Customize Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

September 2024

South Africa. Over 63,000 government employees dip into their two-pot retirement funds, says GPAA

The Government Pensions Administration Agency (GPAA) has confirmed that that more than 60,000 public sector employees have made applications to make withdrawals from their savings pot of the two-pot retirement system. According to the GPAA, the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEFP) has received a little under 63,000 two-pot retirement system applications since September 1, 2024. In terms of two-pot retirement system enquiries, the GPAA said it has received a high number of applications from its members, which include teachers, nurses, police officers and other...

August 2024

South Africa. Two-pot retirement system: fewer early withdrawals, more financial optimism

While many South Africans who are members of pension funds are counting the days until they can withdraw from their savings pot under the two-pot retirement system, research suggests that fewer people plan to dip into their retirement savings early, probably thanks to financial optimism as the economy improves. According to the 2024 Old Mutual Savings and Investment Monitor that took a deep dive into the two-pot retirement system, the number of working South Africans with retirement savings provision (income...

July 2024

The decumulation challenge

As people continue to live and work longer, the challenge of longevity – running out of money too soon into retirement - is hanging over many Canadians’ retirement plans. According to research from CCP Investments, only 45% of Canadians actually have some sort of plan in place for their retirement, with 53% admitting they don’t know how much money they’ll need to retire. Part of this anxiety stems from a change in the last decades in the retirement plan landscape, as...

Hong Kongers fleeing to Britain leave $5.1b trapped behind

Emigration has been top of mind for many residents after Hong Kong’s government in March passed Article 23, a domestic security law. For those moving to the UK, not being able to access their pension money has palpable financial impacts. “With Article 23, there will be more people trying to leave Hong Kong, more people trying to get early withdrawals to build their new lives, and more denials,” said Ms Megan Khoo, research and policy adviser at British-based activist group...

June 2024

Nigeria. Economic hardship: Workers swoop on their pension contributions

In apparent response to the biting hardship in the economy, the number of workers that made withdrawals from their voluntary contributions under their pension savings increased by 87.6 per cent in the first quarter of 2024, Q1’24. Specifically, the number of workers that withdrew from their voluntary contributions went up to 1,302 in Q1’24, from 694 recorded in the preceding quarter, Q4’23. Also, the value of funds withdrawn from the voluntary contributions increased by 160 per cent to N3.9 billion from...

South Africa. Two Pot Retirement System

What is a two-pot retirement? The two-pot retirement system is a reform that will allow retirement fund members to make partial withdrawals from their retirement funds before retirement, while preserving a portion that can only be accessed at retirement to help improve retirement outcomes. This means members need not resign to access part of their retirement benefit if they are in financial distress. This reform will come into effect on 1 September 2024. Who is it meant for? The new system will...

May 2024

South Africa. New law enables pension fund members to access their savings

Pension fund members are set to access a third of their pensions within the next four months. The National Assembly unanimously approved the Pension Fund Amendment Bill after it was sent back for concurrence by the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) with technical amendments. The bill, introduced by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana in January, provides for a “two-pots” system that divides pension contributions into two separate pots: a savings pot and a retirement pot, with effect from September. It proposes that retirement...

April 2024

Peru Passes Bill Allowing for $7 Billion in Pension Withdrawals

Peru’s Congress overwhelmingly approved a bill late Thursday allowing workers to tap their retirement accounts, which authorities estimate could lead to $7 billion in withdrawals. The bill was approved with the vote of 95 lawmakers out of 106 in attendance, despite government opposition. The government could veto the bill, but that is likely only to delay its implementation as congress can easily override it. Lawmakers have repeatedly targeted Peru’s vilified private pension system since the pandemic, saying the system has failed...

February 2024

US. More People Tapping Retirement Plans for Emergency Expenses

Retirement accounts are designed to provide financial security for the future, but a growing number of Americans are using them to pay for emergencies today. “We’ve been seeing a steady increase in early withdrawals over the last five years or so,” says Kirsten Hunter Peterson, vice president of thought leadership at Fidelity Investments, one of the largest providers of retirement plans. According to company data, the number of Fidelity plan participants who took a hardship withdrawal more than tripled from...

December 2023

Money Illusion in Retirement Savings with a Minimum Guarantee

By Catherine Donnelly, Gaurav Khemka & William Lim We investigate the impact of money illusion on the investment strategy and retirement outcomes of pre-retirees. Money illusion refers to the tendency of individuals to overlook the effects of inflation and focus on nominal rather than real terms. We solve and compare the optimal investment strategies for a pre-retiree who exhibits money illusion and aims to maximize the expected power utility of wealth at retirement, subject to a minimum guarantee constraint. While...