April 2026
09Apr

UK. Immediate pension withdrawals hit five-year high amid IHT concerns

The number of people accessing their pension savings as soon as they are able to has reached a five-year high, amid growing concerns about upcoming inheritance tax (IHT) changes, research from Lubbock Fine has shown. The wealth management firm revealed that 116,000 individuals withdrew lump sums from their pensions at age 55 last year, up from 110,000 the previous year. The total value withdrawn by this group also increased to £2.3bn, compared to £2.1bn a year earlier, highlighting a shift in...

April 9, 2026
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March 2026
18Mar

South Africa households dip into retirement savings as withdrawals surge

South African households are coming under increasing financial pressure, with many now turning to their retirement savings to stay afloat. Early data shows a sharp rise in withdrawals from the two-pot retirement system as the new tax year began in March. Financial journalist Maya Fisher-French has warned South Africans against rushing to access the savings component of their retirement funds. Fisher-French says a concerning pattern is emerging, with around 60 percent of those accessing their savings doing so repeatedly. This raises questions about...

March 18, 2026
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04Mar

US retirees are trading the 4% rule for the ‘bucket strategy.’

For decades, retirees have followed the guideline to withdraw 4% of their investment portfolio each year in retirement. This maximum withdrawal rate was believed to be a sure-fire method for stretching retirement income for 30 years or more. One of the rule’s big advantages is its simplicity, but simple doesn’t always mean better. Given how unpredictable the economy has become, the so-called 4% rule is seen as outdated, with outfits like Morningstar recommending withdrawal rates between 3.3% and 4% depending...

March 4, 2026
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January 2026
21Jan

Mexico. 38 Billion Pesos Withdrawn from AFORE Accounts Due to Unemployment

At the close of 2025, unemployment withdrawals from retirement savings accounts (AFOREs) broke records and climbed to 38 billion 882 million pesos , the highest level since 2005, the year up to which the National Commission of the Retirement Savings System (CONSAR) has records. According to data from the regulator, around 1.94 million people requested this withdrawal from their retirement savings account, which represented an increase of 227,400 compared to 2024. “This reflects that more people are turning to this type...

January 21, 2026
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November 2025
06Nov

UK savers pulling cash from pensions ahead of budget, money managers say

 British money managers are reporting a jump in people withdrawing cash from their pensions before this month's budget, amid fears for their tax advantages as the government warns it needs to make "hard choices" to prop up public finances. Most British savers can receive up to 25% of their pension as a tax-free lump sum. Some experts on fiscal policy have speculated that Rachel Reeves, the finance minister, might reduce the amount that can be withdrawn tax-free, a potential motive for savers to withdraw...

November 6, 2025
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September 2025
19Sep

Boosting Retirement Income through Dynamic Withdrawals

By Ravi Saraogi Dynamic withdrawal strategies, extensively researched internationally, remain underexplored in India. This paper bridges this significant research gap by rigorously evaluating popular dynamic withdrawal methods using Indian data. Employing simulations based on historical equity, debt and inflation data from the Indian market, we compare 10 different adaptive and dynamic withdrawal strategies. The study demonstrates that dynamic strategies can improve withdrawals and sustainability compared to static withdrawal methods. However, this improvement comes at a significant cost of volatility in...

September 19, 2025
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18Sep

UK. Policy rumours and Budget speculation prompt ‘surge’ in pension withdrawals

There has been a significant increase in the amount of money being withdrawn from pensions, with a particular "surge" seen in those accessing large pension pots, the latest Retirement Income Market Data from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has revealed. The figures showed that the amount of money withdrawn from pensions had risen by 35.9 per cent over the past year, increasing from £52.152bn in 2023/24 to £70.896bn in 2024/25. The number of pension plans accessed for the first time has...

September 18, 2025
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August 2025
25Aug

UK. Thousands of pensioners overcharged £10,000 on pension withdrawals

Thousands of pensioners have claimed back more than £10,000 after being overcharged tax on their pension withdrawals, new analysis shows. A handful of people in the UK were given a refund worth more than £100,000. The HMRC figures, which were obtained by Royal London through a freedom of information (FOI) request, show an increase in the number of refunds claimed in 2023-24. Pension freedoms, which came into force from 2015, gave over-55s a range of options over how to use their defined contribution (DC) pension pot. Generally,...

August 25, 2025
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07Aug

US. What’s Driving Early Retirement Plan Withdrawals?

Hourly workers tend to cash out their retirement plan savings more frequently than salaried workers when they leave their job, according to a report from Vanguard. Early cash outs from defined contribution plans normally come with a 10% tax penalty, and far more often than not, represent a sub-optimal savings strategy. About 33% of participants in Vanguard-administered plans took a cash-out when they left their jobs in 2023. This is consistent with data from the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI),...

August 7, 2025
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July 2025
24Jul

The countries where workers can dip into their pension pots early, mapped

British workers could soon be allowed to access part of their pension savings long before retirement, under proposals reportedly being considered by Labour. The idea, dubbed “sidecar savings,” would let people draw down a small portion of their pension for emergencies or major life events – potentially at any age. Supporters argue it could help those living pay slip to pay slip, while critics warn it risks draining retirement funds too early. But the UK wouldn’t be the first to do it. A growing number of...

July 24, 2025
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