May 2024
09May

Swiss Parliament pushes discussion on pension funds’ cost transparency

The social security and health committee of the National Council (SGK-N), the lower house of the Swiss Parliament, has voted in favour of submitting a motion to discuss pension funds’ obligations on costs disclosure. The committee shares the view of the Swiss Federal Audit Office (SFAO), that information on administrative costs should be easily accessible and comprehensible for the general public, it said in a statement. Only a minority of the members of the committee considers the existing rules on pension funds’...

May 9, 2024
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03May

Venezuelan National Assembly Approves Pension Protection Bill

The National Assembly of Venezuela approved on Thursday in the first discussion, the Social Security Pension Protection Bill, after it was presented to that body by the executive vice president of the South American country, Delcy Rodriguez. "We wanted to bring this bill that has 13 articles that seek special protection, through contributions and contributions of private business for the protection of pensions against criminal blockade"said Rodríguez and also recalled that the country’s income from the blockade was impacted by...

May 3, 2024
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April 2024
25Apr

UK. Nearly half of pension holders haven’t considered inheritors

Almost half (46 per cent) of UK adults with pensions have not considered who should inherit them, research from Canada Life has found. The firm's research revealed that over half (54 per cent) of UK adults with pensions haven’t completed an expression of wish form, with one in 10 (10 per cent) admitting that the expression of wish is neither up to date or they simply don’t know. The expression of wish form is held by the pension company, and in...

April 25, 2024
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24Apr

US. Government announces rule that updates investment advice fiduciary definition

The Biden-Harris administration announced today that the U.S. Department of Labor has finalized its Retirement Security Rule to protect the millions of workers who are saving for retirement diligently and rely on advice from trusted professionals on how to invest their savings. This final rule will achieve this by updating the definition of an investment advice fiduciary under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act and the Internal Revenue Code. The final rule and related amended prohibited transaction exemptions require trusted investment advice...

April 24, 2024
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24Apr

UK. DWP declares 34,500 claimants have to pay back benefits or face fines up to £20,000

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is facing a storm of criticism as it has ordered 34,500 people to repay benefits, with fines reaching up to £20,000. This comes amid calls for the DWP to review its handling of Carer's Allowance after it was revealed that thousands of carers are being overpaid and later hit with hefty repayment demands. In a dramatic turn of events, a UK government dementia adviser has stepped down in protest against the DWP's "beyond the pale" legal...

April 24, 2024
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19Apr

Pension Fund Trustees and Fiduciary Duties: Decision-making in the context of Sustainability and the subject of Climate Change

By Financial Markets Law Committee For pension funds, setting investment strategy, principles and policies and making investment decisions have all become more challenging in the context of sustainability and the subject of climate change.  This has given rise to renewed uncertainty over what the “fiduciary duties” or trust duties owed by trustees of pension funds require in this context. Since the pensions sector is a major allocator of capital, legal uncertainties affecting pension fund trustees have the potential to adversely affect...

April 19, 2024
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19Apr

US. House committee advances resolution to overturn SEC climate rule along party lines

Republicans on the House Financial Services Committee advanced a resolution to overturn the SEC’s climate disclosure rule, in addition to advancing several other resolutions aimed at rolling back various Biden administration rule-making. “Let us make no mistake, the commission finalized this rule despite no clear authorization from Congress,” said Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Mich., who introduced the resolution to overturn the SEC’s climate rule, at the markup April 17. The Congressional Review Act allows Congress to disapprove, by a simple majority vote, a final...

April 19, 2024
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19Apr

UK. How TPR rates trustees on climate action

Analysis by the Pensions Regulator (TPR) has found that more than 60% of climate reports by pension schemes had some form of net zero goal with a target date of 2050 or earlier. Schemes with more than £1bn in assets under management have been required to publish climate reports since 2022. TPR has analysed a selection of 30 reports and published its findings last week to help raise standards across industry. More than 60% of TPR’s sample had some form of...

April 19, 2024
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12Apr

UK. TPR finds trustees are taking action on climate risks and opportunities

Pension trustees are acting to address climate risks and opportunities, with more than 60 per cent of pension schemes included in The Pensions Regulator’s (TPR) latest review having some form of net-zero goal with a target date of 2050 or earlier. Following the introduction of new climate-related disclosures for schemes with more than £1bn in assets under management in 2022, TPR undertook an analysis of a selection of reports in an effort to help raise standards across the industry. This review...

April 12, 2024
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05Apr

UK: FCA to examine asset management fees, pensions

The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority is to launch a market study on asset management to examine charges paid by investors, the regulator said on Tuesday, as it laid out its business plan for the coming year. Other areas of focus include examining whether pension firms are helping consumers make the right choices, following an overhaul announced in 2014 which eased requirements on people to buy annuities as part of their pension. “The business plan is set against the backdrop of the...

April 5, 2024
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