Slider Archives - Page 438 of 453 - Pension Policy International

06SepSeptember 6, 2017

Asia Pacific: Region’s pension funds grow faster than global average

Assets under management with Asia Pacific's largest pension funds rose by 7% from a year earlier to US$3.7 trillion at the end of 2016, lifting the overall ranking of the region's sovereign and public sector pension funds by asset size, according to the latest global 300 research from Willis Towers Watson, the leading global advisory, broking and solutions company. In a return to growth following a 3.4% decline in 2015, based on asset size, Asia Pacific pension funds outperformed those...

September 6, 2017

News, Slider

06SepSeptember 6, 2017

Norway pension fund plans big changes for bond portfolio

Norway’s US$990bn sovereign wealth fund, the world’s largest, plans radical changes to its fixed income portfolio by cutting corporate and emerging market bonds from the benchmark index it uses, and shortening maturities. If approved by Norway’s finance ministry, the changes will leave only government bonds in US dollars, euros and British pounds as part of the benchmark, compared with 23 currencies currently. The fund said they are the three most liquid currencies. Norges Bank Investment Management, which manages the fund on...

September 6, 2017

News, SliderNorway

06SepSeptember 6, 2017

Australia. Pensioners claim rebates on $31 million worth of rates

Canberra pensioners have received rebates on $31 million worth of rates in the past three years, on land worth a cumulative $14.4 billion dollars. More than 18,000 property owners are using the pensioners rebate scheme for rates, figures revealed in an answer to a question on notice in the ACT Legislative Assembly. However the number of applications for rates deferrals on the basis of hardship have doubled on the same time last year, after the ACT government changed the formula for calculating...

September 6, 2017

News, SliderAustralia

05SepSeptember 5, 2017

Market conditions a challenge for institutional asset allocation, says MFS

Institutional investors need to adjust their investment horizons and return targets to take a longer-term view through the market cycle, according to US-based MFS Investment Management (MFS). The toughest challenge for institutional investors such as defined benefit (DB) pension plans is to optimise their risk-adjusted returns in the current market environment, according to Ravi Venkataraman, senior managing director of MFS Institutional Advisors, the institutional unit of MFS. One of the key issues is that these investors have little understanding about how...

September 5, 2017

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04SepSeptember 4, 2017

UK. Robots and AI can bring down pension age, says TUC

The TUC has urged the government to use productivity gains from the greater use of robots and artificial intelligence to reverse planned changes to the state pension age. Before its annual congress in Brighton, the TUC said higher levels of productivity thanks to technological innovation ought to bring greater benefits for working people. It said recent progress had mainly benefited business owners, rather than being shared across the workforce through better wages and working conditions. Analysis from the accountants PricewaterhouseCoopers suggests...

September 4, 2017

News, SliderUK

04SepSeptember 4, 2017

Nigeria. Retirees to use voice, fingerprints for pension

Operators of the Contributory Pension Scheme are putting in place a biometric method to improve documentations of retirees and ensure proper payments on entitlements. Some of the characteristics of the process will include the use of fingerprints, voiceprints, facial features, writing patterns, iris patterns and hand geometry. According to the Pension Funds Operators Association, the method involves the use of passwords and PIN numbers, to ensure highest level of security. While noting that biometrics being introduced would involve data collection, transmission,...

September 4, 2017

News, SliderNigeria

04SepSeptember 4, 2017

Switzerland. Pensions 2020 is a reform in name only

The original primary goal of the reform was to maintain the level of support offered by our pensions system. With support from the government, parliament reformulated this goal and – with a wafer-thin majority – pushed through a reform that expands old age pensions instead of restructuring it. Pensions 2020 has degenerated into an unfair, superficial reform that makes a mockery of the inter-generational contract. The reform of the old age and disability pension is unfair, because it leads two...

September 4, 2017

News, OP Ed, SliderSwitzerland

01SepSeptember 1, 2017

Danish Investing Giant ATP Exits Six-Year Bet to Target More Risk

ATP, which is Denmark’s biggest pension fund and one of Europe’s top institutional investors, is for the first time in six years looking into putting more of its money into riskier investments. The board of ATP, which manages 748 billion kroner ($120 billion) in taxpayers’ retirement benefits, will in coming months look into adjusting the fund’s strategy as forecasts show the current setup will result in returns falling by more than half, Chief Executive Officer Christian Hyldahl said in an interview...

September 1, 2017

News, SliderDenmark

01SepSeptember 1, 2017

The New Retirement Haves And Have-Nots

Four score and seven years ago, the difference between the haves and have-nots was measured by dollars and cents. The haves lived a life of indulgence and leisure, while the have-nots toiled day and night just to make ends meet. But all that has changed as the focus of retirement has moved from money to health and well-being. The Baby Boomers have once again caused a fundamental shift during this next phase of life. The haves don’t look their age, have...

September 1, 2017

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01SepSeptember 1, 2017

Hanging On The Telephone : UK Government’s Consultation Response on Pension Scams

It’s time to hang up on cold callers! The loss of pension savings can have a devastating impact on an individual’s plans for retirement but this is an unfortunate reality for those who have fallen victim to pension scammers. The UK Government’s consultation response on pension scams shows its clear intention to ban cold calling in relation to pensions. A few thoughts Although the ban should help to limit the number of pension scams, individuals and trustees will still need...

September 1, 2017

News, SliderUK

September 2017