October 2025
22Oct

A Closer Look at the Retirement Prospects of the Middle Class

Representing more than half of the U.S. population, people in the middle class embody the American dream by working hard, caring for their families, and saving for the future while navigating an ever-changing economy and society. So how are they addressing these complexities? In “Retirement Throughout the Ages: The American Middle Class,” the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies (TCRS) in collaboration with Transamerica Institute examines the road to retirement for people in the middle class across age ranges, their life...

October 22, 2025
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21Oct

US. Options for Overfunded Pension Plans

You’ve done a good job making sure that the pension plan is fully funded. So good, in fact, that you — and the plan — are overachievers and the plan is fully funded and then some. And THAT surplus spells…opportunity. The Grist Funding of pension plans generally has been on an upward trajectory for a number of years. The improvement in funded status has been dramatic, yet incremental. Willis Towers Watson’s figures show as much: they show that the funding of a hypothetical benchmark...

October 21, 2025
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20Oct

US. The Full Retirement Age Hits 67 in 2026–Here’s How To Avoid a 30% Benefit Cut

Social Security may have been created in 1935, but it’s a very dynamic system. Changes are made to the program every year, from the amount of the cost-of-living adjustment to more fundamental modifications. One “change” coming in 2026 that may seem sudden has actually been on the books since 1983, according to the Social Security Administration. But it’s an important one to be aware of because it could translate to a reduction in your Social Security check. Here’s what to know...

October 20, 2025
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17Oct

Evolution and Growth: How Public Pension Plans Have Diversified Their Investments Amid Changing Markets

By John Sullivan, Katie Comstock & Tyler Bond A report from the National Institute on Retirement Security (NIRS) and Aon examines the changes public pension plan investing has undergone throughout the twenty-first century. After decades of investing primarily in bonds and other fixed income assets, public pension plans have shifted to more diverse investment portfolios, which enabled these funds to grow, deliver reliable benefits, and withstand market turmoil during and after the 2008 Global Financial Crisis (GFC). These findings are detailed in a...

October 17, 2025
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17Oct

Koreans’ life expectancy has exceeded 83 years, but their retirement age is still in their mid to late 50s

Koreans' life expectancy has exceeded 83 years, but their retirement age is still in their mid to late 50s. As of 2025, the average monthly receipt of the national pension is only about 670,000 won. In other words, it is not enough to prepare the necessary funds for the retirement period, which lasts more than 20 years on average. In addition, if the national pension is not received early, it can be received from the age of 63 to 65,...

October 17, 2025
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16Oct

US. Public Pensions Are Closing Talent Gaps, Survey Reveals

After years of fierce competition for top talent, public pension funds are seeing positive momentum for recruitment and retention, even as salary growth stabilizes. The 2025 Public Pension Compensation Survey conducted by CBIZ and NCPERS reveals that 57% of public pension funds now report no issues attracting or retaining skilled staff, an increase of nearly 20% since 2022. “The public pension sector’s recent workforce stabilization suggests that intentional compensation planning, enhanced benefits, and flexible work models are proving just as powerful as...

October 16, 2025
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14Oct

US government shut down and rising government borrowing costs, but still pension funding soars

The quarter end was abruptly followed by the US government going into shutdown following a lack of agreement on funding measures into the new US fiscal year, which started on 1 October. This follows a quarter where the cost of government borrowing and above-target inflation remain key challenges for major global economies. Paradoxically, this market dynamic is serving pension schemes very well... Quarter in brief US government shutdown following funding shortfall The Bank of England and the Federal Reserve cut borrowing costs despite...

October 14, 2025
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13Oct

US. New IRS Rule Will Reshape 401k Contributions for Millions of Workers

A new rule issued by the IRS will alter how higher-income Americans approaching retirement can save in their 401(k) and other tax-deferred workplace retirement plans. The regulation comes from the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 and is scheduled to take effect at the start of the 2026 tax year. According to reporting by CNN, the change introduces new conditions on catch-up contributions for individuals who earned $145,000 or more in the prior year. These contributions will be redirected into Roth...

October 13, 2025
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10Oct

US. Residence-Based Tax: Social Security, Pensions And 30% Withholding

The endorsement of an elective residence-based taxation model by former IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig and former IRS Commissioner Counselor Tom Cullinan, covered in my earlier Forbes article, has sparked important discussions about fairness for Americans abroad. Their piece highlights the burdens of America’s citizenship-based tax system and calls for a shift to treat expats more equitably. An astute reader recently emailed me and our correspondence hammered out that details matter in an RBT model, especially for older expats. What happens...

October 10, 2025
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09Oct

US. CalSTRS Forms Climate Co-Investment Partnership With Carlyle Alpinvest

The California State Teachers’ Retirement System is partnering with Caryle Alpinvest to expand the $374.3 billion pension fund’s ability to access co-investment climate solution opportunities, Carlyle Alpinvest announced Tuesday. “This partnership is designed to expand CalSTRS’ ability to invest alongside private equity managers in climate solution opportunities beyond CalSTRS’ direct investment program,” Carlyle Alpinvest stated. Carlyle Alpinvest is a specialist subsidiary of the Carlyle Group.  Alpinvest reports $97 billion of assets under management, the Carlyle Group manages $465 billion in total, including...

October 9, 2025
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