November 2025

Solving for retirement: All paths lead to more private savings

The biggest challenge and opportunity for superannuation, pension and sovereign wealth funds is the climbing support ratio, particularly in developed economies, according to Michael Davis, head of global retirement strategy at T. Rowe Price. The support ratio, sometimes referred to in less flattering terms as the old-age dependency ratio, has been in rising across every major global economy. For example, in Japan, the support ratio is 51, meaning 100 working adults support 51 retirees. In the 1950s, the ratio was...

February 2025

India. Voluntary Pension Scheme On The Cards; Open To All, No Job Or Employment Needed: Report

To provide financial stability outside of conventional job-based plans, the Centre is developing a Universal Pension Scheme. The scheme aims to streamline current pension plans and increase their accessibility, especially for unorganized workers, traders, and self-employed people, according to an ET report. The scheme will be available to everyone, regardless of their job or business. The ET report states that the Labour Ministry has initiated talks on the voluntary and contributory pension plan that would enable people from all backgrounds to...

India. Voluntary pension scheme for all on cards: Won’t be tied to employment, will be open for all

The ministry of labour and employment has started deliberations on the umbrella pension scheme. "The scheme, which would be voluntary and contributory, will not be tied to employment and hence will be open for everyone to contribute and earn a pension," a senior government official told ET. The broad contours of the scheme under the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) are being worked on, said the people cited. Pooling of Cess Once this exercise is over, the ministry will hold stakeholder consultations to...

January 2025

China: Expansion of voluntary personal pension system

Employer Action Code: Act In 2022, China’s central government piloted new tax incentives in 36 cities and regions to encourage employees to make voluntary contributions to individual retirement accounts to complement social security pension benefits and help address the challenges of a rapidly aging population. After a successful pilot, the system is now fully implemented nationwide as of December 15, 2024. Key details The following changes to the individual accounts under the pilot program have been made: Money may be withdrawn in...

December 2024

AI and machine learning to help pension plan governance, says CFA report

The CFA Institute Research and Policy Center has released new research exploring how AI and machine-learning technology can address critical issues facing the global pensions industry. Demographic shifts, underfunding of defined benefit pension plans, inflation, rising inequalities, and gaps in financial literacy, are creating an increasingly complex pensions environment and more risk of pension inadequacy for retirees. The research, ‘Pensions in the Age of Artificial Intelligence’. explores whether technology can offer solutions to address key issues across various parts of the value...

Nigeria. Voluntary pension savings rise as workers prioritise future

Workers are voluntarily increasing their contributions to the pension scheme as they focus on the future in the face of economic uncertainties. Data from the National Pension Commission (PenCom) shows that Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVCs) under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) have more than tripled in the last two years. The total AVCs rose from N1.08 billion in second quarter 2022 to N3.46 billion in second quarter 2024, indicating a 220.4 percent increase over the two-year period. This sharp increase in voluntary...

September 2024

Ghana. NPRA press releases on informal sector pensions: Matters arising

There are two press releases circulating on Informal Sector Pensions dated 26/08/2024 and 30/08/2024 issued by the National Pensions Regulatory Authority (NPRA), bringing to the attention of the general public that informal sector pensions already exist. In the 30/08/2024 press release, the NPRA directly linked informal sector workers to self-employed persons, stating: “…the new Pensions law has offered opportunities for self-employed persons (informal sector workers) to voluntarily contribute towards their pensions. Additionally, the NPRA associated Personal Pension Schemes with the informal...

June 2024

Russia. Putin suggests using oil windfall for pensions

Russia's President Vladimir Putin suggested on Thursday to use a part of the accumulated oil wealth to support voluntary pensions saving and capitalise development institutions. "Part of the money in the National Prosperity Fund should be used to co-finance voluntary pension savings," Putin said in his annual address to both houses of parliament. Putin suggested the state should contribute 1,000 roubles for each 1,000 roubles contributed by private individuals in voluntary pension savings schemes. "Part of the money should be used for...

April 2024

Serbian voluntary pension funds’ assets rise 11.5% y/y at end-2023

The net assets held by voluntary pension funds (VPFs) in Serbia rose 11.5% on the year to 53.8 billion dinars ($495 million/461 million euro) at the end of 2023, the country's central bank, NBS, said. The volume of net assets was up 2.7% compared to the end of September, NBS said in a statement on Monday. At the close of December, the majority of VPF assets were allocated to government securities, comprising 70%, with balances in custody accounts and bank time...

December 2023

UK. Voluntary NI contributions surge 85% as people boost state pension

Voluntary contributions, also known as class 3 national insurance contributions, stood at £391.9mn for the year ending March 31, 2023. According to Hargreaves Lansdown, this is an 85 per cent surge on the £212.3mn paid the previous year. Class 3 contributions are voluntary contributions that can be used to fill gaps in national insurance records to boost state pension entitlement. Individuals can fill gaps going back six tax years though there is an opportunity for some people to fill gaps going back...