November 2024

How AI could help modernize pension and retirement systems

The world is going through a seismic demographic transition, as populations age and traditional workforces shrink, prompting challenges for retirement systems that need to adapt to remain resilient. AI may be able to assist, by helping individuals make better decisions about their own retirement and by helping invest retirement assets. Given the importance of retirement, embedding trust into our AI systems is essential before they are deployed to the retirement business. Lifespans and the cost of living are rising...

US. Employers offering better retirement plan benefits — Willis Towers Watson

Employers are becoming more generous with their retirement plan benefits, according to Willis Towers Watson’s 2024 U.S. Defined Contribution Survey. While the median employer contribution to defined contribution plans remained at 7.1% of pay, the gap in overall retirement benefits offered by the most and least generous employers narrowed significantly between 2000 and 2020, the survey found. In 2020, the most generous employers — those in the 90th percentile — provided retirement benefits that were 10.9% of pay, whereas the least...

UK. Household Support Fund extended

The UK Government’s Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) recently announced an extension of the Household Support Fund (HSF) until 31 March 2025. The fund will offer critical support and advice for struggling households across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) throughout the winter period, who are finding it difficult to pay for household essentials including food and energy. Local councils are responsible for administering the fund in their area, with BCP Council being allocated £2.65 million of the £421 million national...

The evolving climate change investing strategies of asset owners

Asset owners who control substantial capital in the financial system through pension funds, endowments, foundations, and individual holdings can play a crucial role in driving investments in climate change mitigation, according to a new Yale School of the Environment study. The study, led by Emil Moldovan ’24 MESc, found that owners of large asset portfolios are recognizing the need to consider the environmental impacts of  investment decisions and aligning portfolio goals with global efforts to limit climate change. However, perceived...

México. Comisiones de Afores se han reducido a menos de un tercio desde 2008

Las comisiones que cobran las Administradoras de Fondos para el Retiro (Afores) se han reducido a menos de un tercio de lo que eran en el 2008, esto gracias a la reforma implementada en el 2020 para toparlas. Después de tres años (2022, 2023 y 2024) de mantenerse en 0.57%, este 2025 el tope máximo que cobrarán las administradoras de pensiones bajará dos puntos base, a 0.55%, según determinó la junta de gobierno de la Comisión Nacional del Sistema de...

Chile. Boric compromete despacho de la reforma de pensiones en enero

La agenda que encabeza la ministra del Trabajo, Jeannette Jara (PC), fue destacada por el Ejecutivo en el consejo de gabinete de este lunes. La señal llamó la atención en el marco de las expectativas que existen ante un inminente cambio de gabinete. "Tenemos que sacar adelante la reforma de pensiones y no me cabe ninguna duda que con el concurso del Parlamento a fines de este año, principios del próximo, a fines de enero idealmente vamos a poder sacarla". En...

Perú. SBS y AIOS inauguran el XI Encuentro de Supervisores de Fondos de Pensiones

La Superintendencia de Banca, Seguros y AFP (SBS), en conjunto con la Asociación Internacional de Organismos de Supervisión de Fondos de Pensiones (AIOS), inauguraron hoy el XI Encuentro de Supervisores AIOS: Desafíos de los Sistemas de Pensiones en América Latina: Reforma, Cobertura e Informalidad, el cual se desarrollará hasta el 6 de noviembre en la ciudad de Lima. La ceremonia de inauguración contó con la participación de Sergio Espinosa, superintendente de banca, seguros y AFP, y Elio Sánchez, superintendente adjunto...

US. What Changes Might a Trump Presidency Make to Retirement Regulations?

Given the results of the U.S. Presidential Election, certain regulatory items at the Department of Labor will likely be modified or abandoned altogether. These include DOL initiatives on environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing, investment advice fiduciary standards, qualified professional asset manager (QPAM) eligibility, and the definition of independent contractor; while others, such as efforts to promote employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) will likely continue. ESG Factors Most industry observers agree that the Biden ESG rule is in trouble, but there is...

Top Global Pension Funds Allocated $708bn to Private Equity

Global pension funds continue to increase their allocation to private equity, with the top 20 global pension funds with the largest dollar allocation to private equity devoting a total of $707.6 billion to the asset class so far in 2024. S&P Global Market Intelligence data revealed that the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) has the largest allocation at $143.9 billion, representing more than 24% of its total assets. This was followed by the California Public Employees’ Retirement System with a $83.5...

First UK pension scheme dives into Bitcoin, but don’t expect a stampede

The first UK pension fund has invested in Bitcoin according to the pension specialists Cartwright with the scheme reportedly allocating 3% of its assets to the cryptocurrency. Laith Khalaf, head of investment analysis at AJ Bell, comments: “It was only a matter of time before a UK pension scheme bought into Bitcoin, but this isn’t likely to spark a stampede into the asset class. Bitcoin is notoriously volatile, and pension scheme trustees are just as notoriously risk averse. Why wouldn’t you be when...