March 2022

US. The ABCs of Group Retirement Plans

The foundational concept of a group retirement solution—the multiple employer plan—has deep roots. Dating back to the early 20th century and formalized by the Taft-Hartley Act of 1947, multiple employer plans (MEPS) began as vehicles to make agreements between management and labor unions possible across numerous employers in the same industry. While the multiple employer solutions we know today may look different, their underlying benefits have endured the test of time. In fact, their structure becomes even more relevant every...

The Current State of U.S. Workplace Retirement Plan Coverage

By John Sabelhaus Despite widespread support for government policies aimed at improving workplace retirement plans, nearly half of wage and salary workers in the U.S. still lack coverage. The lack of employer-sponsored pensions or other workplace retirement saving plans has led to state-level government initiatives aimed at expanding coverage to workers whose employers do not offer such plans. Designing and implementing efforts to broaden workplace retirement plan coverage requires understanding what types of workers lack coverage, in terms of both...

US. This Is The Best Kept Secret In Retirement Planning & It’s About To Make Retirement More Expensive & Complicated

Looking past the gas pump to me on the other side, a 60-something year old woman states, “I waited a long time for this.” Jiggling the nozzle out from my tank, “What’s that?” I ask. She replies blandly, “Retirement.” Continuing, as if speaking to a larger invisible audience, she points up to the pump price sign and shakes her head saying, “With these prices, I just don’t know.” Fuel prices, and transportation costs generally, are on the rise for all of us....

US. Already claimed Social Security? There are still ways you may be able to increase your retirement benefits

US. Already claimed Social Security? There are still ways you may be able to increase your retirement benefits

Social Security benefits make up about 30% of elderly Americans’ incomes, according to the Social Security Administration. For some beneficiaries, it can be 90% or more. Yet many people do not think of those earned benefits, and the monthly checks that come with them, as a personal financial asset, according to Social Security expert Larry Kotlikoff, author of a new book titled “Money Magic: An Economist’s Secrets to More Money, Less Risk and a Better Life.” The money you pay into the...

February 2022

Nigeria. Stakeholders advocate micro pension to secure financial future

The Pension Fund Operators Association of Nigeria have urged those in the informal sector to embrace micro pension as a means of securing their future financially. The Chief Executive Officer of the Association, Mr. Oguche Agudah made the call at the maiden Retreat and Unveiling of Magazine, THE PENSIONER for the Pension Correspondents Association of Nigeria in Abuja. Mr. Agudah said Contributory Pension Scheme should be embraced by all, because of its flexibility and safety of funds as it was a...

Pension Systems and Sustainability: Japan

By United Nations With 297 trillion yen ($2,854 billion) in assets, the Japanese pension system is the third largest in the world.1 Between public and private providers, some 54% of assets are managed by PRI asset owner signatories, a higher proportion than in Australia, the US and the UK. This report builds on ideas set out in the PRI briefing ‘Sustainable Finance Policy in Japan’, published in October 2020, providing an overview of the Japanese system and its key sustainability...

One of Top Korean Banks to Launch Crypto Fund

Kookmin Bank, one of the four largest banks ranked by asset value in South Korea, is set to launch its own cryptocurrency investment fund. Read also Canadian Pensions Bankrolling Elder Abuse and Misappropriation of Public Money by French Long-term Care Multinational: CUPE According to an announcement, the so-called Digital Asset Management Committee will work on a crypto exchange-traded fund (ETF). Although the timetable is unclear, the bank said it plans to speed up its efforts after the country gets more clear...

China to allow more pension providers

China will expand its commercial pension pilot scheme nationwide from March 1 this year and allow other pension providers to participate in addition to six Chinese life insurers that have been allowed previously, China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission said on Monday (February 21). CBIRC asked pension providers to keep exploring new products to cater to the need of new economy and flexible workers. It initiated a one-year pilot scheme for commercial pension products in Zhejiang and Chongqing province from June...

UK. Royal Mail moves ahead with CDC scheme

Royal Mail, the Communication Workers Union and Unite have agreed to progress plans to introduce a new collective defined contribution scheme, the first of its type in the country, following a consultation with members. Royal Mail launched its consultation in September 2021, in which it laid out plans for the new Royal Mail Collective Pension Plan. Under a CDC arrangement, members pool investment and longevity risk and contribution rates for employers and employees are set in advance. The group finalised and confirmed...

Global Pension Assets Study – 2022

By Thinking Ahead Institute The Global Pension Assets Study estimates global pension fund assets across 22 major pension markets (the P22). These geographies now total a record US$56.6 trillion in pension assets and account for 76% of the GDP of these economies. The study, conducted by WTW and the Thinking Ahead Institute since the 1990s, includes an analysis of the seven largest markets (the P7): Australia, Canada, Japan, Netherlands, Switzerland, UK and US comprise 92% of total pension assets, unchanged...