling victims to ask them to pay “bail” in order to release a relative from jail. Many of the victims were retired. Phone scammers try to trick hundreds each day in Zurich According to Swiss broadcaster SRF, phone scammers try to swindle the residents of Zurich out of their hard-earned money hundreds of...

January 2023

UK Actuary Responds to Work and Pensions Committee Over LDI Issues

The Government Actuary’s Department (GAD) has assisted the Work and Pensions Select Committee with its inquiry into defined benefit pensions with Liability Driven Investments (LDI). The Government Actuary, Martin Clarke, was pleased to share his perspectives on the LDI issue in response to the Committee’s questions. Pensions and investment GAD’s knowledge and involvement with LDI is unique as we work with schemes that use leveraged LDI. We also work with government departments that support the pensions and investment industry. Discussions on the LDI...

Perú. Empresas que adeudan aportes de AFP a sus trabajadores tendrán plazo para reprogramar sus pagos

El Pleno del Congreso aprobó por mayoría la creación de régimen de reprogramación de pago de aportes previsionales al Fondo de Pensiones del Sistema Privado de Pensiones devengados hasta el 31 de diciembre del 2021, los cuales no fueron pagados de manera oportuna por los empleadores (empresas). Con 86 votos a favor, 14 en contra y 8 abstenciones, la autógrafa de ley tuvo luz verde y ahora será enviada al Poder Ejecutivo para su eventual promulgación. Por su lado, la presidenta...

December 2022

Chile. Reforma de pensiones: CONAR acoge a trámite denuncia por publicidad engañosa de AFPs

El Consejo de la Autorregulación y Ética Publicitaria (CONAR) informó que acogió a trámite la denuncia, presentada por el diputado Luis Cuello junto a otros diputados a comienzos de diciembre, sobre publicidad engañosa en la campaña “Yo quiero Elegir” de la Asociación de AFPs que hace referencia a la reforma previsional del Gobierno. En relación a la respuesta de CONAR, el diputado Luis Cuello (PC), señaló: “Esta resolución demuestra que las AFPs recurren al engaño para atacar una reforma que...

US. Republicans introduce SEC oversight bill

As Republicans prepare to take control of the House next month, a trio a GOP lawmakers introduced a bill signaling added oversight and scrutiny coming to the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Review the Expansion of Government Act, or REG Act, introduced Wednesday by Rep. Young Kim, R-Calif.; Rep. French Hill, R-Ariz.; and Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Mich., would require the SEC to review every final rule it promulgates every three years after implementation. The agency would be required to create a...

México. Sanciones a Afores van a la baja en 2022

Las sanciones impuestas por la Comisión Nacional del Sistema de Ahorro para el Retiro (Consar) a las 10 Afores que operan en el país ha ido a la baja en el presente sexenio. En los primeros 10 meses de 2022, estas multas disminuyeron 28.3 por ciento en número y 36.7 por ciento en monto, esto en comparación con el mismo periodo del año pasado. Afores: competencia financiera, no comercial Dichas amonestaciones derivan de acciones como entregar información financiera fuera de los tiempos...

October 2022

Mercer CFA Institute Global Pension Index 2022

By Mercer & CFA Institute Mercer and the CFA Institute released its 14th annual Mercer CFA Institute Global Pension Index (MCGPI). Iceland’s retirement income system has once again topped the list, with The Netherlands and Denmark retaining second and third places respectively in the rankings. As more employers have stepped away from defined benefit (DB) plans, the study also investigates the challenges and opportunities with the global shift towards defined contribution (DC) plans where individuals bear increased financial responsibility. The MCGPI...

September 2022

Officials Quit $137 Billion Pension Fund in Kuwait Shakeup

A broad shakeup of state institutions deepened in Kuwait after top officials in the Gulf state’s pension fund were asked to resign. Director General Meshal Al-Othman and three of his deputies, including Raed Al-Nisf, were asked to quit Kuwait’s Public Institution for Social Security (PIFSS). The officials had spent years revamping the roughly $137 billion fund, which owns a quarter of US private equity firm Stone Point Capital LLC. The shift comes ahead of parliamentary elections in the OPEC member state...

UK Pension Schemes Under Pressure for Climate Impact Reporting

The mid-sized and smaller pension schemes in the UK are under tighter rules as new reporting regulations are requiring more detailed information. The UK has been one of the fastest countries to adopt the Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosure (TCFD) reporting requirements into law. This covers corporates, regulated financial institutions, and pension schemes. Large pension schemes in the country have to report climate risks in line with TCFD guidance since last October. This is also part of the Occupational Pension Schemes...