Category: News

Our Ageing Population

http://www.irishtimes.com/business/personal-finance/how-a-bond-bubble-might-sink-irish-investors-and-pension-savers-1.2804783

All “paid up” Associates (AIIPM) of the Irish Institute of Pensions Management, who meet the required guidelines, are invited to apply for election to Fellowship of the Institute.

If, having read the guidelines, you feel you are eligible for consideration you should complete and sign an Application Form and forward the other forms for completion by the attestors.

All the relevant documentation is available for download below. All completed forms should be returned to reach the Secretary General of the Institute not later than 28th October 2016, and sent to the following address:

Irish Institute of Pensions Management

National College of Ireland

Mayor Street

IFSC,Dublin 1

Subscriptions

The annual subscription of Fellow (FIIPM) is €255.00.

See: Fellowship Attestor Form and Election Guidelines

The Real Issue Facing The Economy Is Demographics 

The Institute welcomes the statement by Minister Michael Noonan TD, that with effect from 22 June, holders of buyout bonds ( formally called “approved policies” and often referred to as Personal Retirement Bonds) will have access to the post-retirement investment option , Approved Retirement Funds (ARFs).  Previously, these were accessible only to holders of Personal Retirement Savings Accounts, Certain Defined Contribution pension schemes, and holders of additional voluntary contributions (AVCs).

The majority of those in buyout bonds were there through no desire of their own – most were purchased by the trustees of pension schemes in winding-up, though some were the result of Pension Adjustment Orders following separation or divorce.

IIPM and its members have been campaigning for a number of years to have these bonds recognised as what they are – defined contribution pension arrangements.  The legislation under which these bonds are approved has outlived its usefulness  and we are pleased that the Minister has recognised the fairness of permitting access to ARFs for bond holders, particularly in the current climate of low interest rates, where compulsory annuity purchase makes no sense from either the State’s or the bond-holders point of view.

The Pensions Authority has developed codes of governance for DC schemes which set out the standards trustees will be expected to adopt to demonstrate their commitment to serving the best interests of members and beneficiaries.

The Authority has published 9 codes so far in 2016 in three seperate tranches.  You can access the codes by clicking on the following link:

http://www.pensionsauthority.ie/en/Publications/Codes_of_governance_for_DC_schemes/

This article can be accessed by clicking on the following link:

http://www.independent.ie/business/personal-finance/pensions/women-face-up-to-your-pensions-34574505.html

The Pensions Authority published its Statement of Strategy 2016 – 2020 setting out its vision, mission, values and the strategic objectives and high level strategies that will underpin its work programme for the next five years.  Click on the following link to read the Authority’s Statement of Strategy.

http://www.pensionsauthority.ie/en/News_Press/News_Press_Archive/The_Pensions_Authority_Statement_of_Strategy_2016_-_2020.PDF

Click here to read the article in full

This article can be accessed by clicking on the following link:

http://www.mhc.ie/latest/insights/going-dutch-problems-concerning-increasing-the-state-pension-age?utm_source=Newsweaver&utm_medium=Newsweaver&utm_campaign=Newsweaver