March 2026
05Mar

UK. DWP State Pension age change begins April 2026 as payment increase confirmed

The State Pension age is due to increase from 66 to 67 from next month, with the change anticipated to be fully implemented for all men and women across the UK by 2028. This proposed rise in the official retirement age has been in place since 2014, with an additional increase from 67 to 68 planned between 2044 and 2046. The Pensions Act 2014 brought forward the State Pension age increase from 66 to 67 by eight years. The UK...

March 5, 2026
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04Mar

UK. Government urged to withdraw mandation from Pensions Bill

Pensions UK is calling on the Government to withdraw the power that would allow it to direct how pension schemes invest UK workers’ retirement savings from the Pension Schemes Bill. As drafted, the reserve power extends significantly beyond the Government’s stated intention of supporting the Mansion House Accord, a voluntary commitment by 17 of the largest workplace pension providers to invest at least 10% of their defined contribution (DC) default funds in private markets by 2030, with 5% of the...

March 4, 2026
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February 2026
27Feb

UK. Reform’s pension plan could backfire and lead to higher council tax bills, experts warn

Reform’s flagship plans to force multibillion pound local government pension funds to invest in the UK risks backfiring and pushing up council tax bills, experts have warned. Nigel Farage’s party wants to merge the schemes to create a single British Sovereign Wealth Fund of up to £575bn. Richard Tice, the party’s business spokesman, set out a vision of a “fund patriotically backing British companies, buying and promoting British product… (with a) strategic UK growth mandate backing Britain all the way.” Across England and Wales...

February 27, 2026
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26Feb

UK. FCA’s pension transfer plans are anti-competitive and anti-consumer

A healthy, efficient pension transfer market is an essential ingredient to helping people make the most out of their retirement savings. As we all start up auto-enrolment pensions every time we join a new employer, for most people consolidating their discarded pensions under one roof makes the most sense. It reduces administration, tracking, and decision-making, especially as clients approach retirement. Deciding when and how to take an income from a pension pot is tricky enough, but having multiple pension pots...

February 26, 2026
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25Feb

UK. Trustees urged to integrate ESG across DB endgame routes as pricing risks evolve

Defined benefit (DB) pension scheme trustees must take a holistic and proactive approach to environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks as endgame strategies evolve, a guide from Isio has stated. In its Endgame Sustainability Guide, the firm noted that discussions around endgame targets were shifting, with trustees now facing greater optionality between insurance, consolidation, and run-on strategies, rather than pursuing a single objective of full funding on a prudent basis. Isio head of sustainable investment, Cadi Thomas, warned that ESG risks were...

February 25, 2026
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24Feb

U.K. Pension savers increasingly turning to AI when starting retirement planning

Pension savers are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence (AI), rather than financial guidance or advice websites, to begin their retirement planning, according to PensionBee. The pension provider analysed data on Google keyword searches and traffic to free advice websites, and found that AI was increasingly satisfying the typical, early-stage needs of pension holders when they start to consider pension and retirement options. It noted that the rise of ‘AI Overviews’ may be reducing the need to go direct-to-source for important information...

February 24, 2026
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24Feb

U.K. How CDC schemes can be a win for every generation

As collective defined contribution (CDC) enthusiasts and people who are committed to finding a way for pensioners to enjoy a substantial annual income in retirement without making complex investment decisions, we are delighted that the pensions industry seems unified on the CDC performance debate. Whether CDC schemes outperform standard DC by 20% or 60% is a matter of assumptions and perspective, but it's generally agreed that: "through pooling of longevity risk, and adopting a higher return-seeking investment strategy, CDC can...

February 24, 2026
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23Feb

UK. Research finds gap between pension holders’ investment beliefs and knowledge

Pension holders believe it is important to know where their pension is invested but few actually know what their money is funding, research from Nest Pensions has shown. The workplace pension scheme found that 83 per cent of UK pension savers thought it was important to understand where they were invested, but just 24 per cent actually knew. Nest stated that this gap mattered as people missed the fact their pension was “one of the most powerful” financial tools they have...

February 23, 2026
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23Feb

US. How One Extra Dollar of Income Can Cost You Thousands in Retirement

As a retiree, any extra income probably feels welcome. But unfortunately for some, a seemingly minor increase in reported income can ripple through your finances, affecting not just your tax return but also your Medicare premiums. If you're on Medicare, the Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA) means that crossing an income threshold by even one dollar can trigger higher Medicare Part B and Part D premiums. Understanding how IRMAA works is essential — especially when a single dollar can make a difference....

February 23, 2026
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20Feb

Are my pensions or investments at risk from an AI bubble?

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been the story driving global markets for the past couple of years. From chipmakers to cloud computing giants, companies associated with AI have driven stock markets to record highs. But alongside the excitement, warnings are growing louder. With several of the so-called Magnificent 7 (Mag 7) seeing declines in recent months, investors are becoming increasingly nervous that the AI bubble is about to burst. If this happens, will it be bad news for your pension or investment portfolio? What...

February 20, 2026
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