All Features articles – Page 121
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FeaturesThe yin and yang of multi-boutiques
In the fourth article in a new series, Neeraj Sahai and Amin Rajan argue that boutique is a state of mind. Only savvy leaders can create it
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Features
Price risk protection
This month’s Off The Record survey focused on inflation. The vast majority of respondents (66%) believed that low inflation of less than 3% was likely in the next 12-18 months. A Dutch fund commented: “Currently, [we] do not see inflationary pressures to justify high inflation expectations. Furthermore, the European Central Bank’s monetary policy will be tilted to be more restrictive if and when an inflationary environment is anticipated.” A Danish fund added: “Economies are recovering slowly and at present only working at 70-75% of total production capacity”.
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Features
Risk-analysis wonderland
In its recently published exposure draft on pensions accounting, the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) proposed that entities should present a sensitivity analysis to show how changes in key actuarial assumptions might reasonably be expected to affect:
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FeaturesPortugal: The private sector problem
Reforms to public sector pensions have not been matched by measures to encourage private saving, writes Jim Robinson
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FeaturesSpain: Ill-prepared for austerity
Bloated and unsustainable public provision has stifled private pensions while political wrangling and the pressure for austerity is hampering reform efforts, writes Jim Robinson
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FeaturesAustria: still searching for the way ahead
Negotiations on the next stage of Austria's pension reform have produced consensus on some points and a pile of wish-lists for further discussion, reports Barbara Ottawa
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FeaturesBelgium: wait and see
Martin Delaney finds the Belgian pension fund industry waiting to find out if a new coalition government, when it is formed, will have the will to take bold decisions on retirement age
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FeaturesCEE: political changes add to uncertainty on pensions reform
Thomas Escritt looks at recent developments in the pensions systems of some of the regionís major economies
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FeaturesDenmark: Preparing for Solvency II
Gearing up for Solvency II and winding down crisis measures are exercising Danish government and pensions groups, writes Nina Roerhbein
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FeaturesFrance: Retirement age is main target for reform
Nina Roehrbein finds the French government rejecting structural change to the pensions system in favour of modifying parameters such as retirement age and length of service
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FeaturesFinland: Stalling negotiations put reforms in gridlock
Government working groups and unions clashed over plans to increase retirement age, but legislation is on the way to improve risk management and solvency, writes Pirkko Juntunen
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FeaturesGermany: Stability heralds change
Weathering the financial crisis with only one major pension-related insolvency does not mean Germany sat still, with regulatory changes coming from inside and out, writes Jonathan Williams
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FeaturesIreland: Correcting the balance
Martin Delaney finds Ireland moving to relieve the burden created by an ageing working population and a faltering economy
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FeaturesIceland: Post-eruption controls remain in place
Pension funds remain in a precarious situation, prevented from investing abroad by controls brought in at the height of the 2008 financial crisis, reports Nina Roerhrbein
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FeaturesItaly: Second pillar at a stalemate
While second-pillar reforms were stalled by the financial crisis, the resulting austerity is driving changes to first-pillar provision, writes Nina Roerhbein
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FeaturesNorway: Reform of state scheme sets the pace for change
Pirkko Juntunen finds that increased flexibility and working for longer are on the cards
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FeaturesSweden: Pushing for simplicity
A new pensions agency and an overhaul of the AP7 default option aim for greater transparency and accessiblity, writes Pirkko Juntunen
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FeaturesUK: All change
Following the market recovery, the UK has a new government eager to implement change and a pensions regulator keen to protect scheme members, finds Jonathan Williams
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FeaturesSwitzerland: Second pillar in transition
New investment rules are being implemented, the supervisory structure is up for reform and the financial crisis prompted an investigation into admin costs, writes Barbara Ottawa
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Features
Europe and pensions on a world stage
EFRP secretary general Chris Verhaegen explains the importance of the growing debate on how far Europe can and should go on driving pensions reform
